30th June 2019 - Fr. Donal Neary S.J. - The Sacred Heart of Jesus

On this week's programme our team is joined by Fr. Donal Neary S.J., Editor of The Sacred Heart Messenger, who speaks to us about the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and about The Sacred Heart Messenger. We also have our usual reflection on the Sunday Gospel.

You can listen to the podcast of this week's full programme HERE.

The Sacred Heart of Jesus 
Fr Donal reflects on the devotion to the Sacred Heart which goes back to the scene at Calvary when a sword pierced the Heart of Jesus. From the 17th Century the devotion to the Sacred Heart became more widespread after Sr Margaret Mary Alacoque had visions where Jesus showed her is heart that beats for everyone and loves everyone of us. The devotion to the Sacred Heart was very much part of people’s lives when they were unable to attend Mass. Fr Donal speaks of the Sacred Heart as that of a friend. Both the 1st Friday devotion & the ‘Holy Hour’ came about as a result of devotion to the Sacred Heart.

Fr Donal also spoke to us about the Sacred Heart Messenger of which he is editor. In 1858 Fr James Cullen started an ‘Apostleship of prayer’ magazine and from this beginning the Sacred Heart Messenger came about. With a monthly circulation of 45,000 copies, 80% of which sold through promoters, the magazine contains inspirational articles which support readers on their faith journey. As the cover of the magazine quotes – A modern message in a much-loved tradition. 

Copies of the Messenger are available at some shops and Church book stalls and can be sourced HERE or by writing to: 
37 Lr Leeson Street, Dublin, D02 W938, Ireland. Tel: 01 6767491. Email: sales@messenger.ie 

Icon of the Sacred Heart in Maryvale Institute, Birmingham, written by David Clayton

Novena Prayer to the Sacred Heart

(This  version of the novena prayer would be one of the best known as it was used by Padre Pio and was promoted during the promotion of the cause of St Pio. It is a prayer that can be used throughout the year and not just in the lead up to the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart. Indeed, St. Pio prayed this prayer every day.)

I. O my Jesus, you have said: "Truly I say to you, ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you." Behold I knock, I seek and ask for the grace of...... (here name your request)

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be to the Father...
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

II. O my Jesus, you have said: "Truly I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you." Behold, in your name, I ask the Father for the grace of.......(here name your request) 

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be to the Father...
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

III. O my Jesus, you have said: "Truly I say to you, heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away." Encouraged by your infallible words I now ask for the grace of.....(here name your request) 

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be to the Father...
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, for whom it is impossible not to have compassion on the afflicted, have pity on us miserable sinners and grant us the grace which we ask of you, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, your tender Mother and ours.

Hail, Holy Queen...
St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus, pray for us. 

You can listen to a podcast of this reflection excerpted from the programme HERE.

Gospel - Luke 9:51-62

As the time drew near for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely took the road for Jerusalem and sent messengers ahead of him. These set out, and they went into a Samaritan village to make preparations for him, but the people would not receive him because he was making for Jerusalem. Seeing this, the disciples James and John said, ‘Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to burn them up?’ But he turned and rebuked them, and they went off to another village.

As they travelled along they met a man on the road who said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ Jesus answered, ‘Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’

Another to whom he said, ‘Follow me’, replied, ‘Let me go and bury my father first.’ But he answered, ‘Leave the dead to bury their dead; your duty is to go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.’

Another said, ‘I will follow you, sir, but first let me go and say goodbye to my people at home.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Once the hand is laid on the plough, no one who looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’

Reflections on this week's gospel: 

Word on Fire
English Dominicans *
Centre for Liturgy
Sunday Reflections *

* In England & Wales the Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul is celebrated instead of the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Liturgical odds & ends

Liturgy of the Hours - Psalter Week 1

Saints of the Week
July 1st - St. Oliver Plunkett
July 2nd - St. Bernardino Realino
July 3rd - St. Thomas, Apostle
July 4th - St. Elizabeth of Portugal
July 5th - St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria
July 6th - St. Maria Goretti

Heart speaks to Heart- Cor ad cor loquitur!

Crosspost from Pilgrims Progress:

It's fitting that on the vigil of the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, the Consistory for the canonisation for Blessed Cardinal John Newman has been set for the 1st of July 2019.  Heart speaks to Heart- Cor ad cor loquitur! This motto of  Cardinal Newman is what comes to my mind and heart for the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart. Usually this is followed the next day by the memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary but this year the Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul takes precedence. Nowadays it seems that the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus has been archived back to the time of our grandparents or our parents. I remember in school learning to sing 'Sweet heart of Jesus' with great fervour as taught to us by the Sisters of Mercy. Even now when I hear it, I am still somewhat nostalgic. I doubt somehow that these are the songs which my nieces learnt for their school choir for Mass. I also remember how often we prayed the short prayers to the Sacred Heart in class, in assembly, when we were in trouble or anxious: "Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you" or "Sweet heart of Jesus, make me love you more and more". In primary school, some of us used to deliver the Sacred Heart Magazine (also known as the Messenger, a Jesuit Publication) to elderly people in our town. My Nana was subscribed to it and part of my childhood summer holidays was spent reading the collection of magazines from the year. Is it any wonder I ended up in the convent!?

Fr. William Byrne reminds us that the "devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a human heart that is inflamed with divine love, is a powerful meditation and an important theological bridge that helps us understand who Jesus is and how much he loves us."

I am reposting his five reasons to adore the Sacred Heart as I think they are very insightful: 
1. A Sacred Sonogram - Imagine if sonograms had existed at the time of Jesus. Just a little more than a week after the Annunciation when Mary says yes to being the mother of God, we would have seen something amazing on that screen, a little beating heart. That tiny pulse, undetectable to the human ear but resounding in heaven, meant that our God has a heart.

2. What John didn't hear, but the angels did. - At the Last Supper, John the beloved laid his head on Jesus' chest. Jesus knew that Judas, one of his chosen Apostles, was going to betray him. What John did not hear but what echoed in heaven was the sound of a breaking heart. The Sacred Heart is as human as yours and mine, it is a sign of the true humanity of Jesus. Its beat quickened when Jesus laughed with a loved one, and it ached with sorrow when he experienced betrayal. Think how truly his heart feels your joys and sorrows.

3. Blessing not bitterness. - "But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out." (John 19: 33-34) The Sacred Heart of Jesus was wounded and from that wound came blood and water. From his suffering, blessings flowed - the water of Baptism and the blood of the Eucharist. From our pains and hurts, what flows? Grudges, blame and anger or mercy, compassion and forgiveness? Don't wait for suffering to come to turn to Christ on the cross, but begin to pray now that when we are put to the test, blessings and not bitterness will flow from our wounded side.

4. Certain wounds never heal. - When the soldier thrust the lance into Jesus' side, he was already dead. As Thomas learned, those wounds never healed. He was able to feel the marks of the crucifixion and put his hand into Jesus' side. The water and blood, Baptism and Eucharist, have never ceased to flow from the Heart of Christ. His mercy is without end. After you receive Communion at Mass, stay after a few minutes and recall his overwhelming, never-ending generosity. Pray that just as his love flows from the cross into you and me that they may flow from you and me into the world.

5. Like unto Thine. - The Sacred Heart of Jesus, a human heart, opened the gates of heaven for each of us. In Jesus, humanity entered into union with God that could only happen when God became a man. As he took a human heart, he invites us into his divinity.

"To Jesus through Mary" has been an often repeated phrase of devotional writers and preachers. St Louis Marie De Montfort has formulated perhaps the most clear devotion and adoration of Jesus Christ, that is, to love him and gift ourselves to him through Mary, with her spirit, with her Immaculate Heart. In his book, True Devotion to Mary, he shows that proper devotion to the Mother of God only makes one more Christ centred. She always leads us to her Son so we can discover the immensity of His love. St. Augustine also reminds us that to “fall in love with God is the greatest of all romances; to seek Him, the greatest adventure; to find Him, the greatest human achievement.” The heart of Jesus is not a mushy rom-com story but a romance where He was willing to go to Calvary and beyond out of love, pure love.

When I am feeling miserable or having a bad day, there is nothing like having a heart-to-heart conversation with someone who just listens, understands and is able to be with you in that moment. Words don't necessarily have to follow. It is simply a feeling of presence. This is the promise of Jesus to us, He is always waiting to welcome us, to listen, to let us rest our head on His heart. A heart is like a mirror, it reflects who you are but it is to be handled with care! The one person you can give your heart to without the fear of being broken is God. So on this Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus- may you hear his heart beat for you and nay you find the still voice in  you which repeats that simple and short prayer: "Sweet Heart of Jesus, make me love you more and more."

23rd June 2019 - Corpus Christi

On this week's programme Lorraine shares with us on the beautiful Solemnity of Corpus Christ. We also have our regular celestial guides and reflection on the Sunday Gospel.

You can listen to the podcast of this week's full programme HERE.

Corpus Christi

Lorraine shares with us some thoughts on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, which we know better as Corpus Christi. Lorraine begins by taking us through a history of the feast which owes its existence to Blessed Juliana of Liege, who began devotion to the Blessed Sacrament in around 1230. Largely through her insistence, in 1264 Pope Urban 1V commanded its observance by the universal church. While the Church celebrates the Institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper on Holy Thursday because it falls within the solemn and reflective time of the Easter Triduum, Juliana wanted to encourage a joyful celebration of this great gift of our Divine Master to the Church and to the world.  

The Feast sums up three important confessions about our Faith. First is that God became physically present in the person of Christ, True God and True Man. Secondly, God continues to be present in His people as they form the Mystical Body of Christ in his church. And thirdly, the presence of God under the form of bread and wine is made available to us on the altar at Mass and preserved there for our nourishment and worship.

Lorraine also reflects on why the Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is so important to us through the Eucharistic hymns of the Tantum Ergo, Ave Verum Corpus, and Godhead Here in Hiding (Adoro Te Devote). 

You can listen to a podcast of this reflection excerpted from the programme HERE.

Gospel - Luke 9:11-17

Jesus made the crowds welcome and talked to them about the kingdom of God; and he cured those who were in need of healing.

It was late afternoon when the Twelve came to him and said, ‘Send the people away, and they can go to the villages and farms round about to find lodging and food; for we are in a lonely place here.’ He replied, ‘Give them something to eat yourselves.’ But they said, ‘We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we are to go ourselves and buy food for all these people.’ For there were about five thousand men. But he said to his disciples, ‘Get them to sit down in parties of about fifty.’ They did so and made them all sit down. Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, raised his eyes to heaven, and said the blessing over them; then he broke them and handed them to his disciples to distribute among the crowd. They all ate as much as they wanted, and when the scraps remaining were collected they filled twelve baskets.

Reflections on this week's gospel:

Word on Fire
English Dominicans
Centre for Liturgy
Sunday Reflections

Liturgical odds & ends

Liturgy of the Hours - Psalter Week 4

Saints of the Week
June 24th - The Birthday of St. John the Baptist 
June 25th – St. William of Vercelli
June 26th – St. Anthelm
June 27th - St. Cyril of Alexandria
June 28th - The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
June 29th - St. Peter and St. Paul