The Catholic Prayer Book and Manual of Meditations/Devotions to the Sacred Heart, during the time of Mass
Devotions to the Sacred Heart,
Especially during the time of Mass.
INVOCATIONS.
SANCTUARY of the divinity! Abyss of wisdom !
Ocean of goodness ! Throne of mercy!
Treasure inexhaustible, of whose fulness we have all received!
Our peace and our atonement!
Fountain of water springing up into everlasting life!
In which the Father is well pleased!
The propitiation for our sins!
Filled with bitterness for our sakes!
Sorrowful in the garden, even unto death!
Overwhelmed with revilings!
Wounded with love!
Pierced with a lance!
Exhausted of thy blood on the cross!
Bruised for our sins!
Still outraged by ungrateful men in the most Holy Sacrament of love!
Refuge of sinners!
Strength of the weak !
Comfort of the afflicted !
Perseverance of the just!
Salvation of them that hope in Thee !
Hope of them that die in Thee !
Sweet support of those who worship Thee!
Our Helper in our many and great tribulations !
Delight of all the saints!
AN ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
TO thee, O Sacred Heart of Jesus! do I devote and offer up my life, thoughts, words, actions, and sufferings. May my whole being be no longer employed, but in loving, serving, and glorifying thee. O Sacred Heart! be thou henceforth the sole object of my love, the protector of my life, the pledge of my salvation, and my refuge at the hour of my death. Justify me, O blessed and adorable Heart, at the bar of divine justice, and screen me from the anger which my sins deserve. Imprint thyself like a divine seal on my heart, that I may never be separated from thee. May my name also be ever engraven upon thee, and may I ever be consecrated to thy glory, ever burning with the flames of thy love, and entirely penetrated with it for all eternity. This is all my desire, to live in thee. One thing have I sought of the Lord, and this will I seek, that I may dwell in the heart of my Lord all the days of my life. Amen.
A PRAYER TO THE ETERNAL FATHER.
O ETERNAL Father, let me offer up unto thy mercy the Sacred Heart of thy well-beloved Son, even as he offered himself up a sacrifice to thy justice.
Accept, on my behalf, all the thoughts, sentiments, affections, motions, and all the actions of this Sacred Heart; they are mine, because it was immolated for me; they are mine, because for the future I am resolved to admit nothing into my heart but what hath place in thine. Receive then, O God, the merits of this Sacred Heart in satisfaction for my sins, and in thanksgiving for all the benefits conferred upon me. Receive them, O Lord, as so many motives for granting my petitions. Give me, O Lord, for their sake, all the graces I need, but especially the gift of final perseverance. Receive them as so many acts of love, adoration, and praise, which I now offer to thy divine majesty. This Sacred Heart, this Heart alone, can love, honour, and glorify thee as thou deservest. Amen.
The faithful are invited to make, at Mass, or at fixed times in the day, according to their opportunities, one or more of the following aspirations of love to the Sacred Heart of Jesus:
O SACRED Heart of Jesus, I love thee, and desire to love thee more and more !
O Heart of Jesus, burning with love of us, inflame our hearts with the love of thee!
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, mayst thou be known, loved, and adored throughout all the world !
O Heart of my dear Redeemer, may the love of thy friends supply all the injuries and neglects of those who offend thee!
ACT OF LOVE BY BLESSED MARG. MARY ALACOQUE.
O MOST loving Heart of my only beloved, unable to love and glorify thee according to the extent of the desire Thou hast given me, I invite all heaven and earth to assist me, and I unite myself to the burning seraphim, in order to love thee. O heart, burning with love, why dost thou not set heaven and earth on fire with thy pure flame, to consume whatever they contain, that all creatures may breathe only thy love. O make me suffer or die, or at least change my heart entirely, and consume me with thy most ardent fire, that I may love thee perfectly. O divine fire, O most pure flames from the Heart of my only love, burn me without compassion, consume me without resistance. Alas ! why dost thou spare me, since I am only fit to burn, and only deserve fire? O Love! O Love of heaven and earth, come into my heart and reduce me to ashes ! O devouring fire of the Divinity, come and dissolve me; burn me, consume me in the midst of thy pure flames, which cause those who die in them to live.
PRAYER OF ST. GERTRUDE TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
O SACRED Heart of Jesus ! living and life-giving fountain of eternal life, infinite treasure of the divinity, glowing furnace of love! Thou art my refuge and my sanctuary. O my adorable and lovely Saviour! consume my heart with that burning fire wherewith thine is ever inflamed; pour down upon my soul those graces which flow from thy love, and let my heart be so united with thine, that our wills may be one, and mine in all things conformed to thine. May thine be the rule alike of my desires and of my actions. Amen.
AN ACT OF REPARATION TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
O ADORABLE Heart of my God and Saviour! filled with a lively sorrow at the thought of the injuries which thou hast received, and art every day receiving, in the august Sacrament of the altar, I prostrate myself at thy feet, to make thee an act of humble reparation for all thou hast suffered. O, that by my reverence, by my devotion, I could make amends to thy outraged majesty! O, that I could do so, even at the sacrifice of my life! Call to mind thy mercies, O Jesus! and grant me the pardon which I beg for so many impious, heretical, and slothful Christians who dishonour thee, and above all, for myself, who have so often offended thee. Remember not my ingratitude; but remember that thy divine Heart, bearing the burden of my sins, was afflicted even unto death. Let not thy sufferings and thy blood be in vain; destroy in me my sinful heart, and give me one according to thine own, an humble and a contrite heart; a heart that is pure, and full of horror for sin; a heart that henceforth may be as a victim wholly consecrated to thy glory, and inflamed with the sacred fire of thy love. And for my part, I promise thee, O most sweet Jesus, to endeavour for the future, as much as in me lies, by my devotion in church, by my diligence in visiting thee in the Sacrament of the altar, by my fervour in receiving thee in the Holy Communion, to make reparation for the irreverences, the profanations, and the sacrileges which I deplore in the bitterness of my soul. Amen.
A VISIT TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
O HEART of Jesus! who remainest day and night amongst us, inviting, expecting, receiving all those who come to visit thee, I worship thee, and confess to thee my misery and my nothingness. I thank thee for all the mercies which thou hast bestowed upon me, especially for delivering me from the power of the devil; for restoring to me the dignity of a child of God, which I had lost by sin; for giving me the Blessed Virgin for my advocate; and inspiring me with the desire to come into thy presence. I thank thee with all my heart, that thou vouchsafest to show me mercy; I desire to repair the injuries which I have had the misery to inflict upon thee, by my coldness and indifference to thy service. O, that I could honour thee as thou deservest to be honoured, in all places where now thou art the least honoured and the most neglected. Amen.
And thou, immaculate Mary, most holy and dear Mother of fair love, who so earnestly desirest that thy divine Son should be loved by all, obtain for me, by thy most powerful intercession, that he may receive and accept this solemn consecration, which I this day make of my whole self in thy presence; to the end that my name may be written indelibly in the number of those happy souls, who, faithful and constant in his service, shall never be separated from the most sweet love of thy dear and most amiable Son Jesus. Amen.
FORM OF ADMISSION INTO THE CONFRATERNITY OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS.
I, N.N., for the greater honour of Jesus Christ crucified, and of his divine Heart, burning with love in the Blessed Eucharist, and also to repair the outrages he receives in this august Sacrament, associate myself of my own free will to the faithful received into this pious Confraternity. I desire to participate in the indulgences with which it is enriched, and in the good works therein performed, both for the expiation of my own sins, and for the assistance of the suffering souls in purgatory.
O sweet Jesus! enclose in thy Sacred Heart all the members of this Association; grant that, faithfully observing the precepts of thy law, and fulfilling the duties proper to their condition, they may be more and more inflamed with the fire of thy divine love. Amen.
Received, &c.
INDULGENCE PRAYER BEFORE A PICTURE.
Pius VII., by a rescript of June 8th, 1807, and by another of Sept. 26, 1817, grants in perpetuity an indulgence of one hundred days, to those Who, with a contrite and humble heart, shall make the following offering before a picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus:
PRAYER.
“Wishing, O amiable Jesus, to testify my gratitude, and repair my infidelities, I, N.N., give Thee my heart. I consecrate myself entirely to Thee, and I resolve, with Thy assistance, never more to offend Thee.”
And a plenary indulgence once a month, on any day, with the ordinary conditions, for all who shall make this offering daily. — Bouvier.
PRAYER TO THE SACRED HEART DURING THE TIME OF MASS.
ETERNAL Father, permit me to offer thee the Heart of Jesus Christ thy dearly beloved Son, as he himself offers it to thee in sacrifice. May it please thee to receive this offering for me, with all the desires, feelings, affections, movements, and acts of this Sacred Heart. They are all mine, since it is immolated for me, and henceforth I wish to have no other desires. Receive them in satisfaction for my sins, and in thanksgiving for all thy benefits. Receive them in order to grant me through its merits, all the graces which are necessary for me, especially the grace of final perseverance. Receive them, as so many acts of love, adoration, and praise, which I offer to thy divine Majesty, since it is by it alone thou art worthily honoured and glorified. Amen. — B. Marg. Mary Alacoque.
AN EXERCISE OF UNION WITH THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS DURING MASS.
AT THE INTROIT.
“Go forth, ye daughters of Sion, and see King Solomon in the diadem, wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the joy of his heart.” (Cant, iii.) “ My heart hath uttered a good word; I will declare my works to the king.” ( Psalm xliv.) Gloria Patri, &c.
AT THE KYRIE ELEISON.
HEART of Jesus, Ocean of goodness, Abyss of wisdom, Treasure inexhaustible, have mercy on me.
AT THE GLORIA IN EXCELSIS.
“GLORY to God in the highest, and peace on earth to men of good will.” The heart of the infant Jesus exulted when that was sung, and shepherds and angels rejoiced. Let now the angels rejoice over one sinner doing penance. Let now my own hard heart be softened. Let now the Heart of God raised up in glory above the earth, draw me. Let it bring the waters of sorrow out from my rocky heart, and break and crush it with true contrition, till I too sing, u Glory to God in the highest,” and on earth the peace of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to men of good will. We give thee thanks, O Lord Jesus, for the great glory of thy adorable Heart. Receive our prayer.
THE PRAYER.
AFTER THE DOMINUS VOBISCUM.
CLOTHE us, O Lord Jesus, with the virtues of thy Sacred Heart, and inflame our souls with the fire of thy divine love; that we may be conformed to the image of thy goodness, and be worth)’ of participating in thy redemption. Who livest and reignest with the Father, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.
AT THE EPISTLE.
Ephes. iii. 8.
BRETHREN, to me, the least of all the saints, is given this grace, to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to enlighten all men, that they may see what is the dispensation of the mystery which hath been hidden from eternity in God, who created all things. For this cause 1 bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom all paternity in heaven and earth is named: that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit unto the inward man; that Christ may dwell by faith in your hearts: that being rooted and founded in charity, you may be able to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length, and height, and depth. To know also the charity of Christ, which surpasseth knowledge, that you may be filled unto all the fulness of God.
THE TRACT
ALLELUIA! Alleluia! O Lord my God, I have cried out to thee, and thou hast healed me. Thou hast led my soul out of hell, Alleluia! Thou hast turned my mourning into joy for me; thou hast cut my sack-cloth in sunder, and hast compassed me with gladness. Alleluia!
THE GOSPEL.
John xv. 9-16.
AT that time: Jesus said to his disciples: As the Father hath loved me, I also have loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love; as I also have kept my Father’s commandments, and do abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be filled. This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love than this no man hath that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do the things that I command you. I will not now call you servants: for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doth. But I have called you friends; because all things whatsoever I have heard of my Father, I have made known to you. You have not chosen me: but I have chosen you, and have appointed you, that you should go, and should bring forth fruit: and your fruit should remain: that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
AT THE CREDO.
I BELIEVE, O my God, the truths which thou hast revealed to thy Church. I desire to live and die in this faith. Grant, O Lord, that my life may be conformable with my faith, that my faith may be animated by good works, that I may never be ashamed to declare myself a Catholic, and may constantly maintain the interests of thy holy religion.
O Church of Rome, the persecutions which thou hast endured, far from weakening my faith, do but strengthen it the more, since thy divine Spouse foretold them. I vow inviolable attachment to thee. Lord, draw close the bonds that bind me to thy holy Church; put into my heart a spirit of perfect obedience to its lawful pastors. In its bosom I became thy child, and in its bosom I wish to live and die. Amen.
AT THE OFFERTORY.
Matt. xi. 29.
LEARN of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart: and you shall find rest to your souls. Alleluia.
The Priest offering up the Host, says:
ACCEPT, O holy Father, almighty and eternal God, this unspotted Host, which I thy unworthy servant offer unto thee, my living and true God, for my own innumerable sins, offences and negligences, and for all here present, as also for all faithful Christians both living and dead, that it may avail both me and them unto eternal life. Amen.
Putting the Wine and Water into the Chalice, he says:
O God! who, in creating human nature, didst wonderfully ennoble it. and afterwards more wonderfully reform it, grant that by the mystery of this water and wine, we may be made partakers of his divine nature, who vouchsafed to become partaker of out human nature, Jesus Christ Out Lord, thy Son, who, with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth God, for ever and ever. Amen.
At offering the Chalice, he says;
WE offer thee, O Lord! the Chalice of Salvation, beseeching thy Clemency, that it may ascend before thy divine Majesty, as a most sweet odour for our salvation, and for that of the whole world. Amen.
The Priest humbly bowing himself, says:
ACCEPT us, O Lord! who come in the spirit of humility, and with a contrite and humble heart; and grant that the sacrifice which we offer this day in thy sight, may be pleasing to thee, O Lord God!
Turning himself towards the People, he says:
BRETHREN, pray that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable in the sight of God the Father Almighty.
R. May the Lord receive this Sacrifice from thy hands, to the praise and glory of his own name, and to our benefit, and that of all his holy Church.
Then the Priest says the Secret Prayer as follows:
WE beseech thee, O Lord! to inflame our souls with the fire of the Holy Ghost, which our Lord Jesus Christ has sent on earth, from the secret recesses of his Heart, to enkindle in us his love; who liveth, &c.
AT THE PREFACE.
IT is truly meet and just, right and available to salvation, that we should always, and in all places, give thanks to thee, O Holy Lord, Father Almighty, eternal God: who has appointed that the salvation of mankind should be wrought on the wood of the cross; that whence death came, thence life might arise; and that he who overcame by the tree, might also by the tree be overcome. Through Christ our Lord: by whom the Angels praise thy majesty, the dominations adore it, the powers tremble before it; the heavens and the heavenly virtues, and blessed seraphim, with common jubilee, glorify it. Together with whom we beseech thee, that we may be admitted to join our humble voices, saying: Holy, holy, holy, &c.
From the Sanctus to the Consecration:
JESUS Christ loves us infinitely more than we love ourselves. He has loved us to excess. u And they spoke of his decease that he should accomplish in Jerusalem.” ( Luke ix. 1.) And what greater excess than that he should die for his creatures 1 He loved us, even to an excess of love. “Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them unto the end.” ( John xiii. 1.) For after having loved us from eternity, so that every moment of it he thought of us, and loved each one of us — “ I have loved you with an eternal love ” — He has become man for love of us, and has chosen a painful life, and the death of the cross to save us. And now, “ His delight is to be with the children of men.” Heart created on purpose to love men, how is it possible thou receivest from them forgetfulness and insult? Give me grace, sweet Jesus, to love thee.
AFTER THE ELEVATION.
THE bell has rung. He is here, body and blood, Soul and Divinity. Jesus Christ is present! “ The heavens have dropped down dew from above, . and the clouds have rained the Just.” My Saviour, I, am in thy presence, in the presence of thee, who art “ the beginning and the end,” who art “ He was to come,” who art “ the Lord,” “ the first and the last,” “inhabiting eternity,” and holding “the keys of death and of hell.” “ Power and wisdom, and greatness and strength, and honour and glory, and blessing,” be to my Redeemer, for ever and ever. I adore thy Sacred Heart. Take me within it.
AT THE PATER NOSTER.
PRECIOUS prayer, which came from the Sacred Heart, and ought to penetrate mine with the sweet sword of his love. The Heart of God the Father toward us was such as he manifested, who proceeded from his Heart. He who has given us himself, how will he not in himself give us all things? “ What wouldst thou that I should do for Thee?” already he asks. What shall I ask him for? O what treasures St. Francis and St. Gertrude got from his Sacred Heart! His arm is not shortened nor his power diminished, nor his strength exhausted. That Heart is a miracle of goodness. He bids me ask: What can I desire better than himself? If I ask aught else I shall have but a part. Hear me! I ask, I entreat, I implore. Give me your holy love, and then yourself, O increated beauty of the Father, O most beautiful among the sons of men!
AT THE COMMUNION.
O MY Saviour! there is no place more worthy of thee than thyself. Empty me, then, of myself, O my God, and establish thyself within me; so that when thou comest to me, thou mayst be received not by me, but by thyself, and with the same love that thou bearest thyself.
If you are going to Communion, add:
O MY God, I offer thee, to supply the deficiency of my own merits, the holy dispositions of all the saintly souls who have worthily communicated, or are now doing so, or shall do so to the world’s end.
I rise to present myself before thee. My soul burns with an ardent thirst. O give unto her the living water!
AFTER THE COMMUNION.
Psalm lxviii.
MY heart hath expected reproach and misery. And I looked for one that would grieve together with me, but there was none: and for one that would comfort me, and I found none.
Psalm xxi.
BUT I am a worm, and no man: the reproach of men, and the outcast of the people. All they that saw me have laughed me to scorn: they have spoken with the lips, and wagged the head. I am poured out like water; and all my bones are scattered. My heart is become like wax melting in the midst of my bowels.
THE POST COMMUNION.
MAY thy grace, O Lord Jesus! we beseech thee, afford us thy love, in order that, being sensible of the sweetness of thy most loving Heart, we may learn to despise earthly things, and love such as are heavenly: who livest and reignest, &c.
AT THE END OF MASS.
O MOTHER of beautiful love ! Mary! thou who so much desirest to see Jesus loved, unite me, attach me to thy Divine Son; but unite me in such a manner that I may never more be separated from him.
A VISIT TO THE SACRED HEART.
O HEART of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! how miserable am I, and how ungrateful after so many benefits and favours, so many visits and inspirations, especial protections and graces of every kind. I have not one act of love worthy of thee. I am cold and indifferent. O Heart of my dearest Lord, full of compassion, have mercy on my extreme misery. Take my cold miserable heart, and put it in thy inflamed Heart, where it may be consumed with the love of thy holy Heart. I am all misery and sin: Thou art all mercy and compassion. Thou wert open that I might enter in and find rest to my soul in the holy sanctuary of thy Heart, where every treasure is to be found. This holy sanctuary was formed for me in the womb of the Blessed Virgin, and opened on Calvary, that in every distress I might enter and procure strength. But, alas! the blindness that holds my heart! I am wounded, and thy loving kindness compels me to come in, that you may heal my poor soul. Keep me, O Lord, and teach me to adore and thank thee. Make me know the treasures that I possess in thy holy Heart. Give me grace that I may use them for thy honour. Grant that I may no longer be like the unwise servant, who hiding his talent had no interest for his lord.
ANOTHER VISIT TO THE SACRED HEART.
WHO am I, that grieve at the least ingratitude, and resent the smallest slight or disrespect; while I enter the church without proper respect, perhaps wholly forgetful that the Heart of my Jesus, so tender and so jealous of my love, is there waiting for me that I may offer some act of love or gratitude for the many blessings He has heaped upon me! O my dearest Lord, I am covered with confusion. Why am I so cold and indifferent? It grieves me to think of this, my ingratitude; but it is too true. O Heart of my Jesus, have mercy on me. I will receive all injuries as my due, and from this time forward, I desire to suffer all things for thee, and in union with thee. Why am I not all on fire with thy love? O Heart of my Jesus, teach me to profit by this great privilege that I enjoy in having thy holy Heart always present on our altars. This is the seat of thy mercy, where thou receivest thy poor children, to comfort them in this vale of misery. Here thou desirest to receive their homage. O Heart of my Jesus, give me grace to love thee with a pure love. I desire to serve thee faithfully from henceforward; to pay thee all the homage and gratitude I am able.
PRAYER.
MOST loving and most beloved Jesus, I pray and beseech thee by thy own heart, crown thou thy gifts so sweetly bestowed upon me: grant that, united with thee by the bond of love, I may never be separated from thee: give me this perfect gift, that I may love thee perseveringly, with the purity of the virgins, with the fidelity of the confessors, with the fervour of the martyrs, with the zeal of the apostles, with the love of my angel guardian, that I may thus atone for the insults offered to thy Sacred Heart, and may live of love for thee, until I be admitted into the eternal Kingdom of thy love Amen.