Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, responding to your call, I come to you so that you might teach me the ways of your Heart and transform my heart into yours; make me gentle and humble, faithful and passionate in my love, zealous and generous in my service to others.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in you and like the Beloved Apostle, I draw near to you, asking that you hear my prayers and help me in my needs. During this novena I especially ask that you grant me the graces that I am seeking: _____.
Christ-Jesus, you are rich in mercy and love and so I believe that in your Pierced Heart, I will always discover a true place of refreshment and rest. Never let me be parted from you and grant that I may always find in your Heart the strength, protection and sustenance which I so greatly need.
Sacred Heart of Jesus burning out of love for me….inflame my heart with love for you!
Reflection
Heart of Jesus, House of God…
When one has left the comforts of home for some dreamed up adventure involving princesses and castles in the air, there is normally a quick realization that maybe a mistake has been made. All too often we run off to the circus of the world seeking the amazements and pleasures of pride, vanity and sensuality. Yet only once we are actually wandering alone in the darkness of that word’s lost corners, do we come to our senses and see that our true place is back at home. The Prodigal Son is such a story. This restless young man hastily left the warm embrace of his father for a life of adventure and pleasure, and soon saw that a mistake had been made. Home was his place to be.
The Beloved Apostle had also swiftly fled from his true home: the Heart of Christ. Yet it in the darkness of that fateful night John quickly realized what he had done (abandonment!) and knew he had to get back home in a hurry. When John arrived to the foot of the Cross, he found the doors of Jesus’ Heart pierced wide open. He entered through the threshold of his true home, and once again found his preferred place to rest his head. Just as the Prodigal Son came to his senses and went running home to find an embrace of love waiting for him, John too turned back and returned to the Embrace of Christ’s Heart; his true place of security; his only home.
One would think that by fleeing far from the Cross, security and rest would be found. Yet on the contrary, as both the Prodigal Son and John stand to testify, only sorrow, shame, and discomfort are discovered when we leave our home for some other created security of sensuality and self-love. Home is where his Heart is and his Heart is on the Cross.
When you find yourself weary and wasted away due to an endless journey of circles made in search for some fantasy imitation of that like home, know that you can always return to the Cross, to Christ’s pierced side and there you will find an open door leading to the embrace of a true homecoming.
The Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
(Prayed each day as the Concluding prayer)
Heart of Jesus, Son of the Eternal Father, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, formed in the womb of the Virgin Mother by the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, united substantially with the word of God, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, of infinite majesty,
Heart of Jesus, holy temple of God,
Heart of Jesus, tabernacle of the Most High,
Heart of Jesus, house of God and gate of heaven,
Heart of Jesus, glowing furnace of charity,
Heart of Jesus, vessel of justice and love,
Heart of Jesus, full of goodness and love,
Heart of Jesus, abyss of all virtues,
Heart of Jesus, most worthy of all praise,
Heart of Jesus, king and center of all hearts,
Heart of Jesus, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,
Heart of Jesus, in whom dwells the fullness of the Divinity,
Heart of Jesus, in whom the Father is well pleased,
Heart of Jesus, of whose fullness we have all received,
Heart of Jesus, desire of the everlasting hills,
Heart of Jesus, patient and rich in mercy,
Heart of Jesus, rich to all who invoke you,
Heart of Jesus, fount of life and holiness,
Heart of Jesus, propitiation for our sins,
Heart of Jesus, saturated with contempt,
Heart of Jesus, bruised for our offenses,
Heart of Jesus, made obedient unto death,
Heart of Jesus, pierced with a lance,
Heart of Jesus, source of all consolation,
Heart of Jesus, our life and resurrection, Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation,
Heart of Jesus, victim for our sins,
Heart of Jesus, salvation of those who trust in you,
Heart of Jesus, hope of those who die in you Heart of Jesus, delight of all saints
V. Jesus, meek and humble of Heart.
R. Make my heart more like yours.
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