Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/562



The object  of  this  devotion  is  the  heart  of  the  God  -  Man Christ Jesus. As the  heart  is  the  seat  of  all  the  affections, so the  heart  of  our  Lord  is  especially  proposed  to  our  devotion, as  being  the  seat  and  sanctuary  of  (hat  love  wherewith he  loved  us,  and  gave  himself  for  us.  While,  then,  we  address ourselves  to  that  Sacred  Heart,  as  it  is  united  to  the blessed  Humanity,  and  therefore  to  the  divine  Person  of  the Word,  we,  in  an  especial  and  peculiar  manner,  honour  the love  which  burned  therein  for  man.

The particular  intention  of  this  devotion  is,  to  make  reparation for  the  outrages  committed  against  the  heart  of Jesus  during  his  mortal  life;  outrages  which  continue  to  be committed  against  him  in  the  adorable  Eucharist,  which  is the  Sacrament  of  his  love.

It was  for  this  end  that  our  Lord  revealed  to  Venerable Sister Mary  Alacoque,  that  he  wished  the  festival  and  devotion of  his  Sacred  Heart  to  be  instituted  in  the  Church. It is  related  in  the  life  of  this  holy  nun,  that,  being  one  day in prayer  before  the  blessed  Sacrament,  Jesus  shewed  her  his heart surrounded  with  thorns,  surmounted  by  a  cross,  sand placed upon  a  throne  of  fire;  and  that  he  said  to  her:  "  Be* hold  the  heart  that  has  so  loved  men,  and  has  spared  nothing to  testify  its  love  for  them,  even  to  the  consuming  of  itself for  their  sake;  but,  in  return,  receives  nothing  from  the generality  of  mankind  but  dishonour  and  ingratitude.  What afflicts  me  most  is,  that  hearts  which  treat  me  thus  have  been consecrated  to  me." Our Saviour  then  bade  her  use  her utmost endeavours  to  procure  the  celebration  of  a  particular festival in  honour  of  his  divine  heart,  on  the  first  Friday  after the octave  of  Corpus  Christi;  and  this,  for  these  principal intentions:— 1. That Christians  might  return  him  thanks  for the ineffable  gift  bestowed  upon  them  in  the  blessed  Eucha-