The Devotion to the Sacred Heart Of Jesus. 22.

BY THE REV. H. NOLDIN, S.J. 

AUTHORISED TRANSLATION FROM THE GERMAN.

REVISED BY THE REV. W. H. KENT, O.S.C

The intention of this devotion is a holy and exalted one, supremely worthy of the soul that loves her Lord and Master; namely, to return love for love, and to repair by her homage the irreverence, the contempt wherewith our all-merciful Redeemer is treated. If the value, the efficacy of a devotion is proportioned to the unselfishness and generosity of its intention, this devotion, whose chief, most important exercises are acts of generous, unalloyed charity, can be surpassed by no other.

The fruits of this devotion are unequalled by those of any other in excellence, abundance, and splendour. First of all we will mention the one which is essentially its offspring, and ripens under its shade, the love of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and King, our eternal High Priest Where is the good, the true priest who does not crave with all his heart for that most precious of all gifts, who does not make it t object of his constant supplications? this devotion furnishes us with the easiest, most certain means of reaching the goal our desire and our prayers in a short time The way is twofold, says Fr. Galliffet, whereby we attain to the love of Our Lord Jesus Christ. First, by the liberality and bounty of God; that 'is to say, when, either in answer to our prayers or to reward us for some work under taken for His glory, of His mercy He freely bestows on us the inestimable gift of His love. Secondly, through our own action under the guidance and with the assistance of divine grace; that is, when we make use of the means which are especially calculated to kindle the love of Our Lord within our hearts. To this appertains primarily meditation on His most lovable attributes and perfections, and remembrance of the love He feels for us, the benefits He bestows on us so lavishly. Now it is evident that no pious practices combine these two means of attaining love for Jesus in so high a degree as the devotion to His Sacred Heart.