Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
It is love I desire, not sacrifice.
I was wondering what to ask for in my novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, until I watched a program on EWTN wherein it was said St Catherine de Ricci had asked Our Lord for a new heart, and he gave her the Immaculate Heart of Mary by which to love him. I liked that.
The Gospel for today’s Mass concerns the greatest commandment, love of God and neighbor. I concluded that I ought to ask for the highest gift of all, as St. Paul counsels, the gift of love. After all, the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a burning furnace of charity.
Years ago, my spiritual director helped me understand that a certain sin I had been struggling with was rooted in the lack of the theological virtue of charity - it took me years to figure that out. This mornings meditation from Magnificat was a text by Richard Rolle, and it suddenly made more sense to me:
“Love is a burning yearning after God, with a wonderful delight and certainty. God is light and burning. Light clarifies our reason; burning kindles our will, that we desire naught but him… Love is a stirring of the soul for to love God for himself, and all other things for God, it does away all inordinate love in anything that is not good. All deadly sin is inordinate love for a thing that is naught: then love puts out all deadly sin.“- Richard Rolle
So as St. Paul writes, “Strive for the greater gift - love.”
And I think it was St. Therese who said, “Do not be afraid to surrender yourself to merciful love.”
Thus, in my novena, besides praying for everyone else, I will ask for this gift - if you are making a novena, would you be so kind as to just mention me to him once? Thanks.
June 7th, 2007 at 9:59 am
Oh, St Catherine de Ricci. You’re hitting on all my favorite Dominicans!
Well, almost all…
June 7th, 2007 at 11:42 am
You reminded me of one of my favorite psalms from the Office: “O God, You are my God, for You I long; for You my soul is thirsting. My body pines for You like a dry, weary land without water.”
June 7th, 2007 at 11:43 am
OK, Terry. I will add your name to the ever lengthening list of novena intentions. (I really should just pray for the intentions of the Holy Father and all the intentions in the Immaculate Heart of Mary and be done with it.)
June 7th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
Terry, I was talking with another blogger recently about making a novena this year to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through the Sacred Heart of Mary, so your first paragraph made me smile.
My parish will be open all day on the 15th with the Blessed Sacrament, and I will keep you in my intentions, and during my novena.
June 7th, 2007 at 2:34 pm
Elena and Gabrielle - thank you very much! Gabrielle, that is a wonderful way to prepare for the feast of the Immaculate heart as well.
June 7th, 2007 at 2:46 pm
and you continue to be a spiritual treat.
June 7th, 2007 at 5:18 pm
I’ve been thinking the same thing, Terry. Thank you so much for putting my “restlessness of heart” into words. Peace be with you.