A Concord Pastor Comments: Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus: Day 6

This Novena to the Sacred Heart began on Thursday, June 3, and will conclude on the Feast of the Sacred Heart on Friday, June 11. Each day of the novena there will be posted: an image of the Sacred Heart; a brief reflection; a scripture verse; a Litany of the Sacred Heart by Wendy Wright; and a closing prayer. As the Year for Priests comes near its end, please remember priests along with all those for whom you pray this novena. (Click at the top of the sidebar for previous entries in this series.)

H/T to VultusChristi for this image of the Sacred Heart from the Chapel of the Visitation at Paray-le-Monial in the Burgundy region of France. This is a detail from a larger mural (below) of the Sacred Heart appearing to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, who began the popular devotion to the Sacred Heart.

Mural from the Chapel of the Visitation at Paray-le-Monial in the Burgundy region of France.

Reflection for Day 6
His arms might be mistaken for the wood of the Cross and yet this can be none other than the Risen Jesus. His face looks down on us with the purest pity in his eye, longing to embrace us with his saving love. Risen, yes - and yet the blood runs red-fresh from his side... And his Sacred Heart glows, not with flame here, but as with the heat of the sun. He is the center of all things, that light for the world by which we live and without which we would perish in cold oblivion. The suffering One, now risen, continues to serve us by offering the heat, the warmth, the light of his heart-for-us: the suffering Servant is revealed as the glory of the Father!

Scripture
Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you, just as you gave him authority over all people, so that he may give eternal life to all you gave him. Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began.
- John 17:1-5

Litany of the Sacred Heart

Heart of Jesus, hear our prayer!

So loving
So humble
So gentle
So compassionate
So faithful
So wise
So patient
So steadfast
So tender
So spacious

Heart of Jesus, hear our prayer!

God’s joy
God’s shalom
Harp of the Trinity
Wingbeat of the Spirit
Breath of God
Five-petaled rose

Heart of Jesus, hear our prayer!

Womb of justice
Birthplace of peace
Our dearest hope
Longing of our lives

Heart of Jesus, hear our prayer!

Freely flowing fountain
Spring of grace
Freshet of forgiveness
Merciful river
Mystical dew

Heart of Jesus, hear our prayer!

Warmth of our hearts
Transforming fire
Cosmic furnace
Enflamer of hearts

Heart of Jesus, hear our prayer!

Heart of evolution
Beginning and ending
Center of all

Heart of Jesus, hear our prayer!

Garden of virtues
Mystical dew
Table and food

Heart of Jesus, hear our prayer!

Our refuge
Our shelter
Our comfort
Our rest
Our welcoming breast

Heart of Jesus, hear our prayer!

Wounded by love
Pierced by our cruelty
Broken by our hardness
Mystic winepress
Poured out as gift

Heart of Jesus, hear our prayer!

Have mercy, gracious heart,
Give us gratefulness
Teach us tenderness
Let us learn to love.

Hear our prayer!

- Wendy Wright

Let us pray...

Lord of all our hearts,
enfold us in the arms of your mercy
branching forth from the Tree of Life
and warm us in the light of your risen beauty
radiant with your Father's glory
in the unity that only your Spirit can give.
Amen.