The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-06-10
Month of the Sacred Heart.

TIE genius of Christianity embelshes
everything it touches, and transforms the
most trivial details Of mans existence into
permanent and unfailing good. The
poetry of Truth,-in whose practices
worldiings see only mummeries-tbrowsa q
charm over even the passing hours of life,
and seizes upon them as they cluster into
days and months 30 as to form stations, as
it were, of love and piety, along the path
! of the revolving years.
The month of June thus stands before
us, consecrated to the glory and worship
| of the Sacred Heart, while it's burning days
are made typical of that ardent love which
inhames the heart of Jesus, and of the cor
responding tenderness which should con-
sume the hearts of men.
Pagan antiquity with all it's wonderful
beauties of gym bOlism and all it's gorgeous
ritual of mysteries, can offer nothing which
equals in grace and grandeur, in smplici-
ty and sublmity, this beautiful devotion
of the Sacred Heart!
The lowiiest intellect can comprehend
it's touching meaning, while the profoundest
mind remains in ecstacy before it's divine
and ineffable mystery. The lisping child
knows that be can implore all blessings
from a Saviour's open heart; while the
Pontiff of al! Christendom, with the same
unboundeo trust, invokes it's powerful
protection and confdes in its eternal love.
Its very name is Sublime, for it
teaches all that man may hope for, and
all that God can give. 1t recalls the
mystery of Bethlehem and the glory of
Olivet. 1t is a compendium of the doc
tTine of the Incarnation, and of mans
| redemption. 1t draws mems hearts to-
wards it by a human title, and secures
their services ty divine Significance.
Sacred Heart Could any other name
be found which go entirely expresses the
sympathy between God and man, the union
between the creature and his creator7
But it is more than q name-it is a reality,
The cred Heart lives and throbs to. day
with all the tenderness it displayed at the
tomb of Lazsrus, with all the yearning it
evinced when questioning Peters love.
There is indeed a man in the highest
heaven who is our kinsman, friend and
brother, but this man is God-our God,
to whom our hearts appeal with human
love aud with divine alteration; for the
Church teaches that "the Sacred Heart
which we adore, is the human Heart that
the Son of God took from the substance of
his mother and in taking it, deified it. st.
Thomas adored the Incarnate Word in the
manifestation of His Five Sacred Wounds;
we adore Him also in His Sacred Heart"
But apart from the dogmatic aspect of
this devOtion-a most important one, as
it is the test of true faith in the mystery
of the lncarnation-earnest believers love
to dwell upon it's wondrous charm and
beauty, and to reflect how closely it re-
spends to all their hopes and aspirations.
Our Saviour himself bade us learn from
Hin, from His Sacred Heart, the great
lessons of meekness and humility, lessons
which the world, at large, will not learn,
and which it sneers and SCOTS at in those
who do. Christians, however, must follow |
the teachings of their divine Master, and |
the method He has been pleased to adopt !
in order to conform the lives of all men to i
to His own, is that of the Sacred Heart.
It-is in u special manner the Book in |
which all who look, are sure of guidance.
Its teachings can not be perverted and lite
subiime doctrines can nos be made The