Meditation on the Glories of the Sacred Heart in the Blessed Sacrament

IN HONOUR OF THE GLORIOUS LIFE OF THE SACRED HEART IN THE SACRAMENT. (For the Eighth Day of the Novena.)

The Glories of the Life of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament are many. But to-day you will honour that particular glory of the Sacred Heart, for which it dwells so wonderfully in the Blessed Sacrament. This glory of the Sacred Heart which is quite its own, manifests itself in this Sacrament :—

i. First, by reducing souls through the force of love alone, to a total annihilation of self;

ii. Secondly, by raising them through the strength of the same love to an elevation in itself, which is wholly divine.

Preparatory prayer.—As usual.

First Prelude.—Imagine that you see in the open breast of Jesus Christ, His divine Heart full of such a fire of love, that it seems like a burning furnace, in which the hearts of His elect souls melt and dissolve more quickly than wax, and are purified and refined like gold.

Second Prelude.—Offer with great courage your heart likewise to these divine flames, giving yourself freely to your divine Saviour, for all that He would wish to do with you.

POINT I.

1. The glory of the divine Heart manifests itself in that great power of love, with which it inspires souls in the Blessed Sacrament, and with which it triumphs in such feeble creatures, and annihilates so many and such strong enemies. Call to mind for awhile the many great victories of which you have read in so many admirable young virgins, weak in nature like you, having to contend, like you, with dangers, engagements, repugnances, and instability. It was, above all, in this Sacrament of love, that those most stupendous changes were wrought in them. Think how often you have shrunk at reading of those so heroic acts of patience, of charity, of obedience, of mortification, and hatred of themselves. How have you not been astonished at those examples of silent, meek, and joyful constancy in the midst of long and most undeserved persecutions, of lingering and painful maladies, of most terrible and obstinate temptations! And how did such feeble creatures ever attain to such complete loss of all pity for themselves, of all feeling of repugnance to acts most difficult to perform, of every sense of sympathy with the most innocent and sweet calls of humanity? Ah! from this Sacrament they drew such strength, and this strength was the strength of love.

2. Behold, then, that glory of the divine Heart which is all its own, and by which it made itself loved by these souls in so high a degree. If you love Jesus Christ, you now know how to glorify Him. What are the thoughts which rise within you, when you feel the greatest desire to correspond with His love? Count all as illusion that does not aid you to despise yourself, to contradict your own will, and submit blindly and lovingly to the divine will. Die wholly to your own self-love; this is the final triumph to which the divine Heart aspires in all the graces, which it offers to you in this Sacrament of love. Resolve, then, to bring to Jesus Christ in every visit to the Blessed Sacrament, and much more at every communion, some victory gained over yourself. This is the most solid way of corresponding with His grace, for this is the peculiar interest of the Sacred Heart in the Blessed Sacrament.

POINT II.

1. That glory of the sacred Heart in the Blessed Sacrament, which is all its own, manifests itself also in raising souls by the strength of love, to an elevation in itself, which is wholly divine. The marvellous victory that love gains in the soul, and which you have considered in the first point, works in them a change, or rather a transformation, into something quite different from what they were. They live no more except in Jesus Christ, or rather it is Jesus Christ that lives in them, as St. Paul declared of himself, and therefore, even before putting off the infirmities of this mortal life, they live a life which is entirely superhuman and divine. Observe how it appears in them externally. What angelic modesty! What unalterable gentleness! What amiable meekness! What exactness, prudence and sanctity breathe in their every action! Could you enter into their minds, you would seem to be entering a kingdom of light—that unspeakable light which shines in paradise. The justness of their ideas, and the sublime intelligence which they have of God and His mysteries, is inexplicable. Could you enter into their hearts, how great would be your astonishment to observe the purity and strength, the peace and sanctity of their affections. Their soul is made the throne of grace and divine love, and these reign paramount. A Gertrude, a Catherine of Sienna, a Teresa, and so many souls, which, like theirs, were enriched with the interior treasures of Jesus Christ, will make you understand how great is the glory of this our God, the lover of souls, in raising them from such a low abasement to so high a state.

2. Feed yourself for awhile on these wonderful objects of admiration as a holy recreation of spirit. But in order that you may not lose courage for yourself, recollect, that in the house of God our Father there are many mansions; which means that although you cannot for humility aspire to such high gifts, yet by the obligation of your state, you must aim at a certain measure proper even for you. Renounce readily all that is extraordinary in these gifts, but aspire to the gift of great self-denial, of a great contempt of the world, of great patience, great recollection, etc. To these gifts you have a right, and if you desire them truly, this divine Heart cannot refuse them to you, and they will work in you a change, which will elevate you high above your present misery, and thus will glorify exceedingly in your exaltation, the strength of the love of Jesus Christ. How long will you then remain so lukewarm? How long will your mind and heart continue to be fixed upon this vile, miserable, dull earth? Ah! in how many poor servants of His—souls who are dwelling in the world, Jesus Christ by His love, works out His glory; and in you, His spouse, shall He find nothing but dishonour? Rouse yourself, resolve, and prepare yourself in such a manner that the coming feast of this divine Heart, and the communion you will make on that day, may be the beginning of a new happiness to you and of glory to Jesus Christ.