The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-06-13
Conservation to the Sacred Heart.

il AOuSCNh ot1Ou ~ &hO Se-SASA &AS-@@s.
Next Wednesday, the l6.h inst, will be
the two bundredth anniversary of the day
when the devotion of the Sacred Heart wss
revealed to the Blessed Margaret Mary
Alacoque by our Saviour. On that day, the
whole world will be formally eonsecrsted
to that Divine Heart, by our holy Pope.
Plus TX, in whose ponti6eate 30 many
wonderful things have happened. Among
the most remarkable of them will always
stand the grand WORK which will be accom-
plished next Wednesday.
The whole Christian religion, with all
its vast complexity in details of Faith and
Morals, 10 redueible to one simple principle
Love. 1t is, in fact, nothing but love.
All that il beautiful and consoling in this
life is "a emaustion of that divine princi-
pie implanted in the heart of man. TIE
love of mother or father for their child,
Of husband for his wife, q kinsman for
his race, citizen for his country, all thoee
grand affections tina. enable poor selfish
humanity to rise above itself and freely.
sacrifice its all for cherished object, all
that elevates man into the realms of hero
ism and brings 10 light the hidden image
of divinity with which his soul is stamped,
all this is but human phase of the i'm
mortal and only principle of true religion,
Love.
Hatred, the antagopistic principle to love,
is, a. might be supposed, the chief chsrsc-
teristic of Satan and all fallen spirits. The
ere that consumes them forever 10 not more
intense that the undying hatred TO all that
is good which pervades their whole being.
And 80 in human life, wickedness generally
takes the shape of bitter hatred. Bad men
recede as far as possible from God. They
hate their enemies, they hate their breth-
rem, they hate their beDefactors, fnally
they hate and persecute any thing that is
good and that puts them to shame for their
own evil ways.
Now the whole struggle of religion is to
teach men to love-to e1tinguish in their
hearts every fiery trace Of hatred. The
whole of Philosophy and Theology, of
spiritual science, is comprised in that
one lesson-love. 1t embraces every duty
and renders impossible every offense. It
makes q man like unto little child, hum
BILE and simple. 1t is Incompatible with
that worldly pride which seorns to say to
the outcast or to the tyrant: love you.
Indeed, tits sometimes very hard to use en-
dearing expressions even to those whom we
actually but imperfectly love. Pride stands
in tho way but pure, strong love burns
away all such impediments, as the giants
Of the forest disappear before mighty con-
Aagration. Turn it as you will, the only
thing to learn in spiritual life, the only
thing to practise, is love. "By this shall
all men know that you are my disciples, if
you love one another"
Now, what is the devotion of the Sacred
Heart 1t is essentially a devotion to the
immense love which forever consumes that
most divine Heart. That Heart is a furnace
glowing with living FIRE. That ia lis only
characteristic there ia DO complication of
elements to confuse the most simple. There
is but one element-fire. And that fire is
love. When men especially adore and
worship one particular principle, they
gradually assimilate themsel es to it. When
we consecrate ourselves to the Sacred
Heart and truly devote ourselves to it's
worship, we virtually abjure all unch arita-
b!eness and pledge ourselves to the simple,
undertaking love of the little child-a love
which takes in all objects and recognizes no
obstacles.
They who wish to be Christians will not
miss an opportunity like that of next
Wednesday for taking sides on this grea,
question and enrolling themselves under
the banner beneath which they wish to
combat. Every one who conseerates him .
self to the Flaming Heart says thereby: 1
am not ashamed to love all men, nor too
proud to let them know it.