The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-05-30

His Holiness, Pope Plus K, recon-
mends the spread Of devotion to the
Sacred Heart of Jesus as the general
intention to be prayed for during the
coming month of June by the mem
bers of the Apostleship of Prayer.
The Devotion to the Sacred Heart
was made known to the world by our
Blessed Lord Himself. In the Monas-
terry of the Visitation at Paray-le-
Monial, He appeared to Blessed Mar
garet Mary Alacoque and, showing her
His Divine Heart, commissioned her
to spread the Devotion throughout the
world. Today it is known to every
Catholic; but in spite Of our Lords
request for love and consolation,
many are cold and Indifferent.
Associates of our Apostleship of
Prayer in League with the Sacred
Heart practise this Devotion, as the
chief incentive to fidelity. They are
concerned about the interests of the
Sacred Heart and one of the dearest
desires of that Heart is for recogni-
ton and love. Hence we must strive
to spread this Devotion. We must get
all the world to love Him and to con-
sole Him.
Our Lord, in His eagerness to win
our hearts, holds out abundant prom
Uses of blessing and protection for all
who practise the Devotion, but He has
reserved special place of honor for
those who spread it. "Those who
promote this Devotion" He said, will
have their name written in My heart,
never to be blotted OUT The Holy
Father in recommending this month s
Intention wishes us all to share in
this special privilege.
We can spread the Devotion by our
prayers, by our sufferings and by our
outward practices, by inducing others
to make Communion of Reparation, to
celebrate the First Friday, to attend
the Holy Hour, to consecrate them
selves to His Heart and to celebrate
worthily the great Feast Day Of the
Sacred Heart. Let us exert all our
energy to advance the interests of the
Heart that has loved men so much
and is so little loved
In view of this general intention, "a
brief account of the Apostleship OF
Prayer in League with the Sacred
Heart is of special interest at this
time.
Object of the ApostIeship.
The Apostleship of Prayer is a
League of souls united in zeal and
prayers with the Heart of Jesus.
1t is called Apostleship, because it
aims at making all Christians true
apostles, full of zeal for the glory of
God and the salvation of souls.
1t is an Apostleship of Prayer, be
cause prayer is the principal, though
not the only means it employs to pro-
mote the interests of Christ and His
Church.
1t is in League with the Sacred
Heart of Jesus, because prayer and
zeal are the very life of Christ on our
affairs and in heaven, where He is al
ways living to make intercession for
us. The Apostleship aims at making
His interests ours, and in uniting our
prayers and works. perpetually with
His, so that we may be one in mind
and heart with Christ Jesus.
The beginning of this work dates
from 1874, and it was at Walls, near
the celebrated sanctuary of the I'm
maculate Virgin, Mother of God, in the
French diocese of LIE Puy, that it first
took rise. But it's astonishing develop
ment only began in 1861, when the
publication Of the Messenger of the
Sacred Heart was founded to furnish
it's members with the means of regular
periodical INSTRUMENTATION, and,
like the circulation of blood in the
veins, to impart to the whole organi-
zation the vigor and unity of life.
Meantime, the work had been enriched
by numerous perpetual indulgences,
granted by the Holy Father, Pope Plus
TX, and in 1866 it's definite organiza-
ton was completed, when the Sacred
Congregations of Bishops and Regu-
lars approved its former Statutes. This
organization has since been confirmed
in it's substance and perfected in its
form by the new Statutes, which re-
ceived the appreciation of His Holt
ness, Pope Leo Kill, May %, 1879.
There are three Degrees in this
Apostleship according to the different
works which it undertakes to practise;
hence, there are three classes of Asso-
ciates.
Three Degrees of Membership.
The First Degree essential and
common to all the Associates) is com.
posed of those who daily offer to God
according to some regular form, all
their prayers, works and sufferings in
union with the Sacred Heart of Jesus
and for all those intentions for which
our Lord is continually interceding
and offering Himself for us in sacri
fee. Hence, love and devotion to the
Sacred Heart of Jesus are very proper
for all Associates enrolled in the
Apostleship of Prayer. For, although
this devotion does not constitute the
end of the Association, still it is the