A beautiful way to live Lent is to grow in the Love of the Heart of Jesus. Is it not true that the aim of our ongoing conversion is to get closer to Jesus and His heavenly Father?
To love the heart of Jesus is the core of our spiritual life. All the initiatives of Jesus to save us took life in His Heart. As He said to St Margaret Mary “Behold this Heart which has loved us so much.”
Over the next few posts we have been blessed to translate a conference of a good friend of the Visitation Order throughout the world, Father Edouard Marot. Former Rector of the sanctuaries of Paray le Monial, and currently associate pastor in a parish in Brussels, Father Marot has visited many Visitation monasteries around the world with the relics of St. Margaret Mary. He journeyed to the United States last March 2011 with Mrs. Alicia Beauvisage to present to the students of our Visitation Academies the love of the Sacred Heart.
The following talk, which we will present in three parts, was just given this past Feb 25, 2012, in France. You can read the entire original French version, “Aimer le Coeur de Jesus.“
“TO LOVE THE HEART OF JESUS”
Summary of teaching: by Father Ed Marot
It is a spirituality of the Incarnation: it is at the heart of the Church. It is the revelation of the Father’s love for us. It is not new since St. Margaret Mary’s revelations, but has biblical roots.
The Love of the Heart of Jesus has three dimensions:
- The Heart of Jesus “is Love” … It is ontological. We contemplate that Love …. What does it tell me?: Love of the Father for the Son … the love of the Son to the Father … and the Holy Spirit who is unceasing communion of love between the Father and the Son …
- The Love of the Sacred Heart, is love of the Sacred Heart for us. This love goes a long way! To St. Margaret Mary, Jesus said, “Just for you I’d institute the Sacrament of the Eucharist.” Love of the Sacred Heart, it is love revealed in the Eucharist. “God so loved the world that He gave His Son …” The Son, in history, has never stopped giving. From His bosom flows the white water … Everyone is invited to drink from the source of Love …
- The love of the Sacred Heart, it is ourselves who are called to “LOVE THE HEART OF JESUS.” “Deus Caritas Est” Pope Benedict wrote. To understand, we must stand with Mary and John at the foot of the Cross. Without contemplation of the pierced Heart, it is impossible to understand such love …
Why did Jesus show his heart? This is a spirituality that gives happiness. Our vocation is born from the pierced side of Jesus’ Heart. Everything that is said of the Sacred Heart, we say of Jesus, of course. Biblically, the heart is the whole person, a profound mystery . But who speaks of this heart? Jesus Himself to St. Margaret Mary, points to his Heart; also to St. Faustina, to Sr. Josefa … We can answer like St. Don Bosco: “We must make a youth feel that Jesus loves him … ” By showing his Heart, Jesus makes his confidants feel that He loves them! This experience is unforgettable for them! And Jesus wants us to feel, that he loves us, too!
Do we want Jesus to feel our love?
This involves our whole being. We have a too intellectualized faith … While it is our humanity, our whole being (actions, thoughts, feelings …) which is involved in this friendship with Jesus, with God. But do not judge prayer if you feel nothing! Ask that the Holy Spirit renews us so that our heart is seized by the relationship. God is love, a communion of love, as man and wife are in a loving communion.
In the apparitions we can notice three steps:
- A declaration of love of God to man. Mother Teresa said: “The greatest misery is that of the man who does not know God and does not know how much he is loved!” Jesus expressed the cry of humankind: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” This cry is that of a man who feels abandoned by God: it is the most terrible suffering!
- The expression of a complaint. Jesus complains of such ingratitude, indifference of so many! He gave everything for us to be happy … But man keeps his door closed … Jesus saw a great sadness … And in his sadness, he said to Sr. Josefa: “it is all the greater when they are those who are consecrated are like that … “
- An appeal. To St. Margaret Mary, Jesus said: “Will you do me the favor of rendering love for love?” It’s not childish! We have no idea of the pleasure we give to Jesus in being a loving heart! Say to Him for example, “I trust in You, I hope in you.” Then He is shaken! Before a heart that will humble themselves, as the Canaanite woman who wanted only the crumbs falling from the table, Jesus is moved to the guts, he is shaken … He is touched by our loud cries, “Have mercy on me! ” For an hour, two hours .. say, “Jesus, I love you.” You will shake His Heart, you will change the face of the earth … Love Jesus with your human capacity to love! In Him, through Him, our humanity flourishes fully!
Jesus asks St. Margaret Mary: “Will you watch one hour with me in the Garden, as my apostles did not do?”
Here is the specific request of the “Holy Hour” ardently desired by Jesus.
Mt 26, 30-36-46 – Mk 14 26-32-42 – Lk 22: 39-45
Read the entire French version, “Aimer le Coeur de Jesus.“