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 to all  the  faithful  as  a devotion  the  most  solid,  and the best  calculated  for  obtaining  a victory  over  their strongest passions,  for  establishing  peace  and  concord in  the  most  divided  families,  for  destroying  the most inveterate  imperfections,  for  acquiring  a most pure and  ardent  love,  and  for  obtaining,  in  a short time, the  most  sublime  perfection.”

Eternal thanks  to  Jesus  Christ,  the  Wisdom  of the  Father,  for  instructing  us  out  of  the  abundance of His  adorable  Heart,  in  a devotion  so  easy,  so fruitful,  so  dear  and  pleasing  to  God !

Relying on  the  magnificent  promises  of  Jesus Christ — the same yesterday,  to-day,  and  for  ever,  the Eternal Wisdom  who  knows  what  is  good  for  us, and loved  us  even  unto  the  death  of  his  most bitter cross — let  us  embrace  with  ardour  this  devotion of  his  own  choosing. If we  wish  to  become his familiar  friends,  to  whom  he  will  confide  the secrets of  his  love — if  we  wish  to  rise  out  of  deep and inveterate  habits  of  sin; if  we  wish  to  be changed  into  newness  of  life; if  we  wish  to  have influence for  good  with  our  neighbour — let  us  address ourselves to  the  Sacred  Heart  of  Jesus  by  acts  of adoration,  of  reparation  for  the  griefs  that  wounded his Heart,  of  love,  and  of  petition  for  the  graces  we need. “Grant me,  O Jesus,”  said  St.  Ignatius, “ your grace  and  love,  and  I shall  be  rich  enough.”

The Heart  of  Jesus,  inflamed  with  love  for  us,  is therefore  the  object  of  this  devotion; the  reparation of the  insults  offered  to  it,  the  end; and  a most ardent love  of  our  Lord,  and  innumerable  graces,  the fruit. What more  could  be  said  to  one  who  would but weigh  the  import  of  these  few  words. St. Mechtilde says:  “The  Son  of  God  appeared  to  me one  day,  holding  in  his  hands  his  own  Heart,  more