These trees are at the Academy of the Sacred Heart in St. Charles where I went to boarding school during my four years of high school. I have such good memories of those years and thought being home three nights a week and at school for four nights was ideal. I had some wonderful teachers and, of course, the spirit of Mother Duchesne, now a canonized saint, penetrated the entire school and the grounds around it. I still feel her spirit when I return for a visit.
I read a good article from John Allen on the Pope as a Parish Pries for the World. He says that there are four
"defining features of Francis' leadership style: simplicity, humility, remaining largely apolitical, and being remarkably accessible to ordinary folks."
I think we need to keep praying that all pastors will practice these four features of  leadership style.

I am still reading for a second time the book on Jesus by Jose Pagola and Jesus certainly was known for his simplicity, humility, remaining largely apolitical, and being remarkably accessible to ordinary folks. In fact, he went out to preach in all the small villages to reach the people. His message was that the reign of God has come. He preached this with passion. He also showed compassion to all but seemed to seek out the lowly, the outcasts, those in most need. If everyone was compassionate, humble, and seeking to help others, our world would be different. 

Behold this Heart which has so loved you...

This was sent to me by one of my directees who knows how I have been reading all I can about Pope Francis: It seems that during a Mass with the gardeners and other workmen for the Vatican the Pope asked them just to think and take time to pray for what they desired- the desires of their hearts. Then the Pope went and sat in the back of the church and prayed in silence with them before returning to continue the Mass.
By the way, if you are interested, the Pope's homily for last Sunday and a letter written to the British Prime Minister are both on the blog you find linked to mine on the right side.

Now, for another bit from Reverend Mother de Lescure's Circular Letter of November, 1949 - she tells us that St. Madeleine Sophie offered the Society of the Sacred Heart to the redemptive plans of the Heart of Jesus. "She saw it marked with His features, impregnated with His Spirit, united to His interior dispositions, and dependent upon His Life; and thus, rich in Him alone, it would carry to the world the message of His Love and say to souls: 'Behold This Heart which has so loved you.'"

We are to give the Heart of Jesus to souls. We are to make Him known and loved by all who come in contact with us...I guess I ask myself how I am letting the love of the Heart of Jesus pass through me to others? What can I do today to reveal God's love?

How do we encounter Jesus?

How do you encounter Jesus? This is a question I ask those who come for spiritual direction and I think there are many answers as we are all unique individuals. However, today I want to share what I think I have been drawn to reflect on - it is the last sentence in the Preface of Jose Pagola's book, Jesus: An Historical Approximation. I am reading this book again and still stopping to pray with it.

"We begin to encounter Jesus when we begin to trust God as he did, when we believe in love as he did, when we come to suffering people as he did, when we confront life and death with hope as he did, when we pass on the contagion of the Good News as he did."

I hope all my friends will read this book You will encounter Jesus in many ways.

Sunday's Gospel and the Love of the Heart of Jesus

All four Gospels have the story of the penitent woman who comes to bathe the feet of Jesus with her tears. This Sunday we have Luke's version and I am copying an excerpt from a commentary found on the Concord Pastor's blog - remember that I have this blog linked on the right so you can just click on the bible and find five wonderful commentaries for the next Sunday's liturgy.

The Woman and the Pharisee—Luke also paints a deliberate contrast between the Pharisee and the woman. By inviting Jesus to a meal, the Pharisee recognizes Jesus as an equal. In the Mediterranean world, only equals can invite each other to meals. But after Jesus' arrival, the Pharisee extends no other sign of hospitality, suggesting that he does not accept Jesus for who he is: God's prophet. The woman stands in stark contrast. The story tells us she was a sinner but gives not a clue regarding the nature of her sin. Though her sinful reputation was known in the city, we do not know what city it was. That she boldly enters the men's space (reclining at table) and is not impeded by Simon suggests she might be a widow, but Simon's neglect may also be part of his determination to withhold signs of hospitality and respect for Jesus. The woman, however, performs for Jesus all the signs of hospitality that the Pharisee quite intentionally omitted: she provides water for cleansing (v. 44), tenders a kiss of greeting (v. 45), and provides perfumed oil for anointing (v. 46). It is precisely these deeds that tell us the woman has been forgiven. Simon's refusal to act like a host indicates that he has not experienced—perhaps not even sought—forgiveness. Contemporary Western commitments to equality as a cultural value often make it difficult to perceive other cultures respectfully on their own terms. In today's story, what the woman has done for Jesus is much more important than her alleged reputation or status. John J. Pilch

Prayer that leads us into the Heart of Jesus

This sunrise calls one to early morning prayer. How do we prepare to descend into the Heart of Jesus?
In the Circular Letter that I have been quoting this week, Reverend Mother de Lescure tells us that "A deed, a word, a gesture, a movement, an attitude of Jesus in the Gospel...all may lead us into the solitude of His Heart, where the riches and interior dispositions of His Heart are found.
She also reminds us that there may be darkness but "let us remain there, humble, and trusting, courageous and faithful, never doubting that love is at work in the soul, even unknown to it, as long as it is resolute in its desire not to leave Him alone, and to share, in its small measure, in the solitude of His Heart."

I hope reflecting with me this week on bits of this powerful Circular Letter has been helpful for you; it has for me as I suspect this letter was almost a school of prayer for me as a novice.

How to descend into the Heart of Jesus

"The immense solitude of His Heart does not often find anyone with whom it can communicate." I am pondering that line from Reverend Mother de Lescure's Letter that I have been sharing with you this week. She tells us that St. Madeleine Sophie founded the Society to people the solitude of the Heart of Jesus.  We were to " heed the ardor of His heartbeats" and "not leave Him alone in the depths of His Life....That is why  she wanted prayer to lead us to the most intimate and reserved realm of His Interior Dispositions..."
We are to be ready to descend into the solitude of His Heart alone, detached, and offered. But "the fact remains that this is a grace. we do not take it by storm; it is the conquest neither of the inquiring mind nor of the tenacious will. We ask for it on our knees, prostrate in our misery, conscious of our unworthiness, certain, however, of the call which is expressed by the name we bear, Jesus Christ, revealing His Heart, and we, unworthy beggars, entering and descending to unite and conform ourselves: such was to be the prayer of the Society."

I know that many different people read my blogs; I think, although the above was written for the Religious of the Sacred Heart, we can all learn to beg the grace of entering the Heart of Jesus.

Reflection on the Name

By giving us the name, Society of the Sacred Heart, St. Madeleine Sophie assured us of the right to enter and dwell in His Heart. What a gift!
To continue to quote from the November Letter of Reverend Mother de Lescure in 1949:
"Our Lord has many disciples, apostles and friends. During his mortal life and since, many faithful, chosen souls have looked on Him, followed Him, and loved Him. However, is it rash to think that few, too few, going beyond what they have seen and heard about Him, are able to enter the depths of His Life? The solitude of His Heart is a crushing reality. How many souls remain at the threshold, without ever trying to reach, were it only the edge of the torrents of Love which rise towards His Father and souls."

I have already told you how the phrase "the solitude of His Heart is a crushing reality" really influenced me as a novice. Now you have it in context. More on this tomorrow.

Naming the Society with the name of His Heart was a mutual and real exchange of ownership between the Society and Our Lord who accepted the offering and took possession of it. As Reverend Mother de Lescure says in her November Circular Letter of 1949, "In marking it with His name, He made it His own and gave it His Heart. His name became the sign of the contract between love and mercy on one hand, confidence and total abandonment on the other, for this is what an alliance me be that unites the Heart which is only Love and Mercy with the poor, weak creatures that we all are....this reciprocal possession would make possible by right and fact the admirable exchange of poverty and riches, of failure and pardon, of frailty and strength, of powerlessness and life..."
What a grace for us to be called the Society of the Sacred Heart! Let us ponder what this means for each of us today - Religious, Associate, Alumni, Colleague, Friend, Child of Mary, etc. There is much to reflect on in considering the name of the Society.

Carried by Jesus

Have you ever felt that Jesus was carrying you? I suspect we all have felt this at different times in our lives. I love the story of only one set of footprints because Jesus was carrying the person who thought he had been left alone with all his problems. Jesus is always there for us.

I want to quote a bit from one of my favorite letters of Reverend Mother Therese de Lescure. This is the one that she wrote to the Society preparing for its 150 year celebration. It is on our name, Society of the Sacred Heart:
"It was first of all  between the Society and Our Lord who accepted the offering and took possession of it. In marking it with His name, He made it His own and gave it His Heart...

"What our Holy Mother further assured the Society by its baptismal name was the right to enter and dwell in this Heart.....

But this name would also be a title to entrance, not to the threshold but to the very depths of this divine Heart.,,,

I am going to try to keep to the theme of the Sacred Heart of Jesus during the month of June as it will be good for us to reflect on various aspects of the devotion. I do hope you try praying with the invocations posted in yesterday's blog.

Trust and Pray

Today I am sending you a real treasure. I no doubt sent it a long time ago in this blog, but using this for prayer was a real grace for me and I am sure it will be for you, too. We used to say this in preparation for the First Friday of each month.

LITANY OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS

Sacred Heart of Jesus,

To your adoration, I unite myself

To your burning love,

To Your ardent zeal,

To your reparation,

To your thanksgiving,

To your firm confidence,

To your fervent prayers,

To your silence,

To your humility,

To your obedience,

To your gentleness and peace,

To your surpassing kindness,

To your universal charity,

To your deep recollection,

To your intense desire for the conversion of sinners,

To your close union with the heavenly Father,

To your intentions, desires, and will, I unite myself.

Love of the Heart of Jesus, Inflame my heart,

Charity of the Heart of Jesus, Abound in my heart,

Strength of the Heart of Jesus, Uphold my heart,

Mercy of the Heart of Jesus, Forgive my heart,

Patience of the Heart of Jesus, Do not weary of my heart,

Kingdom of the Heart of Jesus, Be established in my heart,

Wisdom of the Heart of Jesus, Teach my heart,

Zeal of the Heart of Jesus, Consume my heart,

Will of the heart of Jesus, Dispose of my heart.

Adorable Trinity, We thank for the favors which you granted for St. Madeleine Sophie. We ask you to grant us the graces to be conformed with the Heart of Jesus completely. Amen.

Take one invocation to spend the day with and repeat it as you go through the day. It will make a difference in your life!

Sunday Reflection

This Sunday's Readings give much to reflect on and I think that we are learning to be more aware of the great compassion of God. I am also reading the book "The Humility of God" by Ilia Delio - it is taking me a long time because I need to keep going back over a page and underlining so many of her thought-filled sentences. I think her speaking of the humility of God in this book and the compassion of God in another have made the readings for Sunday speak to me of the great compassion shown and commented on for this Sunday by John Kavanaugh - we are still reborn in Christ!

"Elijah begged God to restore a dead son to a poor widow. Guilt was the order of the day. She presumed it was either Elijah's fault or her own that the son had died. But the guilt was overcome. The prophet, hovering over the lad, called his lifebreath back.
]esus, for his part, encountered a widow at Naim. He saw her in the funeral procession of her only son. Moved with compassion for her loss, his words were, “Do not cry.” He touched the litter and said, “Young man, 1 bid you, get up.” Then ]esus gave him back to his mother.
But did these two children of two widows eventually die someday? Of course they did. This can only mean that the message behind all those accounts of bringing back to life is not the perpetual postponement of death. Death will come, whether now or later. But the healings of the prophets, as well as Jesus, are symbolic of a deeper healing. The point cannot be to stave off death. If that were the point, Jesus himself should never have died.
But Jesus did die. And he was risen up by the power of the Father. That is the point. No matter what death we endure—even sin itself—it is not definitive. We are reborn in Christ."

The Heart of Christ is full of compassion and He needs us to be compassionate!

Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

This is not really a picture of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, but it is a traditional image of Mary that speaks to me of her intercession for all of us. She is a real mother and watches over us. The surest way to the Heart of Jesus is through the Heart of Mary.
I am glad the feast of the Immaculate Heart is the day after the Feast of the Sacred Heart as those two hearts are so closely united that it seems fitting to have the feasts so close together. On the other hand, I think we celebrate the Immaculate Heart of Mary less now. It used to be on August 22 and something we really looked forward to as the summer was ending. Now, it is a quiet day with more time for prayer and that is good.
We had a lovely Mass with all the faculty and staff of our school here in Miami yesterday and then lunch there. The RSCJs in the Miami area also celebrated by going out to dinner. A huge rain storm started after we were safely seated inside for dinner. We all made it home safely but I read in today's paper that some areas were badly flooded. I am still praying with "Jesus: An Historical Approximation" and hope you are reading it. The author is Jose Pagola, a Spanish priest.