SACRED HEART DEVOTION DAY 15

Sacred Heart of Jesus as a model of poverty

If you meet a prince who has relinquished all pleasures and royal heritage and willfully leads a life of extreme poverty, then there will be none who will not be surprised at his sacrificial habit. In the same way, is there anybody who is not surprised at Jesus, who is the second person in the Holy Trinity and who has full freedom and control over the entire world, yet who left aside his heavenly glory and took the form of a lowly human being. From whom did Son of God take human form? Is it from one among the nobility or from the prosperous? Certainly not. Though hailing from high heritage, in the eyes of the world His mother is a little known, poor virgin. She is the embodiment of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and in purity she ranks the topmost. Let us have a bird’s eye view of Jesus’ birthplace. He is born in the midst of animals in an insignificant and dirty manger.

During thirty years of his private life He earned His livelihood by hard work. In His famous Sermon on the Mount’, the first thing He spoke about was poverty.” Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God.” Here He refers to the people who are not attracted to this world or its pleasures.

If we would like to measure the depth of Jesus’ poverty, then we should lift our eyes to Golgotha. Jesus is the king of kings and the Lord of all prosperity. In Golgotha, the palace of the Son of God is visible above the hills. His throne is made of three nails. We see him tired, thirsty, naked, helpless and targeted by forgetfulness, negligence and contempt. We see the overflowing love of God and His mighty sacrifice at the altar in Golgotha. Those who wish to see the poverty of our creator, should turn their eyes towards the cross.

If you wish to follow the footsteps of Jesus, then you should always behold the picture of crucified Christ in your mind’s eye. Let us consciously evade all temporal worldly pleasures and seek eternal life

INVOCATION

Jesus who is the model of poverty! I adore You. O my merciful savior! How upset You are when You know that I enjoy material things and am engrossed in worldly achievements. When I compare my sinful heart with Your Sacred Heart, there is no doubt that my heart is an embodiment of darkness and evil. O most loving Jesus! Be benevolent and bless me. Let the light from Your Sacred Heart shine upon the darkness in me and erase all the desires and greed in me and purify me. Bless me to rely only upon You and to love only You.

Grant to Your Church, O Lord, assurance of freedom, protect our Supreme Pontiff and make haste that all may know the haven of truth, and have unity of faith, so that there may soon be one fold and one Shepherd! Lord, be merciful to the unfortunate sinners, console the souls in Purgatory and be merciful to me, your unworthy servant. O Immaculate Heart of Mary, O Mother of all blessings, I firmly believe that through your powerful intercession, all my prayers and petitions will be granted. Amen

[ 3 Our Father, 3 Hail Mary, 3 Glory be..]

The Litany of the Sacred Heart

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us.Christ, graciously hear us. God the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.

God the Holy Spirit, Have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Son of the Eternal Father, Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Formed by the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin Mother, Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Substantially united to the Word of God, Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Of Infinite Majesty, Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Holy Temple of God, Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Tabernacle of the Most High, Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, House of God and Gate of Heaven, Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Burning Furnace of charity, Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Vessel of Justice and love, Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Full of goodness and love, Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Abyss of all virtues, Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Most worthy of all praises, Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, King and center of all hearts, Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, In whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,

Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, In Whom dwelleth all the fullness of the Divinity,

Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, in whom the Father is well pleased, Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Of whose fullness we have all received, Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Desire of the everlasting hills, Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Patient and abounding in mercy, Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Rich unto all who call upon Thee, Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Fountain of life and holiness, Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Atonement for our sins, Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Filled with reproaches, Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Bruised for our offenses, Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Made obedient unto death, Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Pierced with a lance, Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Source of all consolation, Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Our Life and Resurrection, Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Our Peace and Reconciliation, Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Victim for our sins, Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Salvation of those who hope in Thee, Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Hope of those who die in Thee, Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Delight of all the Saints, Have mercy on us.

Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us.

Jesus, meek and humble of heart, Make our hearts like unto Thine.

Let us pray

Almighty and eternal God, look upon the Heart of Thine most-beloved Son, and upon the praises and satisfaction He offers Thee in the name of sinners; and appeased by worthy homage, pardon those who implore Thy mercy, in Thy Great Goodness in the name of the same Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, world without end. Amen.

EJACULATORY PRAYER

Sacred Heart of Jesus! Bless us to know and love You.