Page:ThePathToHeaven.djvu/591

 from perishing. " From  this  riven  Heart;"  says  St.  Cyprian, "gushes  forth  that  living  water  which  springs  up evermore  into  eternal  life,"  "  The  Heart  of  Jesus,"  says St Bernardine,  "  is  a  furnace  of  most  glowing  love,  which must  set  the  whole  universe  of  God  on  fire." St. Peter Damian calls  this  Heart  the  universal  treasury  of  wisdom, and knowledge;  St.  Francis  of  Sales  speaks  of  it  as  the source and  spring  of  all  graces;  and  St  Bonaventure,  as the  treasure-house  of  all  things  that  are  good. St. Francis of Assisi,  St. Clare, St.  Aloysius  of  Gonzaga  invoked  it unceasingly,  as  the  centre  and  focus  of  the  divine  love. And this  loving  Heart  was  given  to  St.  Mechtildis  as  a place  of  refuge  during  her  life,  and  her  greatest  consolation at  the  hour  of  her  death.

Prayer.— O Lord,  I  implore  thee,  by  the  precious  blood which flowed  forth  from  the  pierced  side  of  Jesus,  thy divine Son,  set  free  the  holy  souls  in  purgatory,  especially those who  during  their  life  were  most  devout  to  his  Sacred Heart; that  they  may  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  thy  glory, and begin  to  praise  and  bless  thee  for  evermore  in  the assembly of  thy  saints. Amen.

Invocation. — " O  pierced  Heart,  O  Heart  ever  open,  of my  Redeemer!  O  blissful  abode  of  souls  that  are  smitten with  heavenly  love!  disdain  not  to  take  up  into  thee  my unworthy  soul!" (St. Alphonsus.}

Practice. — Imitate the  zeal  of  the  Heart  of  Jesus  for  the salvation of  souls,  by  being  faithful  to  the  threefold  apostolate  of  prayer,  example,  and  good  advice.

Aspiration. — O Mary,  we  offer  thee  the  Sacred  Heart of Jesus. Receive it,  O  most  tender  Mother,  and  together with it  the  hearts  of  all  thy  children,  whose  motto  shall ever be,  All  to  the  Heart  of  Jesus  through  the  immaculate heart of  Mary!

Resolution. — I will  show  my  zeal  for  the  worship  of  the Sacred Heart  by  distributing  pictures  of  it,  and  by  diffusing  a  knowledge  of  those  practices  which  are  fitted  to make  it  known  and  loved. During the  month  of  June, and on  the  first  Friday  of  every  month,  if  there,  he  a  lamp burning before  the  image  of  the  Sacred  Heart  in  church, I will  contribute  towards  its  expense. It shall  be  the outward token  of  my  love,  the  pledge  of  my  devotedness, and the  expression  of  my  gratitude  towards  this  adorable Heart.