11th Promise: Those who propagate this devotion shall have their name written in My Heart, and it shall never be effaced.

 PROMISES OF THE SACRED HEART

 

In this series called Promises of the Sacred Heart, which I began in January 2019, there will be posts on the Promises of the Sacred Heart on each First Friday. However,  I was unable to complete the series last year in November and December since I was in hospital.  

I wish to complete the series over the next 2 first Fridays as I am up to 11^th Promise on this first Friday in August. You may wish to check out previous posts in the series under the Category Promises of the Sacred Heart.

 

When I commenced the series I suggested:

 There are 12 months to the year and 12 promises.  Why not join me in praying for each promise to made manifest in our lives during 2019. Apart from our own personal needs, there are many needs- The Church itself, our own parishes, families, friends, people in the world we do not know but need our prayer and so on.  We could take a different need/ group each day in the month as we consider the promise.  You may be able to do this in your family or parish too.  If you do not wish to focus on the promise every day, then why not choose to focus on it on Fridays of the Year.  Whatever you decide, choose something that works for you.

  

As I recommence this series on this first Friday in August 2020, let us consider the 11^th Promise:

 

 

DEVOTION OF THE SACRED HEART.

 

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." 

 

 

11th Promise: Those who propagate this devotion shall have their name written in My Heart, and it shall never be effaced.

 

When we consider this 11^th Promise, Jesus is calling us to action.  Obviously, we must love Jesus first with our heart and soul and mind and strength (to the best of our ability). However, our Catholic faith is not only private experience between God and myself. It is also community based since humanity is a social being.

 

Consider for a moment something natural that you love in your life.  It might be your spouse, your boyfriend/girlfriend or some special activity such as a hobby you like to talk about with others. You share your experience of ‘love’ with others. Perhaps your spouse gave you an unexpected gift which helped you to appreciate Him/her even more.  In some cases, you might even fall in love all over again. Perhaps you have taken up a new hobby and you are so excited about it that you just have to share this news with your friends, family, parishioners, work colleagues and so forth.

 

How passionate are we when it comes to making God known, to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ with family, friends, parishioners, work colleagues and other people whom we meet. Many Catholics shy away from sharing their faith with others thinking that is a personal relationship or that they have nothing to offer or that people may think they have some mental illness or people might think they are holy. So many Catholics sadly stay quiet.

 

The challenge of the 11^th promise to propagate this devotion comes with the guarantee from Jesus of the reward He will provide. If we truly love Jesus, then surely, we will want to share Jesus with other people and help other people know the love He has for them. It is out of love that Jesus has for us that we want to share the Good News.  It should not be out of our love for Jesus foremost in our minds.

How much does Jesus love you? 

Enough to:
1. Come down from Heaven and become one of us.

2. Lve on this earth 33 years, experiencing all the difficulties and trials and joys too we do in our daily lives but is without sin, For example did you ever think of Jesus learning carpentry from Joseph, His foster father?

3. Leave us with the Eucharist- His very body and blood so that we can receive Him every day at Mass.

4. Suffered the worst possible death available at the time by crucifixion

5. Rose from the dead so that the gates of Heaven could be reopened and then if that was not enough,

6. He ascended into Heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to be our constant guide and friend so that we are never alone.

 

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. Obviously, the discussion needs to be age appropriate Consider what family members might say/feel so that you, as the driver for the discussion can ensure the emotional and spiritual safety of the family when having this discussion.

2.    Ask the Holy Spirit to show you ways that you can fulfil this promise during this month.

3.    Remember to get each member to be specific so that the process of practical application is viable and able to be managed.

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

5.    If you live alone, then you can reflect on it yourself first and decide on how you may carry out/live the promise during the month. Discuss it too with Jesus. He wants to know how you feel about this promise.  There may be opportunities during the month to discuss it with other people in your life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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