EFFICACIOUS NOVENA TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS: DAY 4

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN.

(The Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus was started and made popular by St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. She was inspired by visions of Jesus to spread this devotion).

Hymn

1. Jesus, my Lord, my God, my all!
How can I love Thee as I ought?
And how revere this wondrous gift,
So far surpassing hope or thought?

Refrain:
Sweet Sacrament, we Thee adore!
Oh, make us love Thee more and more.
Oh, make us love Thee more and more.

2. Had I but Mary’s sinless heart
With which to love Thee, dearest King,
Oh, with what ever fervent praise,
Thy goodness, Jesus, would I sing!
Refrain

3. Thy Body, Soul and Godhead, all!
O mystery of love divine!
I cannot compass all I have,
For all Thou hast and art is mine!
Refrain

4. Sound, then, His praises higher still,
And come, ye angels, to our aid;
For this is God, the very God
Who hath both men and angels made!
Refrain

OPENING PRAYER

Afflicted heart of Jesus, we want to hate everything that displeases you. Give us such a hatred for sin that we may avoid even the slightest faults, solely because they displease You, who are worthy to be loved above all things. Grant us the grace, O loving Saviour, to always turn to You saying: O my Jesus, give us Your love!

O God, who in the Heart of your Son, wounded by our sins, in the infinite concessions of love treasures, grant that we offer a fair reparation, consecrating ourselves to the Sacred Heart all our lives. Grant this through Christ, our Lord. Amen

SCRIPTURAL READING: Hosea 11:1, 3-4, 8-9

Thus says the Lord:
When Israel was a child I loved him,
and called my son out of Egypt.
I myself taught Ephraim to walk,
I took them in my arms;
yet they have not understood
that I was the one looking after them.
I led them with reins of kindness,
with leading-strings of love.
I was like someone who lifts an infant close against his cheek;
stooping down to him I gave him his food.
My heart recoils from it,
my whole being trembles at the thought.
I will not give rein to my fierce anger,
I will not destroy Ephraim again,
for I am God, not man:
I am the Holy One in your midst
and have no wish to destroy.

The Word of the Lord…

REFLECTION ON THE LIFE OF ST. MARGARET MARY ALACOQUE (Apostle of the Sacred Heart):

Part 4 (Her visionary experiences)

Shortly after she was professed, Mary Margaret received a tremendous grace. She was praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament when she was filled with Jesus’ presence, to the extent that she forgot where was. Jesus had her lie against his chest like St. John at the Last Supper. He told her the secrets of his heart.

“My Divine Heart,” he said in her autobiography, “is so inflamed with love for men, and for you in particular that, being unable any longer to contain within itself the flames of Its burning Charity, It must spread them abroad by thy means, and manifest Itself to them (mankind) in order to enrich them with the precious treasures which I discover to you, and which contain graces of sanctification and salvation necessary to withdraw them from the abyss of perdition.”

Jesus’s heart is so on fire with love for humanity that it has to spread. He wanted Margaret Mary to spread this love as it contains graces necessary for salvation.

Then he asked her for her heart, which she begged him to take. He put it inside his own. She described this as being like watching a little atom consumed by a furnace. When he pulled her heart out, it looked like a flame. He put it back in her. He told her that her burning heart would consume her until the end of her life.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus! I adore you; I offer to you all that I am and all that I possess; I consecrate to you my soul with its faculties, my body with all its senses, my heart with all its affections, desiring in all things to honor, love, and glorify you; in thanksgiving for the numberless benefits that I have received from you, especially in the Holy Eucharist; in atonement for my own sins as well as in reparation for all the offenses that are committed against you in the sacrament of your love, and, finally, in humble supplication, that I may henceforth be faithful to you, that I may please you in thought, word, and deed, that I may suffer in patience and in perfect resignation to your holy will, that I may become like to you in meekness and humility, that I may persevere in your love and your grace to the end of my life, and that I may praise you and bless you with the saints and angels in eternity.

We beseech you, also, O good Jesus, by your Sacred Heart, overflowing with sweetness and mercy, to bless our Holy Father, the Pope, and our Holy Mother, the Church; to take under your special protection this congregation [my parish], our homes, our country, our rulers, our legislators, our bishops, our priests, and all Religious Orders. We recommend to you all our concerns, our friends, relatives, benefactors, and all those who have asked us to pray for them; those who are sick and those who are dying, and all who are under any affliction. Cast an eye of compassion on obstinate sinners, [the mistaken], and unbelievers. Give eternal rest to the faithful departed. Bless in particular the apostolic labours of those who are engaged in giving missions and retreats, in propagating the Faith in [mission] lands, in spreading your kingdom on earth, and in fostering devotion to Your Most Sacred Heart and to the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Amen.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

I. O my Jesus, you have said: ‘Truly I say to you, ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you.’ Behold I knock, I seek and ask for the grace of…… (here, name your request) Our Father… . Hail Mary… Glory Be to the Father…

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

II. O my Jesus, you have said: ‘Truly I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.’ Behold, in your name, I ask the Father for the grace of…… (here, name your request) Our Father… Hail Mary… Glory Be To the Father…

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

III. O my Jesus, you have said: ‘Truly I say to you, heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away.’ Encouraged by your infallible words I now ask for the grace of… . . (here name your request) Our Father… . Hail Mary… Glory Be to the Father…

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, for whom it is impossible not to have compassion on the afflicted, have pity on us miserable sinners and grant us the grace which we ask of you, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, your tender Mother and ours.

Jesus, meek and humble of Heart, make our hearts like unto Yours (x3)

Immaculate heart of Mary, Pray for us!!!

Hail Holy Queen…

St. Joseph, Pray for us!

 St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, pray for us!

Sources:

The Letters of St. Margaret Mary of Alacoque, Tan Books, 1954

The Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus by John Croiset, Tan Books, 1988

___________________________________
PS: Have you prayed your Rosary today?