Tenth Promise I will give power to priests to touch the most hardened of hearts.

PROMISES OF THE SACRED HEART

Sacred Heart of Jesus

PROMISES OF THE SACRED HEART SERIES. 

In this series, there will be posts on the Promises of the Sacred Heart on each First Friday.  I may add further posts on other Fridays as well but for now as it is a new series, let us focus on each promise each month.

THE PROMISES OF OUR LORD.

"I promise you, in the excessive mercy of my heart that my all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Friday for nine consecutive months, the grace of final repentance; they shall not die in my disgrace nor without receiving the sacraments; my divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in that last moment." 

TENTH PROMISE

I will give power to priests to touch even the most hardened hearts.

Today is the first Friday in October.  Let us consider this tenth promise by Jesus and make it our intention during October.’’

‘At first glance, this promise might seem irrelevant for most of us since many of us are not priests. It could be tempting to consider that this promise is for priests only.  In one sense that is true, since they are given the power to absolve in Christ’s name through ordination.  A hardened heart has to have come to that point when they want to be absolved.

So, this is where. I think. this promise could be used.  Before many of us  attend the sacrament of Reconciliation, there has been an emotional and spiritual process we have been going through. We may or may not be aware of it.  The hardened heart is crusty if you like, so that crust has to be broken. The more hardened it is, the crustier it is initially. Sometimes the crust comes off in pieces and then crumbles.

When a priest or lay person helps in breaking some of that crust/hardened heart, they are working in the power of Christ. Christ wants to save every one. He came to save.  This may be through well-chosen words in a conversation, a silence, a loving smile- all these can be times of the power of God to break the crust of the hardened heart. 

So we all have a role to play in helping others soften their hearts.  Even when our hearts are not hardened, there will be for all of us a part that needs softening- a blind spot in our lives or an attitude. We all can, if we are truly honest can give our lives a thorough look and know that there are areas that need our attention and, have the potential to become hardened if we do not take action. We need our priests to be there for us and through ordination be the hand and voice of Jesus for us.

The other important point to consider is the role of lay people in praying for priests. Priests really need our prayers if they are to be Christ to those whom they meet. They are human too- get tired, need a holiday, feel stressed and the like.  They need to know that they too are supported.  In this day and age when the priesthood has had a battering from media and from those who have failed in their behaviours as priests, we need to remember that there are many good priests- those good priests far outweigh those who have done wrong. It is sad that many of us, even unwittingly can easily put good priests into that wrong category.  This is hurtful to priests who are good priests and doing their very best in their ministry.

We, as lay people can do our part in helping them by praying daily for them. During this month of October, may we not only examine our own lives in the light of this promise but also minister with them through the power of God by praying for our priests- not only generally but more specifically- we may ask God to give them the words or the smile or the interested silence that speaks to the person whose heart is hardened.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

1.    Bring the family together for a meeting in how each individual and as a family may put this into practical application for this month.

This may be a good opportunity for each member of the family to consider the state of their own heart and what are the blind spots that need to be overcome. We as a family have the opportunity to provide God’s grace to other family members- a genuine listening, a kind word spoken sincerely, an interested silence can all be moments of grace for each family member regardless of age. It can help families to be more aware of each other’s vulnerabilities and to genuinely support and  to be Christ like to each other.

 

2.    Remember to get each member to be specific so that the process of practical application is viable and able to be managed.
For example, instead of saying that we will pray for priests this month, be specific such as I will pray one decade of the Rosary after dinner each evening/before I watch TV.

3.    Think about how you might apply this promise not only In your own life and family but in your parish and extended world.