The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-02-26
CONSIDERATION TO THE SACRED
HEART.


In her writings Blessed Margaret
Mary tells us that those who conse-
crate themselves to the Sacred Heart
of Jesus derive from this act of conse-
Grafton the following particular advan-
tages:
Let us often renew our consecra-
tion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus"
writes Blessed Margaret Mary, land
let us be faithful to it. For this Act
of conservation is singularly pleasing
to that Divine Heart" (Letter 81 to
Mother de Saumaise). "The devil"
continues Blessed Margaret Mary,
breads devotion to the Sacred Heart,
| because of the number of souls, espe-
cially of those who consecrate them
selves wholly to love, honour, and glor
| ify that Divine Heart, whose salvation
shall be assured by this devotion"
| Uetter "a to Mother de Saumaise).
On the 18th January, 1890, Blessed
Margaret Mary wrote as follows to
Father Croiset, S. j., who had conse-
Grated himself by vow to the Sacred
Heart Of Jesus: ct seems to me that
your vow is most pleasing to this Di
vine Heart of Jesus Christ, who will
make of it an indissoluble bond be.
tween Him and you. Such vow faith
fully observed is a powerful weapon
of defence against the enemy of our
salvation"
ok 49, r,r,Sf
Margaret Mary, that those who are
cOnsecrated to the Sacred Heart will
ever fall, by mortal sin, into the pow
er of Satan, provided that having of
fered themselves wholly. and entirely
to this Divine Heart, they try with all
their strength to honour, to love, and
to glorify 1t, by conforming themselves
Christ" (Letter to Mother de Saudeil-
les, 18th Sept, 1880.
The practice of devotion to the Sa-
cred Heart is the shortest road to per-
lection. Conservation to this Adorable
Heart is the gate by which we enter on
this royal way to sanctity.
There is no surer way" says Bless
ed Margaret Mary, 'of attaining per-
lection than that of consecrating our
selves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
If, therefore, we would attain to that
perfection which Jesus Christ requires
of us, we must offer ourselves and all
that we have wholly and unreservedly
in sacrifice to His Sacred Heart; we
must live for Him alone. This is what
that Divine Heart asks of us in order
to perfect and consummate the work
of our sanctification" (Letter SO, to her
priest-brother)
To a religious, who had questioned
her as to the best means of attaining
the perfection required by his state in
life, the servant of God made answer:
1T seems to me that you would do
we'll to consecrate yourself to the Ador-
able Heart of Jesus Christ and to fol-
low faithfully the inspirations of that
Divine Heart. But this much must be
done courageously and perseveringly
by an utter contempt for all that might
prevent you becoming a great saint"
G1etter to Father Croiset, S. j., 10th
May, 5000.
Writing to a person suffering from
interior troubles Blessed Margaret
Mary says: Make your abode within
the Adorable Heart of Jesus; there you
will find unalterable peace and
strength to carry out all the good de.
sires with which He will inspire you
and to avoid wilful faults. Lay all
your troubles and trials before Him
For His Sacred Heart is all sweetness
and He changes everything into love-
letter 40, to Sister de la Barge.
These counsels of the saint are suit.
J ed not only to individual souls who
need that most precious gift, interior
! peace, but they apply equally to fam
: lilies, the members of which are at en-
nifty with one another, and even to
nations torn asunder by internal dis
sensions.
One evening, after leaving the chap.
ell, Blessed Margaret Mary wrote these
: words: This evening, whilst l pray.
ed, Our Lord made me understand:
That He wished to be known, loved
and adored by men. For this reason
, to those who would consecrate them.
selves to the devotion and the love OF
) His Sacred Heart He would communi
cate many graces' (see Life, written
| by her contemporaries, p. 202).
In addition, she said: MY Sover
) eign Master has revealed to me the
) treasures of divine love and grace con
: tanned within His Sacred Heart And
. that He may, in some sort, satisfy His
ardent desire to pour out His love, He
: will bestow these treasures abundantly
: on those persons who will eonsecrate
t themselves to Him and devote them
4 selves to rendering Him, and procur
n ing for Him, as far as in their power
t love, honour. and glory. He asks thi:
9 from His friends, that having give1
! themselves unreservedly to Him HI
e may pour out on them the wealth o
D His treasures of love and grace. Oh