Devotion tu Jesus

Second Friday

Before meditation

I think it's a good thing and also a pleasure to Jesus if the meeting with Him we live pausing, in the "Great Promise" made to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque.
If it is well understood and carried out his demands in the fruit and there will be even more abundant and stable.
From the letter to his Mother, St. Margaret tells us: "In a day of First Friday, Holy Communion, He spoke these words: "I promise you, in the excessive mercy of My Heart, that those who for nine months consecutive in the first Friday of each month will receive Communion, the all-powerful love of My Heart will grant them the gift of final repentance, and they will not die in my disgrace nor without receiving their sacraments, and in those last moments when my heart will be for their safe haven". This is the text.

Let us dwell in the silence of these two centuries. Why this silence? The practice of the Communion of reparation on the first Friday of the month goes back to the origins of the movement of Paray le Monial on the cult of the Heart of the Redeemer, and he's just made a great propaganda, illustrated with real and profound writings.
The "Great Promise" and instead made to St. Margaret Mary in 1688, and she revealed to her superior, if they have not spoken until 1867, when he for the first time it was published the same text from the Monastery of the Visitation Paray le Monial and the printed around 1870 and widely disseminated.
The reason for this long silence that lasted almost two centuries is that the disclosure of the "Great Promise" would have sparked strong opposition from the opponents, and then was afraid to give reason to false interpretations and encourage a safe presumptuous on eternal salvation. I wonder if the real reason, after all, has been the difficulty to believe the unbelievable generosity of the Heart of Jesus
The original text of St. Margaret Mary is lost, perhaps because of the French Revolution. However, that text will have copies that reproduce exactly the original, and with all sincerity.

The "Great Promise" has been included, as is known, by Pope Benedict XV in the bull of canonization at St. Margaret Mary, where we read: "The Lord Jesus deigned to address his faithful wife with these words:" I promise. "It shows, in Latin, the text of the Promise. Among the Latin text quoted in the Bull and the French text, the Holy of expression there is a difference that perhaps deserves to be recognized. The Latin text says: Those who make the required nine communions etc.. Shall not die "without receiving the sacraments." The French text says that will not die "without receiving their sacraments." It's a way to tell the time simply to indicate the Holy Sacraments by which Christians have law, namely that they do receive the sacraments for them, which ones they needed. It's a difference of expression in the practical application of the promise has its importance.

We see now why it is called: "Great Promise".
It is so named because, under the terms described by the revelation made by St. Margaret Mary, is truly unique, exceptional, justifying the title "Great" given this promise in comparison with the other eleven, although they, too, from the Heart Jesus speaks of Jesus in this Promise "Excessive mercy", of "Infinite Love", the "Almighty Love" of His Heart. Phrases that you should not forget when you want to examine the contents of the promise.

Communion.
The main act required for the promise is the Communion, which should not be a simple and almost material reception of the Eucharist, but access to it with an upright intention, with the best possible disposition of mind, with the grace of God context of the revelations to St. Margaret Mary leads us to believe, although not expressly said, that the Communion should be done as an act of devotion to the Heart of Jesus, with the same spirit in which we celebrate the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The conditions required.
The conditions specifically required for realizing the promise of Jesus are these: nine communions, in nine Friday. First Friday of the month, for nine consecutive months. It is clear, as today, according to the address of the Liturgy of the Church, the Communion be made, as far as possible, during the mass.

The commitment of the faithful.
Because you can fulfill exactly the conditions specified, must be equipped with good will and spirit of sacrifice. Communion, in fact, is not required on a day on a Sunday or holiday, when you already go to Mass for the obligation and when it is easy to receive Communion, it is prescribed on a weekday, and this is not left to free choice, but already established in practice: a Friday! An ordinary day in which it is usually busy at work, in companies, in workshops, office, school, etc.. Also not in any Friday, but the first Friday of the month, and this Friday for nine consecutive without interruption. These minute prescriptions, get a bit more difficult to fulfill all, they also bring advantages in order to fruitfully receive the sacrament. In fact, the first Friday does not always fall on a fixed day of the month, so you might as well get used to it, but it happens on different days, so you will have to be careful to remember, and remembering you think of, and has already started thinking about having the mind of the Communion to prepare for next day and, possibly, with the Confession.

Also on that day you will have to sacrifice to get up early to go to Holy Mass and receive Communion, delaying other things to the ordinary run of life, etc.. Now all these things, taken together, and other details of their lives each helped to dispose the soul to receive the Sacrament with better preparation and consequently to derive greater benefit.
Grace, in fact, is given, as taught by the Council of Trent "According to the extent that the Holy Spirit bestows on individuals and according to the arrangement and cooperation of each." So, the number "nine" who repeatedly used in the great promise - nine Friday, 9 / 1 Friday, nine consecutive months - not a game of magic, but a game that engages the will and the heart for a long time, and therefore makes more willing to accept the grace of God, which is given - I repeat the words of the Council of Trent - also "According to the arrangement and cooperation of each".

Second Meditation

Reinvigorate confidence in the great promise.

The "Great Promise" is now accepted by many with skepticism, because they estimated only the authentic Christian life that is validated by the works, especially for the benefit of others, does not see as eternal salvation, that is the reward of eternal life, can be attached to a sacramental act, even excelled as a Communion.
We think that this skepticism comes from, at least in large part, by the fact that the "Great Promise" is considered to be detached from the context of the whole cult of the Heart of the Redeemer. Do not you pay attention to the special character of the "Great Promise", which is the Heart of Jesus - Excessive mercy, infinite love, almighty love of the Heart of Jesus - and therefore the great promise it cannot be considered a thing in itself, no relation, no connection with the cult of the Heart of the Redeemer. But if you practice in the context of the cult of the Heart of Jesus, is also practiced the cult of the Heart of Jesus, worship is: "The professional practice of all Christianity." And in the practice of Christianity is love of God and neighbor, it is, for its special feature, the cult of the Heart of the Redeemer.

It must therefore have confidence in those who have satisfied the circumstances with rectitude, or the conditions required for the Communion of the "First Friday", since Jesus, as reported by the testimony of faith worthy of St. Margaret Mary, engages in the "Excessive mercy," "In love, infinite," "Almighty Love" of his divine heart to give them the graces necessary for them to live the authentic Christian life can be achieved in them the plan of salvation established by God, up not to hamper the last grand gesture of mercy and of His Heart, which is the free gift of final perseverance.

As St. Paul says, God is, in fact, that arouses in us the will and, according to his good pleasure. Rather, it is the divine action that produces in us the will to do well, the action is good in itself and this according to his free good will, without however excluding the free and responsible cooperation of our will.
This could be achieved even in people who had done with the right intention "First Friday", but then entered into the vortex of life, have come to take away the "spacious that leads to destruction."
The reference to the infinite love of the Almighty, and Heart of Jesus is also possible the last hour, and nobody would have the right to criticize his merciful gesture: "I cannot do what I want my stuff?" Repeat in this case Jesus.

Third Meditation

Lets go back to the Heart of Jesus promises: take the ninth.

"I will bless the places where the image of My Heart shall be exposed and honored." St. Margaret Mary writes: "This promises divine heart... He who is the source of every blessing... to pour plenty of these blessings in every place where the image of the Sacred Heart will be honored".
In this promise the Holy speaks in two other letters to the two Mothers of the Institute. It is noteworthy that Marguerite, for whom devotion to Jesus' heart is basically in response to love and total dedication, unreservedly at the service of God and neighbor, attaches importance, in the name of the Lord himself, even to external practices, as this exhibition and veneration of the image of the Heart of Jesus in different places: houses, shops, offices, etc.. Let's clarify one thing immediately, we put the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, like any other image in our minds as a stimulus and help in our Christian life.

In turn, the Second Vatican Council teaches that "According to tradition, the Church venerates saints and held in honor of their authentic relics and their images, and if the abuses sometimes were introduced, and which can still be introduced, about relics and images of saints, can not affect either the legality or the appropriateness of worship." If worship is essentially an internal attitude, cannot be reduced solely to it. It is natural that the inner attitude manifests itself outwardly, and we, in fact, we are body and soul, and the intimate relationship between the two also applies to religious attitudes. Those who expect to reduce religion to the pure interiority, do not know the nature of man and is contradicted by what he does and expects, in the sphere of private feelings, no lover, for example, wants love without the signs of ' love. And not only in the private world or political, but also publicly, that is, socially, has to manifest religion required.
It is legitimate for private worship, public worship is legitimate. The philosophy defines man as a social animal, and as men gather in companies outside the event to express their political views and social, cultural, economic, etc., do not see why you should not or cannot do the same for their religious convictions. Second Vatican Council says: "The very social nature of man demands that it outwardly express his internal acts of religion, to communicate with others in matters of religion, profess his religion in community".

Now stop our attention on a well-known figure in the religious field: Charles de Foucauld. This servant of God has put his spiritual life and his own foundation, which was under the title of "The Little Brothers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus", all under the sign of the Sacred Heart, whose symbol was so familiar that it has not never written a line, or filled a notebook page without prefix the Heart and the Cross with the words: "Jesus - Charity". Basically this is a sign that expresses the movement of his soul. And if you read the rules written by him, if you scroll down the constitutions and rules of the congregation, we find that devotion to the Sacred Heart is not remembered as one of their particular devotion, but that Jesus, known and loved in His Sacred Heart, is the One that inspires and animates everything. All her pity for Jesus, all the movements of his soul is to the Eucharist and towards the person of Jesus, appears as the fruit of his devotion to the Sacred Heart. All that mature love that has experienced his soul has had its source in the adoration of the Eucharist daily.

Fourth Meditation

These two words "Complaint and honored" all express the humanity of Jesus, that is, that feeling of need or do not leave any single creature, but be close to her to have his day, his fatigue.
"I know how difficult and hard the way of good to go up to heaven, I have drawn my blood and I ended with, closed, on the Cross. From there you enter into Heaven. I know human nature and his unwillingness to this path. I cannot let sun, at this time, the creatures, requiring me my blood".
Words from which we come to understand that Jesus does not cancel or terminate cannot lower his gaze on those who still walks the earth. The design of the Heavenly Father "Bringing men to salvation" is his mission and will be here for this is the end of the world.
Our time is the time of Jesus, nothing has changed. Humanity continues to live in moral and social disorder that generates suffering, errors, sins and death. But Jesus is not watching, his gaze is fixed on each of us in the hope that his attention is understood, that He may reveal himself and take as we are, and with infinite patience to help us to grow day after day.
Jesus asks only a small opening: "Tell me about your things: add me in your day to share with you what the day presents. I will pray with you, will fight with you, I suffer with you, rejoice with you, I will work with you to your day will no longer be the day of a fragile creature, it will be my day, the day of your God, thank You for the great day of my day".
"I will bless the places where the image of My Heart shall be exposed and honored".

Fifth Meditation

If one were to summarize in one sentence the whole message of the Bible and especially the whole message of the New Testament, the phrase might be this: "God loves us, saves us, it takes with it".
If God had not revealed his love to man, maybe we would have never dared to believe that God loved us, certainly we would never have imagined that God loved us so much. In fact, the first impression or perception of our God, Creator of the universe, is the perception of his greatness.
Consequently, the first feeling we have before God is a feeling of fear. God, Creator of the universe, a man appeared to be immense and far away, unable to bend in an attitude of love for the creature.
And the man felt the need to propitiate it with offerings majestic God, to appease this God with the highest of sacrifices.
Besides the size, the man found in God and has other qualities personified in many gods, but could not imagine a God bent over him, like a mother who bends over the cradle of her child.
It seems that God has willed to reserve to itself the revelation of this truth! He loves the man. The revelation of God to man in the New Testament begins.

It can be said that the main task of the Old Testament revelation was to make man understand That love is the love of God revealed in a concrete and vibrant, with more facts that a doctrine.
The historical books of the Old Testament reveals God's love for Israel through the memory of the wonderful works God has worked in favor of his people: the election of Abraham, the election of Moses, the people's liberation from Egypt, the conquest of the Promised Land, the liberation from exile in Babylon, the story of David and Solomon in the dedication of time, a sign of his dwelling among the people. The works of God are a sign of his power, but even more of his love.
The historical books of God are a God who is remembered by his people, save it at the time, works in his favor wonderful things.
The prophetic books of the Old Testament reveals God's love not so much with the remembrance of things past, but with the announcement of things to come, with the announcement of a pardon that will be bestowed, a salvation that will reach. Israel, chosen by God, has not been faithful and has broken the covenant, has followed the nations, he worshiped the idols, he stepped on the commandment to love God and love of neighbor! It is a dead people! Israel explodes the wrath of God: but God is God. Is not a man. He does not withdraw his love: love stubbornly.

God loves Israel with a love of vibrant, practical, personal, jealous, with a love that will require a response totalitarian.
But if this answer is not, God still loves the stubbornness of God will eventually triumph over the betrayal of Israel.
The revelation of the love of God towards man continues in the New Testament, supported by the vehemence with which God makes events in human history to forge a new covenant with man. But in these two revelations are profound differences.
The revelation of God in the Old Testament is progressive and complementary in various books. In the New Testament are simply announced, with nuances and different aspects, a single event: the coming of our Savior Jesus, the communion of Jesus redeemed humanity, the participation of the eternal banquet of the divine life. This incident reveals the love of God As we have seen the revelation of the Old Testament is through a series of facts made by God for his people or by the words spoken by God in the New Testament is the case with the appearance on earth of a divine person: Jesus of Nazareth with you in the world the love of God.

• It is announced as a doctrine.
  
• Do not announce more of the facts.
  
• Do not call it more of the events.
  

It heralds a person who is present in human history. The good news is announced by Jesus himself.
With Jesus becomes present on earth the love of God who loves God, according to the Scriptures. "God is Merciful", which means having a heart inclined to raise the miseries of men. A God, who wants to give us what we have, wants to make us what we are not. So we can say that our poverty is a magnet that attracts the mysterious heart of God is not therefore our quality to you that God loves us, loved us even before excising. And, with him, the qualities that we feel we have. On the other hand, our quality is so small in front of her that cannot attract the heart of a God leads him to love only his mercy because he wants to lift us from our misery. If God had not a heart inclined to our misery, we would not even create, not redeemed, will not forgive our sins, he would not have risen to grace, there would have prepared a place in heaven.
Then if I get close to the Sacred Scripture, which is the word of God, I find that among those pages: "The love of God to man is eternal," God always loves us.
We can go back in time millions and millions of years, well, we find that "God loved us already." We were already in his heart, his thoughts, his will to give us the existence, in time to accompany us, to engage in its eternal blessings.

As such, the love of God has no succession, no known vicissitudes, undergo mutations.

• Is it constant, because "eternal". .
  
• knows neither past nor future.
  
• knows only the present.
  

So the love of God towards us is not subject to interruptions. He loves us "always," we love "forever." There has never been in the past, a moment in which God has loved us, there has never, in the present, a moment in which God does not love us, there will never be in the future, in which God we love you. God "loves" forever.
What is surprising is that God loves us not the qualities which we have, then, are so small in front of her that cannot attract the heart of a God! Finally, he having give dates, they are possessed by Him in an infinite degree.
For the love just pushed his mercy, he wanted us out of our misery. You will, perhaps, to ask, why all this summary or reflection in the love of God at various times of humanity? The motivation is in Jesus who has promised to work for those who want to close during the earthly life. Promises that reveal a need so strong, strong heart of her being with us need that, almost makes us think not in peace so long as it will not be able to own this our heart, come with us. With what has been done, though great, does not yet seem to have made the bottom of all the love that leads inside to give themselves and have, in return, the joy of living in our hearts. "The laity will find this friend all the aid necessary devotion to their state." Need your love to live here with us in the desire to have us there one day.