“In the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, one of my favourite passages is when St. Faustina talks about snuggling close to the Heart of Jesus. At first glance, it may seem a little strange or perhaps a bit too sentimental, but actually, snuggling close to the Heart of Christ is a sure path of holiness! As the hymn says, ‘I am safe when I abide in Thy Heart and wounded side.'”
Dear Marian Helpers and Members of our Marian Family,
On Friday, 12 June, we will celebrate the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a celebration of the love that Jesus has for all of us, not only in His divinity, but in His humanity as well. This is the love that filled Him completely and spurred Him onward in His mission and ministry.
It’s the love that He shares with us in every Mass, every Confession, every time of prayer and every time we are inspired to do a good deed or say a kind word. It’s the love that is always with us, whether we recognize it or not.
It’s the love that filled Mary’s heart, allowing her to serve the Lord with the totality of her being. There’s a reason why the day after the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart is the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary: the two of them, Mother and Son, are uniquely linked through love and service.
In the Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, one of my favourite passages is when St. Faustina talks about snuggling close to the Heart of Jesus. At first glance, it may seem a little strange or perhaps a bit too sentimental, but actually, snuggling close to the Heart of Christ is a sure path of holiness! As the hymn says, “I am safe when I abide in Thy Heart and wounded side.”
Saint Faustina knew well that the love of God for us is the most important thing in our lives and in the history of the world. This love changed human history forever and through Christ’s life, death, and Resurrection, raises and transforms human nature forever as well. That love saves us, redeems us, fills us and makes us holy.
So, “snuggling close to the heart of Jesus” is just a poetic way of reminding us that holiness is found by staying close to Christ, being obedient to the Church, and walking on the path that God has laid before us. We walk with Christ and with Mary, with all the Saints who have come before us and we walk with one another, spurred on by the love of Jesus … His love for us and our love for Him.
In preparation for this great Solemnity, we will be praying a Novena to the Sacred Heart, imploring Christ to hear our prayers and the petitions you send us. We would be honoured if you would allow us to pray for your intentions, for your needs and for your loved ones in our June Novena.
Additionally, we will also be celebrating the Mass on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart for all of you and your intentions as well. As members of our Marian family, our supporters and coworkers, it is our privilege to share the gift of prayer with you. As we pray for and support one another, we build up the Kingdom of God on earth, a community of love which finds its strength in the burning love that God has for each and every one of us.
I also humbly ask that you continue to pray for the Marian Fathers, around the world and here in the UK. As St. John Vianney said, “Priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus.” Please pray for us that we, in our priesthood, may grow in our love of Jesus and the people that He has entrusted to our care.
Finally, as we celebrate the Sacred Heart this June, we ask God to make His love known to those who have left the Church, oppose the Church, are lukewarm in their faith or are searching for meaning. Only in the Heart of Christ do we find the love, meaning and purpose that we are looking for. Only in the Heart of Christ, do we find our heart’s (and soul’s) true desire.
We are proud to be Catholic, to profess the truth of Christ and to put our trust and our love in the Sacred Heart of Jesus!
May God bless you now and always!
Fr Alex Pumphrey, MIC
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Contact Father Alex at info@divinemercy.org.uk
Please send us your prayer intentions! (click here). We will place them at the foot of our altar in the Divine Mercy Apostolate’s Chapel here in West Ealing, London and will remember them in our daily Chaplets of Divine Mercy.
