Friday, July 1, 2011

Solemnity of the Sacred Heart

In the homes of my parents and many of the faithful, the tradition was to display an image of the Sacred Heart.  To do so demonstrated to all those who entered, a fervent devotion to the love of Christ present in the house, and within the faith lives of all its inhabitants.


On the Friday following the celebration of Corpus Christi, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, and according to the reflection provided by Saint Bonaventure, today is a day for giving thanks, especially for the One through whom we have found the source of life.

Take thought now, redeemed man, and consider how great and worthy is he who hangs on the cross for you.  His death brings the dead to life, but at his passing heaven and earth are plunged into mourning and hard rocks are split assunder.

It was a divine decree that permitted one ofthe soldiers to open his sacred side with a lance.  This was done so that the Church might be formed from the side of Christ as he slept the sleep of death on the cross, and so that the Scripture might be fulfilled: They shall look on him whom they pierced.  The blood and water which poured out at that moment were the price of our salvation.  Flowing from the secret abyss of our Lordès heart as from a fountain, this stream gave the sacraments of the Church the power to confer the life of grace, while for those already liiving in Christ it became a spring of living water welling up to life everlasting.

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