Sacred Heart devotion: meditation on June 18st
DAY 18
THE GREAT BITTERS OF THE HEART OF JESUS
18 DAY
Pater Noster.
Invocation. - Heart of Jesus, victim of sinners, have mercy on us!
Intention. - Pray for those who betray and deny Jesus.
THE GREAT BITTERS OF THE HEART OF JESUS
In the Litanies of the Sacred Heart there is the invocation: "Heart of Jesus, saturated with shame, have mercy on us!"
The Passion of Jesus was a great heap of humiliations and opprobrios, which only the Son of God could embrace and support for the love of souls.
It is enough to think of some scenes of Pilate's Praetorium, to soften oneself to tears.
Jesus, center of hearts and universe, splendor of the Divine Father and his Living Image, eternal joy of the Heavenly Court ... dressed as a prank king; a crown of prickly thorns, which covers his head; the face furrowed with blood; a red rag on the shoulders, meaning royal purple; a rod in his hand, symbol of the scepter; hands tied, like an evildoer; blindfolded! … Insults and blasphemies cannot be counted. Spits and slaps are thrown on the divine face. For more ridicule he is told: Nazarene, guess who beat you! ...
Jesus does not speak, does not react, seems insensitive to everything ... but his delicate Heart suffers beyond words! Those for whom he became Man, to whom Heaven reopens, treat him like this!
But the meek Jesus is not always silent; in the height of bitterness he manifests his pain and at the same time love. Judas approaches to betray him; he sees the unhappy Apostle, who out of love he had chosen, who had filled with delicacies; ... he allows betrayal with the sign of friendship, with the kiss; but no longer containing the pain, he exclaims: Friend, what have you come to? ... With a kiss you betray the Son of Man? ... -
These words, coming out of the Heart of a bitter God, entered like lightning in the heart of Judah, who no longer had peace, until he went to hang himself.
As long as the rebels came from the enemies, Jesus was silent, but did not keep silent in front of the ingratitude of Judas, a beloved.
How many insults the Heart of Jesus is covered every day! How many blasphemies, scandals, crimes, hatreds and persecutions! But there are sorrows that hurt the Divine Heart in a particular way. They are the serious falls of certain pious souls, of souls consecrated to him, who taken from the snare of disordered affection and weakened by a passion that is not mortified, leave the friendship of Jesus, driving him out of their hearts, and put themselves at the service of Satan .
Poor souls! Before they attended the Church, they often approached Holy Communion, nourished and comforted their spirit with holy readings ... and now no more!
Cinemas, dances, beaches, novels, freedom of the senses! ...
Jesus the Good Shepherd, who goes after those who have never known and loved him to draw him to himself and give him a place in his Heart, what pain he must experience and what humiliation to suffer in his love seeing souls who, in the past they were dear! And he sees them in the path of evil, a stumbling block to others!
The corruption of the excellent is bad. Ordinarily, those who have been very close to God and then turn away from it become worse than the other bad ones.
Unfortunate souls, you have betrayed Jesus as Judas! He betrayed him for trembling money and you to satisfy a cowardly passion, which causes so many bitterness. Do not imitate Judah; don't despair! Imitate St. Peter, who denied the Master three times, but then wept bitterly, showing his love for Jesus by giving his life for him.
From what has been said, there are practical conclusions.
First of all, whoever loves Jesus, be strong in temptations. When passions arise terribly, especially impurity, say to yourself: And after so many protests of love for Jesus, after so many benefits received, will I have the audacity to betray his love and deny it by giving myself to the devil? ... number of those who embitter Jesus? First die, like S. Maria Goretti, instead of hurting the Heart of Jesus!
Secondly, those who betray and deny him must take a lively part in the pain. For them today pray and be repaired, so that the Sacred Heart may be consoled and that the misguided ones may convert.
EXAMPLE
Il pozzo
The Supreme Pontiff Leo XIII said to D. Bosco in a private audience: I wish that a beautiful temple to be dedicated to the Sacred Heart be built in Rome, and precisely in the Castro Pretorio area. Could you make the commitment?
- Your Holiness' desire is a command for me. I do not ask for financial help, but only the Paternal Your Blessing. -
Don Bosco, trusting in Providence, was able to build a magnificent temple where the Sacred Heart receives many tributes every day. Jesus enjoyed the efforts of his Servant and from the beginning of the construction works he showed him his satisfaction with a heavenly vision.
On April 30, 1882, Don Bosco was in the sacristy of the chapel, near the source Chiesa del S. Cuore. Luigi Colle appeared to him, a young man of pre-virtue, who had long since died in Toulon.
The Saint, who had already seen him appear several times, stopped to contemplate him. A well was near Luigi, from which the young man began to draw water. He had pulled enough.
Marveled, Don Bosco asked: But why are you drawing on so much water?
- I draw for myself and my parents. - But why in such quantity?
- Don't you understand? Do you not see that the well represents the Sacred Heart of Jesus? The more treasures of grace and mercy come out, the more there are left.
- How come, Luigi, are you here?
- I came to pay you a visit and tell you that I am happy in Heaven. -
In these vision of Saint John Bosco the Sacred Heart is presented as an inexhaustible well of mercy. Today we frequently invoke divine mercy for us and for the most needy souls.
Foil. Avoid the small voluntary shortcomings, which displease Jesus so much.
Ejaculation. Jesus, thank you that you have forgiven me so many times!
(Taken from the booklet "The Sacred Heart - Month to the Sacred Heart of Jesus-" by the Salesian Don Giuseppe Tomaselli)
FLOWER OF THE DAY
Avoid the small voluntary shortcomings, which displease Jesus so much.