The Catholic Defender: The Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to St. Margaret Mary Promise 4
4. I will be their refuge during life and above all in death. This promise is the heart of why Jesus was sent from Heaven to save the lost. John 3:16 states, "For God so loved the world that he gave* his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life." This is the battle being waged because souls are being compromised.
Recently, I was speaking with a young family in the parking lot at a local grocery store. I was thanking the young man for posting the colors on his shirt with the American Flag. He in turned thanked me for my service in the United Stated Army. What turned our meeting was when his wife thanked God for the work we are doing. I then asked her if they believe in God! I asked her if they loved the Lord this much? She responded we love Him much more. I asked her if she was raised with this kind of faith and she responded, "I was raised a Catholic but we now go to a local "Non-denominal church."
At that point I turned my attention to the young lady to share the importance of her Catholic Faith. That she is a Catholic, but not practicing. I gave a quick overview why she should rethink about the practice of her faith. I exposed the church they go to showing that group was founded in the 1960s. I reminded her that the Catholic Faith was founded by Christ nearly 2,000 years ago. The lady seemed shocked with that information and she looked at her husband as if I was reaching her. It was at this point that the husband took his family out in a hurry.
As I watched them taking off, I couldn't help seeing how the lady had entrapped herself away from God's grace for the counterfeit she now is forced to go. I couldn't help but see the pain Our Lord feels when we go our own way and not His way. At one time this lady was given the opportunity to follow Christ but because of perhaps being lukewarm, maybe indifferent, like a multitude of others, drop out not knowing what they are doing. Where have all the Children gone.
Today is the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the war is being waged in everyday occurrences. People will cater to the least line of resistance when it comes to personal decisions we make. The Sacred Heart of Jesus reveals "God's boundless and passionate love for mankind". Jesus said “My divine Heart is so passionately fond of the human race and of you (St. Margaret Mary Alacoque), in particular, that it cannot keep back the pent-up flames of its burning charity any longer. They must burst out through you and reveal my Heart to the world, so as to enrich mankind with my treasures.”
Under the influence of this love, our Savior, by the outpouring of His blood, became wedded to His Church: "By love, He allowed Himself to be espoused to His Church." Hence, from the wounded Heart of the Redeemer was born the Church, the dispenser of the Blood of the Redemption--whence flows that plentiful stream of Sacramental grace from which the children of the Church drink of eternal life, as we read in the sacred liturgy: "From the pierced Heart, the Church, the Bride of Christ, is born....And He pours forth grace from His Heart."
Within the Sacred Heart of Jesus we can experience His Divine Love which is centered with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. In Jesus, "in Him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily". Jesus burning love infused
perfectly the human will of Christ and that perfect knowledge of the beatific vision. We tap into Jesus burning love when we accept Him into our lives.
This is where Jesus sensible love derived from the moment He was conceived in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary formed by the Holy Spirit. We can contemplate and honor the Heart of the divine Redeemer as a symbolic image of His love, the Sacred Heart. We embrace "God our Savior" wrapped around by the love Jesus has for us.
As I sadly watched this family leave the scene, I recall what St. Margaret Mary said how this affects our Lord, " (Jesus) He showed me His loving and lovable Heart as the living source of those flames. Then he revealed to me all the unspeakable marvels of His pure love, and the excess of love He had conceived for men from whom He had received nothing but ingratitude and contempt. "This is more grievous to Me," He said, "than all that I endured in my Passion. If they would only give Me some return of love, I should not reckon all that I have done for them, and I would do yet more if possible. But they have only coldness and contempt for all My endeavors to do them good. You, at least, can give Me the happiness of making up for their ingratitude, as much as you can."
By turning away from the Lord's ancient Mass for a counterfeit breaks the Lord's Heart which so loves us. The Bible is so clear on the affect of apostasy and heresy plays on the world. The bible also gives the reality of the Lord's mercy and forgiveness if we come home to His Church:
My brothers, if anyone among you should stray from the truth and someone bring him back, he should know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. James 5:19-20
What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance. Luke 15:3-7
Jesus is our refuge and salvation if we call upon the Name of the Lord and be faithful to His teaching.
Refuge is found in the bible at least 40 times showing the Heart of God is merciful. Refuge calls our attention first of all to sin and the wreckage it causes. If we fly unto the Lord standing sinful and sorrowful, Jesus is our refuge.
Liturgy of the Sacred Heart
V. Lord, have mercy on us. R. Christ, have mercy on us. V. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. R. Christ, graciously hear us. V. God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us. God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us. Heart of Jesus, Son of the Eternal Father, have mercy on us. Heart of Jesus, formed by the Holy Spirit in the Virgin Mother's womb, [etc.] Heart of Jesus, substantially united to the Word of God. Heart of Jesus, of infinite majesty. Heart of Jesus, holy temple of God. Heart of Jesus, tabernacle of the Most High. Heart of Jesus, house of God and gate of heaven. Heart of Jesus, glowing furnace of charity. Heart of Jesus, vessel of justice and love. Heart of Jesus, full of goodness and love. Heart of Jesus, abyss of all virtues. Heart of Jesus, most worthy of all praise. Heart of Jesus, King and center of all hearts. Heart of Jesus, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Heart of Jesus, in whom dwells all the fullness of the Godhead. Heart of Jesus, in whom the Father was well pleased. Heart of Jesus, of whose fullness we have all received. Heart of Jesus, desire of the everlasting hills. Heart of Jesus, patient and rich in mercy. Heart of Jesus, rich to all who call upon You. Heart of Jesus, fount of life and holiness. Heart of Jesus, propitiation for our offenses. Heart of Jesus, overwhelmed with reproaches. Heart of Jesus, bruised for our iniquities. Heart of Jesus, obedient even unto death. Heart of Jesus, pierced with a lance. Heart of Jesus, source of all consolation. Heart of Jesus, our life and resurrection. Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation. Heart of Jesus, victim for our sins. Heart of Jesus, salvation of those who hope in You. Heart of Jesus, hope of those who die in You. Heart of Jesus, delight of all saints.
V. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, R. Spare us, O Lord. V. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, R. Graciously hear us, O Lord. V. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, R. Have mercy on us.
V. Jesus, meek and humble of Heart, R. Make our hearts like unto Thine.
Let us pray.
Almighty and eternal God, look upon the Heart of Thy most beloved Son and upon the praises and satisfaction which He offers Thee in the name of sinners; and to those who implore Thy mercy, in Thy great goodness, grant forgiveness in the name of the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who livest and reignest with Thee forever and ever. Amen.
