On Saturday June 14, a group of RC men and friends of the Legion gathered in the Rye, NY home of the Legionary community. It was time of fellowship, prayer and formation led by Father Eric Nielsen, LC and Father Jorge Obregon, LC. The central theme was Devotion to the Sacred Heart. We were reminded of Jesus’s profound love for us and his desire that we fully return that love and his disappointment when we do not.

A quote from Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque who experienced visions of Jesus and received this message from him was a stark reminder to not let worldly distractions dilute or divert our love of Christ:

“Behold the Heart which has so loved men that it has spared nothing, even to exhausting and consuming itself, in order to testify to its love; and in return, I receive from the greater part only ingratitude, by their irreverence and sacrilege, and by the coldness and contempt they have for Me in this Sacrament of Love”.

The men were reinforced in their belief that love is the most powerful force in creation and strengthened in their conviction to be noble and loving in spreading the faith.

A beautiful holy hour and group rosary gave us all time to reflect on Christ’s love and the total surrender and infinite love of the Blessed Mother. A talk on confession reinforced the value of this sacrament to strengthen our faith. As a politician might say vote early and often, so to with confession. Not only are we forgiven our sins, but it opens the door to future graces and can remove spiritual blind spots among many other spiritual benefits. We concluded with a beautiful mass and more fellowship and went on our way with an extra pep in our step. Being the eve of Father’s Day, it was also a strong reminder of the role men should play in the home, workplace and society at large.

In Christ, Jeff Sprague