Devotion to the Sacred Heart in June: day 22
22nd June
Our Father, who art in heaven, may your name be sanctified, your kingdom come, your will be done, as in heaven as on earth. Give us our daily bread today, forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.
Invocation. - Heart of Jesus, victim of sinners, have mercy on us!
Intention. - Pray for those who are outside the Catholic Church.
LIFE OF FAITH
A young man was possessed by the devil; the evil spirit took away his word, threw it into the fire or water and tormented him in different ways.
The father led this unhappy son to the Apostles to free him. Despite their efforts, the Apostles failed. The afflicted father presented himself to Jesus and weeping said to him: I have brought you my son; if you can do anything, have mercy on us and come to our aid! -
Jesus replied: If you can believe, everything is possible for those who believe! - The father exclaimed in tears: I believe, o Lord! Help my little faith! - Jesus then rebuked the devil and the young man remained free.
The Apostles asked: Master, why couldn't we drive him out? - For your little faith; because in truth I tell you that if you have faith as much as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain: Go from here to there! - and it will pass and nothing will be impossible for you - (S. Matteo, XVII, 14).
What is this faith that Jesus required before performing a miracle? It is the first theological virtue, whose germ God puts in the heart in the act of Baptism and which everyone must germinate and develop with prayer and good works.
The Heart of Jesus today reminds its devotees of the guide of the Christian life, which is faith, because the righteous one lives by faith and without faith it is impossible to please God.
The virtue of faith is an intrinsically supernatural habit, which disposes the intelligence to firmly believe in the truths revealed by God and to give their assent.
The spirit of faith is the implementation of this virtue in practical life, so one must not be content with believing in God, Jesus Christ and his Church, but one must imprint one's whole life in the supernatural light. Faith without works is dead (James, 11, 17). Even demons believe, yet they are in hell.
Those who live by faith are like those who walk at night illuminated by a lamp; knows where to put your feet and does not stumble. The unbelievers and the careless of faith are like the blind who are groping and in the trials of life they fall, become sad or desperate and do not reach the end for which they were created: eternal happiness.
Faith is the balm of hearts, which heals wounds, sweetens the home in this valley of tears and makes life meritorious.
Those who live by faith can be compared to the lucky ones who, in the strong summer heat, live in the high mountains and enjoy the fresh air and oxygenated air, while in the plain people suffocate and crave.
Those who attend the Church and especially the devotees of the Sacred Heart, have faith and must thank the Lord, because faith is a gift from God. But in many faiths are few, very weak and do not bear the fruits that the Sacred Heart awaits.
Let's revive our faith and live it fully, so that Jesus doesn't have to tell us: Where is your faith? (Luke, VIII, 25).
More faith in prayer, convinced that if what we ask is in accordance with divine will, we will get it sooner or later, provided that the prayer is humble and persevering. Let us persuade ourselves that prayer is never wasted, because if we do not get what we ask for, we will obtain some other grace, perhaps greater.
More faith in pain, thinking that God uses it to detach us from the world, to purify us and to enrich us with merits.
In the most atrocious pains, when the heart bleeds, we revive faith and invoke the help of God, calling him with the sweet name of Father! "Our Father, who art in Heaven ...". He will not allow children to have a heavier cross on their shoulders than they can bear.
More faith in daily life, often reminding us that God is present to us, that sees our thoughts, that sifts our desires and that takes into account all our acts, albeit minimal, even a single good thought, to give us in due time eternal reward. Therefore more faith in solitude, to live in maximum modesty, because we are never alone, always finding ourselves in the presence of God.
More spirit of faith, to take advantage of all the opportunities - which the goodness of God presents to us to earn merits: alms to a poor man, a favor to those who do not deserve it, silence in a rebuke, renunciation of a licit pleasure ...
More faith in the Temple, thinking that Jesus Christ lives there, alive and true, surrounded by hosts of Angels and therefore: silence, recollection, modesty, good example!
We live our faith intensely. Let's pray for those who don't. We repair the Sacred Heart from all lack of faith.
I have lost faith
Ordinary faith is in relation to purity; the purer one is, the more faith is felt; the more one gives in to impurity, the more the divine light decreases, until it is completely eclipsed.
An episode from my priestly life proves the topic.
Being in a family, I was struck by the presence of a woman, elegantly dressed and well made up; his gaze was not serene. I took the opportunity to say a good word. Think, madam, a little of your soul! -
Almost offended by my saying, she replied: What does it mean?
- As he cares for the body, he also has the soul. I recommend your confession.
Change speech! Don't talk to me about these things. -
I had touched it on the spot; and I continued: - You are therefore against Confession. But has it always been like this in your life?
- Until the age of twenty I went to confession; then I ceased and I will no longer confess.
- So you lost your faith? - Yes, I lost it! ...
- I'll tell you the reason: Since she gave herself to dishonesty, she no longer has faith! "In fact, another lady who was present said to me:" For eighteen years this woman has stolen my husband!
Blessed are the pure in heart, because they will see God! (Matthew, V, 8). They will see him face to face in Paradise, but they also see him on earth with their living faith.
Foil. Being in the Church with much faith and devoutly genuflecting before the SS. Sacramento, thinking that Jesus is alive and true in the Tabernacle.
Ejaculation. Lord, increase faith in your followers!