The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-06-19
DEVOTION TO THE SACRED
HEART.
M. Doyle.

The heads of families have peculiar
opportunities of working within the
family circle for the interests of the
Sacred Heart They can teach the
little ones whom God has given them
to know and love the Heart of Jesus.
Let the parents see that their chill
dren make their first confession and
Communion at about the age of seven
years, and are fittingly instructed and
prepared for this, the most important
duty of their lives. Let them, subse-
quently, facilitate in every way the
very frequent reception by their chill
dren of the life-giving and strengthen
ing sacrament of the Blessed Eucha-
rist, and teach them, both by precept
and their own example, never to miss
going to Communion every First Fri
day, without fail. Devotion to the
Sacred Heart and the Wondrous
blessings that accompany it are sure
to be found in the family where every
member of the household-father,
mother, children and servants-ap-
proaches the Holy Table regularly
every First Friday of the year. 1t is
a sight that makes the angels in
heaven rejoice to see the entire family
thus gathered at the Eucharistic
Banquet, each First Friday morning,
On such household peace-the solid
happiness and peace of Goodwill rest,
and as long as they are faithful to
this blessed practice of First Friday
Communion they may rest assured
that neither want nor sin nor misery
of any kind will ever gain a footing in
their home. If only this beautiful and
sanctifying custom existed in every
family we should see none of the in
temperance, the discord the destitu-
ton, and many other miseries that
afflict and oftentimes, alas! destroy so
many homes.
Yes, parents and heads of families,
bring devotion to the Sacred Heart
into your homes, with all the untold
blessings and graces that accompany
it, and peace and holiness, even ma
terial prosperity-such measure of
prosperity at least as God sees to be
for your best interests-w be ever
with you and your household.
In devotion to the Sacred Heart the
Rev. Pastor of the parish will find a
never-failing and most powerful
auxiliary in the work he has above all
others at heart-the sanctifcation and
salvation of the flock committed to
his care. No spiritual means that he
can adopt is so certain and so power
full and speedy in its effects as devo-
ton to the Sacred Heart. If the
sanctifying custom of First Friday de-
votions-morning Mass and Com
munion, and, if possible, in the even
ing, Benediction of the Blessed Sacra-
ment, with a hymn to the Sacred
Heart and perhaps a very brief dis
course to kindle renewed fervour-if
this beautiful custom is not already
existing in the parish, let the Rev.
Pastor just make trial of it, and he
will soon see how prompt and power
full is the effect that it will have
among his flock.
Perhaps nowhere more than in the
religious community is devotion to
the Sacred Heart a most powerful and
fruitful means of sanctification AS
in the case of the family and of the
parish, it carries with it into the re-
ligious community happiness, holiness,
and peace. But, further still, it brings
Gods special blessing on the work of
the community, whether that work
consists in teaching and the educa-
ton of the young, or in helping and
visiting the poor and the sick in their
homes or in the workhouse, or in any
of the many other ministrations in
which our religious communities are
doing, in every portion of His vine
yard, such splendid and such solid
work for God. Il will prosper all
their undertakings" is one of the
promises made by Jesus Christ to
those who practice and promote de-
votion to His Sacred Heart. Religious
communities that practice this devo-
ton and endeavour to promote it may
rest assured that God will bless their
1abors, in all other directions, too,
aud make them fruitful to His greater
glory.