The Sacred Heart of Jesus celebrates the Incarnation of the Son of God as the mystery of His love. God does not change, nor does His love. All that exists does so because He loves it, and because it first is existed in Him. As we read in Psalm 33:11, “…the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.”[i] First, he loves us by creating us; then He gives Himself to us as our saving remedy, truly the medicine of immortality. God gives us everything necessary so that we can be saved, but He also gives us tangible signs of His love. The suffering and death of Jesus demonstrates His love for us. The Sacraments also give us contact with His love. He shows us in every way the depth of his love for us. Pierced by a lance, a place is open in His heart for each one of us to repose as a place of protection and love.[ii]
Around the feast of the Sacred Heart this year, I attended the Mass where the priest chose to use Eucharistic prayer 1 for Reconciliation. As we turned our attention to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, I highlight these elements for reflection and prayer.
“A New Bond of Love so Tight that it Can Never be Undone”
It is truly right and just that we should always give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God.
For you do not cease to spur us on to possess a more abundant life and, being rich in mercy, you constantly offer pardon and call on sinners to trust in your forgiveness alone.
Never did you turn away from us, and, though time and again we have broken your covenant, you have bound the human family to yourself through Jesus your Son, our Redeemer, with a new bond of love so tight that it can never be undone.
Even now you set before your people a time of grace and reconciliation, and, as they turn back to you in spirit, you grant them hope in Christ Jesus and a desire to be of service to all, while they entrust themselves more fully to the Holy Spirit.[iii]
His Heart Pierced for Us
Look, we pray, upon your people’s offerings and pour out on them the power of your Spirit, that they may become the Body and + Blood of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, in whom we, too, are your sons and daughters. Indeed, though we once were lost and could not approach you, you loved us with the greatest love: for your Son, who alone is just, handed himself over to death, and did not disdain to be nailed for our sake to the wood of the Cross.
But before his arms were outstretched between heaven and earth,
to become the lasting sign of your covenant,
he desired to celebrate the Passover with his disciples.[iv]
He is Our Peace – He Give Himself to Us
We read these words of the Preface from the Mass of the Sacred Heart of Jesus celebration gratitude of his love and the gift of His sacraments, particularly the Eucharistic.
For raised up high on the Cross,
he gave himself up for us with a wonderful love
and poured out blood and water from his pierced side,
the wellspring of the Church’s Sacraments,
so that, won over to the open heart of the Savior,
all might draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.[v]
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[i] Psalm 33:11 – Praise to the Creator [NIV]. Bible Hub. (n.d.). https://biblehub.com/psalms/33-11.htm
[ii] St. Bernard, of C. (1889, January 1). Life and works of Saint Bernard, abbot of clairvaux: Volume 4: Cantica Canticorum Eighty-six sermons on the song of solomon; Sermon 61. Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/LifeAndWorksOfSaintBernardV4/page/366/mode/2up; Sermon 61 [LXI]
[iii] Just, F. (2023, June 27). Basic texts for the Roman Catholic Eucharist Eucharistic Prayers for reconciliation I – II (from the 3rd edition of the Roman Missal, English translation, 2011). Eucharistic Prayers for Reconciliation I-II. https://catholic-resources.org/ChurchDocs/RM3-EPR1-2.htm
[iv] Ibid.
[v] PREFACE OF THE MOST SACRED HEART | THE BOUNDLESS CHARITY OF CHRIST. iBreviary. (n.d.). https://www.ibreviary.com/m/messale.php?s=prefazio&id=487
Posted for the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart
June 7, 2024
