Magnificence is Truly Dumbfounding

I almost can't believe myself, but I nearly didn't write anything for this glorious feast.  I don't write religious pieces very often.  Perhaps I am at fault for this. . . .  But I would be remiss if I skipped over this, most beloved of all feasts on my heart.  . . . .That is, it is the devotion which is the closest to my heart.  Which is ironic, in a way, because it is the Sacred Heart.

I opened my journal today and decided to just do my best at pouring out my heart about it.  This is what happened:

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I bow before Your greatness.  Your magnificence is truly dumbfounding.  Nothing compares to Your radiance; nothing can compete with Your influence on my life.  I express, now, my deepest gratitude to You and my humblest devotion.  No matter what, You have my heart.  You may ever hold my heart within Your own.  Hold it prisoner there if it so pleases You; but I beg You, cast it not away from You when it breaks or turns cold.  Only Your blood, which You shed, could ever make it whole again. 

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You.

I wanted to share it so I could explain, in some small way, the ardor of my affection for this feast.

I have always been drawn to the Sacred Heart.  I don't know why, but it was only recently that I began to take the interest seriously and delve into it a bit more.  One website I found interesting was this: http://www.sistersofreparation.org/history-of-devotion-to-the-sacred-heart.html.  I was particularly interested to read about Sr. Maria Alfonsa.  I could swear I've heard about her before, but what interested me was that she came to Steubenville – where I'm going to college!  I thought that was so cool!

I also found this website, suggested by http://raindropsandmoonlight.blogspot.com:

http://www.fisheaters.com/sh.html

I highly recommend it to get further acquainted with this devotion.

And then there's this: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07163a.htm.  I haven't read it but I'm sure it's splendid.

There's also this site, which I've not finished exploring yet: http://sacredheartdevotion.com/

There's one prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus that, I remember, really got me hooked:

I fly to Thee Sacred Heart of my Savior, for Thou art for my refuge, my only hope.  Thou art the remedy for all my miseries, my consolation in all my wretchedness, the reparation for all my infidelities, the supplement for all my deficiencies, the expiation for all my sins, and the hope and end of all my prayers.
Thou art the only one who is never weary of me and Who can bear with my faults, because Thou lovest me with an infinite love.  Therefore, O my God, have mercy on me according to Thy great mercy, and do with me, and for me, and in me, whatever Thou wilt, for I give myself entirely to Thee, divine Heart, with full confidence that Thou wilt never reject me.
Amen.

For some reason, this prayer always comforts me or gives me strength.  It hasn't let me down yet.  Perhaps because I believe in it so much.

I also love that it is so closely intertwined with the Eucharist and Divine Mercy.  My house is consecrated to the Divine Mercy and a local parish has Perpetual Adoration in "The Divine Mercy Chapel," which I used to have a weekly slot at; not to mention how much I love the Eucharist.  And the Sacred Heart and Divine Mercy devotions are so closely related.  I'm just head over heals in love with the Sacred Heart.

A friend of mine shared this on Facebook today
and it quickly became my cover photo.

I have also found the letters of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque in PDF form, if you're interested.  I haven't read much of it but I was super excited to find it so readily available.

My relationship with Mary has been deepening lately as well.  For a long time, I've struggled with it, but not because I was reluctant.  Because I don't have a close relationship with either of my parents, I've long wanted God and Mary to be there for me when they weren't.  Accepting God as my Father took some time, but I developed that devotion years ago (although I wish it was stronger).  My devotion to Mary as my mother has taken longer, but it's finally beginning to sink in.  Not always – sometimes I want to turn to her as my mother but I don't know how and I just end up thinking "Mary" in silence, unsure what to do next.  But that form of prayer has its benefits as well I expect.

So naturally, I'm falling for the Immaculate Heart as well – which is often pictured with her Son's heart:

Just found this picture
and I think I love it!

I've found various ways of depicting the two, however, as sometimes they are both ringed in thorns, sometimes Mary's has a sword through it, or whatever.  It's made me wonder if there is an official, endorsed rendering.  I haven't done my research yet but if anyone knows anything about that, I'd love to have something to start my research with.

And I recently learned that the entire month of June is apparently devoted to the Sacred Heart! Yay!  A whole month to celebrate this wonderful devotion.

I've often wondered why Marian devotions get so much attention.  Is it in response to Protestant disfavor of Mary?  Is it overcompensating?  I firmly believe in Mary's importance, but sometimes the observance of devotions to God Himself seem pale in comparison.  Just something to think about.

~Meggy