Day of Expiation in Honor of the Sacred Heart

Resolutions and Reflections

I. ON AWAKING

AT THE moment of awaking I shall immediately recall that it is my day of prayer and penance.

At once I shall consecrate my day to the divine Heart, saying: “In union with all my associates in the entire world I offer Thee, O my God, the expiations and the infinite love of the Heart of Jesus and all I can do this day in reparation for
my own sins,
the sins of those I love,
the sins of the entire world.
I offer all through the immaculate heart of Mary. I intend, also, to gain all the indulgences I can in behalf of the poor souls in purgatory.”

II. HOLY MASS AND COMMUNION

1. BY MEANS of a little tact and foresight I may be able to secure for myself the consolation of assisting at Holy Mass.

2. If it be impossible for me to assist at Mass, I will make an offering to God of all the Masses that shall be said this day throughout the world in a spirit of humble reparation.

3. Likewise, should I be compelled to forego the happiness of receiving Our Lord sacramentally, I will make instead a fervent spiritual communion, devoutly repeating these words: “My Jesus, I believe that Thou art truly present in the most blessed sacrament. I love Thee above all things and I desire to possess Thee within my soul. Since I am unable now to receive Thee sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace Thee as being already there, and unite myself wholly to Thee; never, never permit me to be separated from Thee.”

4. I will finish my thanksgiving after holy communion by the devout recitation of the Litany and Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart.

III. MEALS

IF I cannot fast I shall try at least

1. To refrain from eating and drinking between meals.

2. To make some little acts of self-denial at each repast.

IV. LABORS

1. DURING my day of expiation I shall endeavor to do all my work well—with promptness, exactness, patience, and perseverance in honor of the Sacred Heart; in a spirit of penance and with the view of offering reparation.

2. I shall ever bear in mind that I am to reach heaven by the faithful performance of my duties. I shall not forget that manual labor, has received a special dignity from the patient toils of the Son of God in the workshop of St. Joseph, and from the lowly labors of Our Lady in the holy house at Nazareth.

3. During the course of my work I shall offer it repeatedly to Our Lord in union with all the associates in the entire world, saying, “All for Thee, most sacred Heart of Jesus!”

4. The frequent and fervent utterance of ejaculatory prayers like the following will help to keep my soul recollected during my labors:

   Merciful Heart of Jesus! have pity on us, pardon us, save us.
   Sacred Heart of Jesus, Thy kingdom come!
   Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in Thee.
   Sacred Heart of Jesus, make me love Thee more and more.
   Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Thine.
   Sweet Heart of Jesus, be my love. Sweet heart of Mary, be my salvation.

V. DURING THE COURSE OF THE DAY

1. BY CAREFUL management I may find sufficient leisure to make a short visit to the Blessed Sacrament.

2. To make the Way of the Cross, or the Hour of Adoration.

3. To say the Rosary on my day of expiation, choosing the Sorrowful Mysteries, lovingly meditating on the sufferings of the Heart of Jesus.

4. I am resolved not to lend a willing ear to idle gossip, or to unkind rumors and reports.

5. I shall curtail the time given usually to the perusal of the newspaper, and substitute in place thereof a reading from some good spiritual book.

VI. INTERCOURSE WITH OTHERS

ON my day of atonement more particularly I ought to practise, and I will practise:

1. Meekness and Kindness: Remembering that it is my duty to give help and sympathy and encouragement where they are needed, thus schooling my heart to become like unto the divine Heart, always meek and gentle and kind.

2. Charity: (a) Not wilfully entertaining an unkind thought of anyone. (b) Speaking no unkind, uncharitable word about my neighbor. (c) Rendering some little service, even though it be but a kind word, or look, or smile throwing a ray of sunshine into some cheerless life.

3. Humility: (a) Not speaking of myself; not boasting of my good qualities and achievements. (b) Not wasting precious time in making my toilet. (c) Suppressing every thought of pride, worldly ambition, and vanity. (d) Accepting without complaint whatever humiliations God may permit. (e) Loving to be unknown and to be accounted as nothing.

4. Patience: (a) Striving to draw spiritual profit from the little rubs and vexations of my life, letting them all mould my soul into the likeness of Jesus Christ. (b) Courageously bearing with the faults of those around me, correcting them, of course, should duty demand it, but always waiting for the opportune time. (c) Silently enduring a word of reproach and unmerited blame, keeping back the quick retort, tactfully “throwing oil on the troubled waters.” (d) For the sake of the divine Heart overlooking bad humor and little outbursts of temper on the part of others. (e) Bearing all the pains of life without a murmur—without complaint—offering them all in a spirit of reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

VII. THE EVENING

I WILL make an examen of conscience upon this question: “How have I acquitted myself to-day of my duty of offering reparation to Our Lord?”

1. At morning prayer.

2. During Holy Mass.

3. At my meals.

4. At my work.

5. During the course of the day.

6. In my intercourse with others.

7. In regard to the extra little devotions I have freely imposed upon myself for love of Our Lord.

8. As to the virtues I ought to practise.

I will impose some penance upon myself in atonement for my failings, for example, a “Hail Mary” or an ejaculatory prayer for each fault.

Retire to Rest within the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Ejaculations

HEART of Jesus, salvation of those who hope in Thee; have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, hope of those who die in Thee; have mercy on us.

Mary, our hope, have pity on us.

1. This devotion of a day of expiation, the practice of which is here outlined, certainly commends itself to every pious soul, whether affiliated, or not affiliated, with the Archconfraternity of Prayer and Penance. It is a laudable practice for all whose watchword is: “Sacred Heart of Jesus, Thy kingdom come!” ↩