October 16 2024 - St. Margaret Mary Alacoque - Visions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

 Throughout the ages, some of the Saints have been gifted by God with visions or visitations from heaven. St. Paul is of course visited by Jesus on the road to Damascus. Legend has it that Jesus appeared to St. Peter before his own martyrdom. The book of Acts says that St. Stephen the Deacon had a vision of Jesus right before his martyrdom, and St. John the Evangelist of course, writes of his vision of heaven in the Book of Revelation. 

St. Francis famously had a vision of Jesus speaking to him from the cross in the chapel of San Damiano telling him to rebuild his Church. St. Catherine of Siena’s life was filled with visions. St. Juan Diego received a vision of Our Lady of Guadalupe. 

In 1677, St. Margaret Mary, a Visitation nun in France, received visions of Our Lord. She writes in her diary how she plainly saw His heart, pierced and bleeding, yet there were flames, too, coming from it and a crown of thorns around it. She writes, “He told me to behold His heart which so loved humanity. Then He seemed to take my very heart from me and place it there in His heart. In return He gave me back part of His flaming heart.”

St. Margaret Mary received not just a vision, but a command. Our Lord charged her with making known the powerful devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which today has spread throughout the world. 

The message of the Sacred Heart is powerful. It is the message, that Jesus’ Heart—the heart of God—burns with love for sinners, and so he calls sinners to repent—to turn away from their sin—so that their hearts might be set afire like His. 

The message of the Sacred Heart addresses two errors of the spiritual life. On one hand, there is the temptation to see oneself as a hopeless sinner unworthy of God’s love, to see God as a task master who demands the rigid observance of the law or else he will send you to the eternal hell-fires. On the other hand, there is the temptation to explain away sin, to claim that since God’s mercy is so great, we really don’t have to put in that much effort to reform our lives: that it doesn’t really matter what we believe or what we do.

Rather, the devotion to the Sacred Heart shows us that we are loved intensely by God, his love for us is a fiery furnace. But because we are so loved, we must respond to God by seeking purification of all that is unlovable in us, the selfishness, impurity, pride, error, and hardheartedness.

May the message which St. Margaret Mary faithfully made known—the message of the love of the heart of Jesus—resound in our lives—that all of our selfishness may be burned away—that we may be set aflame with love for our fellow man and concern for his eternal well-being, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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In reparation to the Sacred Heart for all sin and all blasphemy.

For an increase in faith, hope, and love for all Christians.

That our children and young people may be kept safe from the poisonous errors of our culture, and that their families may be places where the faith is practiced and cherished.

For all those whose love for God has grown cold, who have fallen into moral laxity or despair of the mercy of God, for all souls in danger of hell, for their conversion and the conversion of all hearts.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for the deceased priests and religious of the diocese of Cleveland, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

Gracious Father, hear our prayers, and through the infinite mercy of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, grant us what we truly need, through the same Christ our Lord.

November 16 2021 - St. Gertrude the Great - Visions of Purgatory

 St. Gertrude the Great was a holy mystic of the 14th century, who received many heavenly visions as a Benedictine nun. She actually received a vision as a young child too. The Lord visited her to tell her that she was studying too much and neglecting her prayers! 

Her many visions and conversations with Our Lord and Lady were recorded and are available in the book “The Life & Revelations of Saint Gertrude the Great” a spiritual classic hundreds of years.

Among her numerous visions were short glimpses into purgatory, like this:

“On Wednesday, at the elevation of the Host, she besought our Lord for the souls of the faithful in purgatory, that He would free them from their pains by virtue of His admirable Ascension; and she beheld our Lord descending into purgatory with a golden rod in His Hand, which had as many hooks as there had been prayers for their souls; by these he appeared to draw them into a place of repose. She understood by this that whenever any one prays generally from a motive of charity for the souls in purgatory, the greater part of those who during their lives have exercised themselves in works of charity, are released.”

It is fitting that the feast of St. Gertrude is found smack-dab in the middle of November, the month dedicated to praying for the souls in purgatory, for the saint had a very special devotion to praying for the holy souls, no doubt due to her many visions, but because she was filled with love for all souls.

She would offer daily a particular prayer for the holy souls that goes like this: “Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.” 

We may not be mystics, or have the ability to dedicate to prayer as a contemplative Benedictine nun, but each of us does well to pray daily for those holy souls, we will likely be in their company one day soon. 

May the saintly Virgin Gertrude the Great, assist us in making our hearts fitting dwelling places for Christ in this earthly life, that we may come to joyful fellowship with Him in the life to come, for the glory of God and salvation of souls. 

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For blessings upon the Bishops gathered in Baltimore for their annual meeting this week, that their conversations, prayers, and deliberations for the good of the Church may be blessed. 

That our young people may be assisted by their families in growing in faith, hope, and love, and protected from the evil and corruption of the world.

For all those struggling with addiction, mental illness, chronic sickness, unemployment, or ongoing trials of any kind: that they will be fortified and blessed with God’s special favor, healing and peace.  We pray to the Lord.

Through the intercession of St. Gertrude, we pray in a special way for all of the faithful departed during this Month of November, for the deceased members of our family, friends, and parish, and all the souls in purgatory, and for N. for whom this mass is offered. 

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

October 16 2017 - St. Margaret Mary - The vision of His Burning Heart

Throughout the ages, some of the Saints have been gifted by God with visions or visitations from heaven. St. Paul is of course visited by Jesus on the road to Damascus, legend has it Jesus appeared to St. Peter before his own martyrdom. The book of Acts says that St. Stephen the Deacon had a vision of Jesus right before his martyrdom, and St. John the Evangelist of course, writes of his vision of heaven in the Book of Revelation.

St. Francis famously had a vision of Jesus speaking to him from the cross in the chapel of San Damiano telling him to rebuild his Church. St. Catherine of Siena’s life was filled with visions. Even our parish patron, St. Clare, was given visions of the Holy Mass when she was bed-ridden due to infirmity.

In 1677, Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary. a Visitation nun in France. She writes in her diary how she plainly see His heart, pierced and bleeding, yet there were flames, too, coming from it and a crown of thorns around it. He told me to behold His heart which so loved humanity. Then He seemed to take my very heart from me and place it there in His heart. In return He gave me back part of His flaming heart.”

Our Lord charged St. Margaret Mary with making known the powerful devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which today has spread throughout the world.

The message of the Sacred Heart is powerful, it is the message of the Gospel. The Sacred Heart burns with love for sinners, and calls sinners to repent, and turn away from sin, that their hearts might be set afire like His.

The devotion addresses two errors of the spiritual life. On one hand, there is the temptation to see oneself as a hopeless sinner unworthy of God’s love, to see God as a task master who demands the rigid observance of the law or else he will send you to the eternal hell-fires. On the other hand, there is the temptation to explain away sin, to claim that since God’s mercy is so great, we really don’t have to put in that much effort to reform our lives: that it doesn’t really matter what we believe or what we do.

Rather, the devotion to the Sacred Heart shows us that we are loved intensely by God, his love for us is a fiery furnace, and because we are loved, we respond by seeking purification of all that is unlovable in us, the selfishness, impurity, pride, error, and hardheartedness.

May all of our sins and sinfulness be burned away and purified by the fire of God’s love in this life, that we may see come to the beatific vision of God in heaven for the glory of God and the Salvation of souls.

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In reparation to the Sacred Heart for all sin and all blasphemy, we pray to the Lord.

For an increase in faith, hope, and love for all Christians, we pray to the Lord.

That our children and young people may be kept safe from the poisonous errors of our culture, and that their families may be places where the faith is practiced and cherished.

For all those whose love for God has grown cold, who have fallen into moral laxity or despair of the mercy of God, for all souls in danger of hell, for their conversion and the conversion of all hearts.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for the deceased priests and religious of the diocese of Cleveland, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.