Today is the last day of June and as such so ends the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. On this Sacred Heart Friday I would remind you that the Sacred Heart Devotion is a perpetual thing; while June provides a focus and a reminder or renewal for those not too attached to it, the Sacred Heart Devotion is the essence of Catholicism.
- It is devotional in nature, which means that it is a practice which requires some dedication.
- It is Scriptural and doctrinal (John the Evangelist laying his head on the breast of Jesus at the Last Supper; the devotion encapsulating Christ’s love for us and our response to that love – which naturally includes a work of reparation.
- It is Sacramental – devotion to His Sacred Heart is devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. You can add Confession to that.
- It is mystical. Much of it relies on approved private revelation.
- It fuels other devotions. Once you get into the devotion, you are naturally attracted to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and consequentially, the Rosary. If you already had a devotion to the Rosary, it becomes stronger. Perhaps you ‘graduate’ to saying the entire Rosary instead of just the single set of Mysteries for the day.
Tomorrow starts July which is dedicated to the Precious Blood of Jesus. I think I’ll try and write a few posts on that over the month.
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Know someone, perhaps yourself, who might like Catholic devotionals for alcoholics? Please take a look at my books! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)