Promises made by  Jesus Christ to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque to those who would practice devotion to His Most Sacred Heart:

1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.
2. I will establish peace in their families.
3. I will console them in all their troubles.
4. They shall find in My Heart an assured refuge during life and especially at the hour of their death.
5. I will pour abundant blessings on all their undertakings.
6. Sinners shall find in My Heart the source of an infinite ocean of mercy.
7. Tepid souls shall become fervent.
8. Fervent souls shall speedily rise to great perfection.
9. I will bless the homes where an image of My Heart shall be exposed and honored.
10. I will give to priests the power of touching the most hardened hearts.
11. Those who propagate this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, never to be effaced.
12. The all-powerful love of My Heart will grant to all those who shall receive Communion on the first Friday of nine consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they shall not die under my displeasure, nor without receiving their sacraments; My heart shall be their assured refuge at that last hour.

Each year the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus falls on a Friday in June.  Perhaps you may want to draw your family closer to Jesus through enthroning your home and participating in the First Friday devotion.  


WHAT MUST I DO TO ENTHRONE THE SACRED HEART IN MY HOME?
Before the Ceremony
1. Learn what it is and how important it is.
2. Set a date for the Enthronement in agreement with the Pastor. It is desirable to have a priest preside at the ceremony, but it is not essential to gain the indulgences. For serious reasons, the father, or someone else may preside and lead the prayers. In any case, please consult your parish priest.
3. If possible have the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass offered that morning for the reign of the Sacred Heart in your home, and as an act of love and reparation to the Sacred Heart. The entire family should try to receive Communion at this Mass, or at another Mass.
4. Obtain as beautiful a picture or statue of the Sacred Heart as possible. If you already have a picture, use that one. [Suitable pictures may be obtained reasonably at a local Catholic shop or on the web.]
5. Below the place of honor reserved for the statue or picture, prepare a "throne" or "altar," that is to say, a table [or perhaps the mantelpiece] covered with a white cloth, beautifully decorated with flowers and candles. The picture or statue should be placed on a small table near this "throne" before the ceremony.
6. Invite your relatives and friends to be present; thus you will already begin to be an "apostle of the Sacred Heart." Have a family party after the ceremony, with a special treat for the children, who, of, course, should be present at the ceremony ---- even the smallest.
7. Make this day one of the outstanding events of the family life ---- one long to be remembered. The greater the solemnity, the better.
Note: Even though your home has been consecrated to the Sacred Heart, you may still have the Enthronement, as the two are not the same.
THE CEREMONY
1. All gather around the image of the Sacred Heart; father, mother and children nearest to the priest.
2. Priest, in surplice and white stole, blesses the image.
[If no priest is present; have the image blessed beforehand.]
The Blessing of the Picture or Statue

V. Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini. R. Qui fecit coelum et terram.V. Dominus vobiscum. Et cum spiritu tuo. Oremus. Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui sanctorum tuorum imagines pingi non reprobas, ut quoties illas oculis corporia intuemur, toties eorum actus et sanctitatern ad imitandum memoriae oculis meditemur, hanc quaesumus, imaginem in honorem et memoriam Sacratissimi Cordis Unigeniti Filii tui Domini Nostri J esu Christi adaptatam bene + dicere et sancti + ficare digneris; et praesta ut quicumque coram ilIa, Cor Sacratissimum  Unigeniti FilIi tui suppliciter colere et honorare studuerit, illius meritis et obtentu a te gratiam in praesenti, et aeternam gloriam obtineat in futurum. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

V. Our help is in the name of the Lord. R. Who made Heaven and earth.V. The Lord be with you. R. And with your spirit.   Let us pray. Almighty and everlasting God, who dost approve the painting and sculpturing of  the images of Thy Saints, so that as often as we gaze upon them we are reminded to imitate their deeds and sanctity; vouchsafe, we implore Thee,  to bless and sanctify this image made in honor and in memory of the Most Sacred Heart of Thy only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ; and grant, that whosoever in its presence, will suppliantly worrship and honor the Most Sacred Heart of Thy only begotten Son, may obtain through His merits and intercession grace in this life and everlasting glory in the world to come. Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Let us pray. Almighty and everlasting God, who dost approve the painting and sculpturing of  the images of Thy Saints, so that as often as we gaze upon them we are reminded to imitate their deeds and sanctity; vouchsafe, we implore Thee,  to bless and sanctify this image' made in honor and in memory of the Most Sacred Heart of Thy only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ; and grant, that whosoever in its presence, will suppliantly worship and honor the Most Sacred Heart of Thy only begotten Son,  may obtain through His merits and intercession grace in this life and everlasting glory in the world to come. Through Christ our Lord.  Amen.
[The priest here sprinkles the image with holy water.]

3. Then the father [or in his absence, the mother or some other member of the family] enthrones the image in the place of honor prepared for it. This is the symbolic act of Enthronement.

4. All stand while the Apostle's Creed is recited as an act of faith on the part of the family.
5. Everyone is seated while the priest addresses a few words to those present, reminding the members of the family of what the Sacred Heart expects from families which have acknowledged Him as King;
recalling the magnificent promises of the Sacred Heart; urging the family to live its Enthronement and frequently to renew the act of consecration which they are about to make.

6. All kneel, while the priest and the father [or father alone, or his representative] recite the official Act of Consecration.

NOTE: This is the official text composed by Father Ladislaus, SS.CC., and approved by St. Pius X, at the request of the Procurator General of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts by Rescript of May 19, 1908. It was made obligatory to gain the indulgences of  the Enthronement by a decision of the Sacred Penitentiary on March 1, 1918. [A.A.8. April 1, 1918, II. 154.] The New Regulations on Indulgences do not grant specifically an indulgence for the Ceremony, but on the Feast of the Sacred Heart, which is the Friday of the Octave Day of Corpus Christi [the Sunday of the Octave occurs after the Second Sunday of Pentecost, which places the Feast after the Third Sunday of Pentecost; for instance, in 1996 this fell on June 15.] a plenary indulgence is granted for reciting on the Feast theLitany of the Sacred Heart, which can be included in the Ceremony. A plenary indulgence is also granted for reciting the following Consecration on the Feast, which is different than the official Act of Consecration given in the Ceremony booklet, but both are suitable:

Act of Consecration of the Human Race: Traditional

Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before Thy altar. We are Thine, and Thine we wish to be; but to be more surely united with Thee, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to Thy most Sacred Heart. Many indeed have never known Thee; many too, despising Thy precepts, have rejected Thee. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to Thy Sacred Heart. Be Thou King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken Thee, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned Thee; grant that they may quickly return to their Father's house lest they die of wretchedness and hunger. Be Thou King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof, and call them back to the harbor of truth and unity of faith, so that soon there may be but one flock and one Shepherd. Be Thou King of all those who are still involved in the darkness of idolatry or of Islamism, and refuse not to to draw them all into the light and kingdom of God. Turn Thine eyes of mercy towards the children of that race, once Thy chosen people: of old they called down upon themselves the Blood of the Savior; may It now descend upon them, a laver of redemption and of life. Grant, O Lord, to Thy Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give peace and order to all nations, and make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: "Praise be to the divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to It be glory and honor for ever." Amen.

Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart

[Recited by the priest and the father together, or father alone, or representative, if no priest is present. At the time that this ceremony was approved by the Holy See, this Act was mandatory for the indulgence, but this indulgence has not been granted for this formula with the New Regulations.]

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, * who didst make known to St. Margaret Mary Thine ardent desire to reign over Christian families, * behold us assembled here today * to proclaim Thine absolute dominion over our home.

Henceforth we purpose to lead a life like unto Thine, * so that amongst us may flourish the virtues * for which Thou didst promise peace on earth, * and for this end * we will banish from our midst * the spirit of the world which Thou dost abhor so much.

Thou wilt reign over our understanding * by the simplicity of our faith. Thou wilt reign over our hearts * by an ardent love for Thee; * and may the flame of this love * be kept burning in our hearts * by the frequent reception of the Holy Eucharist.

Deign, O Divine Heart, * to preside over our meetings, * to bless our undertakings, both spiritual and temporal, * to banish all worry and care, * to sanctify our joys * and soothe our sorrows. * If any of us * should ever have the misfortune to grieve Thy Sacred Heart, * remind him of Thy goodness and mercy * toward the repentant sinner.

Lastly * when the hour of separation will sound * and death will plunge our home into mourning, * then shall we all and everyone of us * be resigned to Thy eternal decrees, * and seek consolation in the thought * that we shall one day be reunited in Heaven, * where we shall sing the praises and blessings of Thy Sacred Heart * for all eternity.

May the Immaculate Heart of Mary * and the glorious Patriarch St. Joseph * offer Thee this our Consecration, * and remind us of the same * all the days of our life.

Glory to the Divine Heart of Jesus, * our King and our Father!

7. The priest here asks those present to say with him ONE Our Father and Hail Mary for all the absent members, both living and dead, so that all may share in the graces of the Enthronement.

8. All recite with the priest [or head of the family] the following:

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Glory be to Thee, * O Sacred Heart of Jesus, * for the infinite mercy Thou hast bestowed * upon the privileged members of this family. * Thou hast chosen it from thousands of others, * as a recipient of Thy love * and a sanctuary of reparation * wherein Thy most loving Heart shall find consolation * for the ingratitude of men. * How great, O Lord Jesus, * is the confusion of this portion of Thy faithful flock * as we accept the unmerited honor * of seeing Thee preside over our family! * Silently we adore Thee, * overjoyed to see Thee sharing * under the same roof * the toils, cares and joys of Thy children! * It is true, we are not worthy * that Thou shouldst enter our humble abode, * but Thou hast already reassured us, * when Thou didst reveal Thy Sacred Heart to us, * teaching us to find in the wound of Thy Sacred Side * the source of grace and life everlasting. * In this loving and trusting spirit * we give ourselves to Thee, * Thou who art unchanging Life. * Remain with us, Most Sacred Heart, * for we feel an irresistible desire * to love Thee and make Thee loved.

May our home be for Thee * a haven as sweet as that of Bethany, * where Thou canst find rest * in the midst of loving friends, * who like Mary * have chosen the better part * in the loving intimacy of Thy Heart! * May this home be for Thee, * O be. loved Savior, * a humble but hospitable refuge * during the exile imposed on Thee by Thine enemies.

Come, then, Lord Jesus, come, * for here as at Nazareth, * we have a tender love for the Virgin Mary, Thy sweet Mother * whom Thou hast given us to be our Mother. * Come, * to fill with Thy sweet presence the vacancies * which misfortune and death have wrought in our midst.

O most faithful Friend, * hadst Thou been here * in the midst of sorrow, * our tears would have been less bitter; * the comforting balm of peace * would then have soothed these hidden wounds, * which are known to Thee alone. * Come, for even now perhaps, * there is drawing near for us * the twilight of tribulation, * and the decline of the passing days * of our youth and our illusions. * Stay with us, * for already it is late, * and a perverted world seeks to envelop us * in the darkness of its denials * while we wish to adhere to Thee * who alone art the Way * the Truth * and the Life. * Repeat for us those words * Thou didst utter of old: * "This day I must abide in this home."

Yes, dear Lord, * take up Thy abode with us, * so that we may live in Thy love * and in Thy presence, * we who proclaim Thee as our King * and wish no other! * May Thy triumphant Heart, O Jesus, * be forever loved, * blessed, * and glorified * in this home! * Thy Kingdom Come! Amen!

9. [All stand] To thank the Immaculate Heart of Mary for the grace of the Enthronement, and to proclaim this loving Mother as the Queen of the home, all recite the Hail Holy Queen. [If so desired, an Act of Consecration to the Heart of Mary may be added, and her image installed near the Sacred Heart.]

10. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus: Have mercy on us! [3 times]
Immaculate Heart of Mary: Pray for us.
St. Joseph: Pray for U.S'.
St. Margaret Mary: Pray for us.
[ALL] Glory to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus forever and ever! Amen.

11. The priest gives his blessing: May the blessing of Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, descend upon you and remain forever. Amen.

12. Then the members of the family and the priest sign the Certificate of the Enthronement, which should be framed and hung near the image of the Sacred Heart or kept in the family vault.

After the ceremony, send in name and address of family to a Local Center or to the National Center. Give date of ceremony, name of officiating priest, if any, and parish. 

Hail, Holy Queen 
[Salve, Regina]

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy; hail our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us. And after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.  Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Partial Indulgence. 

The Devotion to the Sacred Heart Fr. John Croiset, S. J. Originally published in1691; Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur, 1959 TAN Books and Publishers Part 3 THE PRACTICE OF THIS DEVOTION CHAPTER 8: THE PROMISES OF THE SACRED HEART; THE DEVOTION AND THE HOLY SOULS IN PURGATORY THE TWELVE PROMISES OF THE SACRED HEART AND THE PRACTICE OF THE NINE FIRST FRIDAYS PRAYER FOR DAILY NEGLECTS THE TEN PROMISES OF THE APOSTLES OF THE SACRED HEART THE SACRED HEART AND DEVOTION FOR THE HOLY SOULS IN PURGATORY PRAYER FOR THE HOLY SOULS A FEW SELECTIONS FROM THE WRITINGS OF ST. MARGARET MARY The Promises of the Sacred Heart The twelve promises which we find in prayerbooks and manuals of the devotion to the Sacred Heart do not contain all the promises made by our Divine Lord to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. They are not even a summary of them, but are rather a selection of those promises best calculated to arouse sentiments of love for Our Lord in the hearts of the faithful and to induce them to practice the devotion. These twelve promises are found in the writings of St. Margaret Mary, but not all in one place. We give here the complete list of the various promises, as found in Monsignor Gauthey's edition of the writings of St. Margaret Mary, but we do not give the full text. Those who wish to have the full text of the promises will find it in The Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus the Essence of Christianity, pages 48 to 69. But first, we present the basic twelve promises without commentary: Near the conclusion of this section. St. Margaret Mary writes an explanation of how the Nine First Fridays are to be practiced. The Prayer for Daily Neglect was not written by St. Margaret Mary but because it is so invaluable an aid with have included it here as it is a prayer to the Sacred Heart that is to be said daily, thus it can be incorporated into the practice of the Devotion easily, it is short and known to be efficacious. THE NINE FIRST FRIDAYS DEVOTION AND THE TWELVE PROMISES OF THE SACRED HEART MADE TO ST. MARGARET MARY WITH ADDED PRAYER FOR DAILY NEGLECT 1. I WILL GIVE THEM ALL THE GRACES NECESSARY FOR THEIR STATE OF LIFE. 2. I WILL GIVE PEACE IN THEIR FAMILIES 3. I WILL CONSOLE THEM IN ALL THEIR TROUBLES. 4. THEY SHALL FIND IN MY HEART AN ASSURED REFUGE DURING LIFE AND ESPECIALLY AT THE HOUR OF DEATH. 5. I WILL POUR ABUNDANT BLESSINGS ON ALL THEIR UNDERTAKINGS. 6. SINNERS SHALL FIND IN MY HEART THE SOURCE AND INFINITE OCEAN OF MERCY. 7. TEPID SOULS SHALL BECOME FERVENT. 8. FERVENT SOULS SHALL SPEEDILY RISE TO GREAT PERFECTION. 9. I WILL BLESS THE HOMES IN WHICH THE IMAGE OF MY SACRED HEART SHALL BE EXPOSED AND HONORED. 10. I WILL GIVE TO PRIESTS THE POWER TO TOUCH THE MOST HARDENED HEARTS. 11. THOSE WHO PROPAGATE THIS DEVOTION SHALL HAVE THEIR NAME WRITTEN IN MY HEART, AND IT SHALL NEVER BE EFFACED. 12. THE ALL-POWERFUL LOVE OF MY HEART WILL GRANT TO ALL THOSE WHO SHALL RECEIVE COMMUNION ON THE FIRST FRIDAY OF NINE CONSECUTIVE MONTHS THE GRACE OF FINAL REPENTANCE; THEY SHALL NOT DIE UNDER MY DISPLEASURE, NOR WITHOUT RECEIVING THE SACRAMENTS; MY HEART SHALL BE THEIR ASSURED REFUGE AT THE LAST HOUR. This devotion consists in attending Holy Mass and receiving Holy Communion in reparation for those who do not receive Our Lord, who do not love Him and who wound Him by their sinful lives. "I promise you, in the excessive mercy of My Heart, that My all-powerful love will grant to all those who communicate on the First Friday of nine consecutive months, the grace of final penitence; they shall not die in my disgrace, nor without receiving their Sacraments, My Divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment." -----Our Lord to St. Margaret Mary Prayer for Daily Neglects ETERNAL FATHER, I offer You the Sacred Heart of Jesus, with all its love, all its sufferings, and all its merits. First, to expiate all the sins I have committed this day and during all my life. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and shall ever be, world without end. Amen. Second, to purify the good I have done poorly this day and during all my life. Glory be, etc. Third, to supply for the good I ought to have done, and that I have neglected this day and all my life. Glory be, etc. HISTORY: Soon after death, a Poor Clare nun appeared to her abbess, who was praying for her, and said: "I went straight to Heaven because I paid all my debts by virtue of this prayer." MAIN SOURCE: PRAYERS AND HEAVENLY PROMISES, COMPILED FROM APPROVED SOURCES By Joan Carroll Cruz PROMISES ATTACHED TO THE VENERATION OF THE IMAGE OF THE SACRED HEART a) BLESSINGS PROMISED TO NATIONS THAT PUT THE IMAGE OF THE SACRED HEART ON THEIR STANDARDS: ". . . Our Divine Lord does not wish to stop there: He desires, it seems to me, to enter with pomp and magnificence into the houses of princes and kings, in order to be honored there as much as He was outraged, despised and humiliated in His Passion, and to receive as much pleasure at seeing the great ones of this world abased and humiliated before Him, as He felt bitterness at seeing Himself annihilated at their feet." b) BLESSINGS PROMISED TO FAMILIES WHERE THE IMAGE OF THE SACRED HEART IS HONORED: "Our Divine Lord assured me that He takes a singular pleasure in being honored under the figure of His Heart of flesh, the image of which He wishes to be exposed in public in order to touch the unfeeling hearts of men. He promised that He would pour out in abundance into the hearts of all those who would honor His Heart all the gifts with which It is filled, and that everywhere this image is exposed and honored, it would draw down all kinds of blessings." c) BLESSINGS PROMISED TO COMMUNITIES: "He promised that He would pour out the sweet unction of His ardent charity on all those communities in which this divine image would be honored; that He would turn away from them the thunderbolts of the just anger of God, and that He would restore them to His grace, if they should have the misfortune to fall into sin." d) BLESSINGS PROMISED TO INDIVIDUALS: "He promised to pour out into the hearts of all those who honor the image of His Heart all the gifts which It contains. He promised also to imprint His love on the hearts of all those who would wear this image on their persons, and that He would destroy in them all disordered movements." PROMISES ATTACHED TO THE CONSECRATION TO THE SACRED HEART Consecration to the Sacred Heart is the principle, the resume and the final term of all the devotional practices demanded by our Divine Lord for His Sacred Heart. a) THIS CONSECRATION REJOICES THE SACRED HEART AND TERRIFIES THE DEVIL, AGAINST WHOM IT IS A POWERFUL WEAPON. "Let us renew often our consecration to the Heart of Jesus," writes St. Margaret Mary, "and let us live that consecration faithfully. The Sacred Heart takes a singular pleasure in it. "The devil has a most intense fear of the devotion to this loving Heart, because of the salvation of the multitude of souls which it effects in favor of those who consecrate themselves completely to the Sacred Heart for the purpose of loving It, honoring It, and glorifying It." b) CONSECRATION 10 THE SACRED HEART IS A SOVEREIGN REMEDY AGAINST MORTAL SIN. "I cannot believe," writes St. Margaret Mary, "that those consecrated to the Heart of Jesus will fall under the domination of Satan through mortal sin, if having consecrated themselves to the Heart of Jesus, they endeavor to honor It, love It, and glorify It, by conforming themselves in all things to Its holy maxims." c) CONSECRATION PUTS SOULS ON THE ROAD TO PERFECTION. "There is no surer means of attaining perfection than to be consecrated to the Heart of Jesus. If therefore, we wish to attain that perfection which the adorable Heart of Jesus desires of us, we must make an entire sacrifice of ourselves, and of everything that depends on us, to the Sacred Heart and live entirely for It." d) CONSECRATION WILL PROCURE PEACE. "Establish your dwelling in the amiable Heart of Jesus, and you will find unalterable peace, strength to carry out all your good desires, and a protection against voluntary faults." e) CONSECRATION IS THE KEY WHICH OPENS THE SACRED HEART TO US. "Our Lord gave me to understand that He wishes to be known, loved and adored by men, and for that end He would give them many graces, provided they consecrated themselves to the devotion and love of His Sacred Heart." f) CONSECRATION TO THE SACRED HEART IS A PLEDGE OF SALVATION. "There is no surer means of salvation than to consecrate oneself to the Divine Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ. "The loving Heart of Jesus will not allow any of those consecrated to It to perish, so great is His desire that His Sacred Heart be known, loved and honored by His creatures. In this Sacred Heart they will find assistance during their life in all their necessities; It will be their secure place of refuge at the hour of their death, into which they will be received and protected from their enemies." PROMISES MADE IN FAVOR OF SINNERS THE DEVOTlON TO THE SACRED HEART IS AN EFFICACIOUS MEANS OFFERED FOR THE CONVERSION OF SINNERS. "My Divine Master:' writes St. Margaret Mary, "revealed to me that it was His ardent desire to be known, loved and honored by men, and His eager desire to draw them back from the road to perdition, along which Satan is driving them in countless numbers, that induced Him to manifest His Heart to men with all the treasures of love, mercy, grace, sanctification and salvation that It contains, in order to have a means of satisfying Its desire to pour out on them abundantly Its mercies and Its graces. It is by this means that the Sacred Heart of our loving Jesus wishes to save many souls from eternal perdition . . . This Divine Heart is like a fortress or a secure place of refuge for all poor sinners who wish to take shelter in It from the Justice of Almighty God, the thunderbolts of whose wrath, like an impetuous torrent, would overwhelm sinners and their sins, on account of the enormous number committed at the present time." THE DEVOTION TO THE SACRED HEART IS A SOVEREIGN REMEDY AGAINST TEPIDITY. "Our Lord wishes through this devotion to His Divine Heart to rekindle the charity that has grown cold and has almost been extinguished in the hearts of the greater part of Christians; He wishes to give men a new means of loving God by His Sacred Heart, as much as He desires and merits, and of making reparation for their ingratitude. "If we are cowardly, cold, impure, imperfect, the Sacred Heart is an ardent furnace in which we must purify and perfect ourselves like gold in the crucible. It will purify all that is imperfect in our actions; it will sanctify those that are good." PROMISES MADE IN FAVOR OF THE JUST "There is no shorter way of attaining perfection than to render to the Divine Heart an the homage, love, honor and praise in our power. "I do not know of any other exercise in the spiritual life more calculated to raise a soul in a short time to the height of perfection, and make it taste the true sweetness that is to be found in the service of God; if it were known how pleasing this devotion is to Jesus Christ, there is no Christian, however little his love for our amiable Savior, who would not begin to practice it immediately." "The names of beginners," writes St. Margaret Mary, "are written on the adorable Heart of Jesus only with ink. This signifies the initial grace given us to combat and conquer our imperfections, especially our proud self-love, which insinuates itself everywhere, sullying and disfiguring our holiest actions. These black letters should be purified from the earth which they contain and made bright in the crucible. This means that our inclinations and actions should be purified in the furnace of the love of the Divine Heart from all that is earthly and human and from all self-seeking. "These black letters will gradually brighten in the crucible of Divine Love, and become like silver, which signifies purity of heart. But when in the process of purification all the black letters are changed into letters of silver, we must not stop there, we must continue until they are changed into gold. "It is love that will change them into gold. Charity is the divine gold that will write our names on the Heart of Jesus in letters never to be effaced. We shall then become like holocausts, consumed completely in the ardent flames of the loving Heart of Jesus." PROMISES FOR THE AFFLICTED a) THE HEART OF JESUS CONSOLES HIS SERVANTS IN THEIR PRIVATE CALAMITIES. b) THE HEART OF JESUS IS THE TRUE SOURCE OF CONSOLATION IN PUBLIC CALAMITIES. PROMISES THAT HAVE REFERENCE TO OUR LAST END THE GREAT PROMISE This promise is contained in a letter written in May, 1688, by St. Margaret Mary to Mother Saumaise: "On a Friday during Holy Communion, He said these words to His unworthy slave, if I mistake not: I promise you in the excessive mercy of My Heart that Its all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on nine first Fridays of the month consecutively, the grace of final repentance; they will not die under My displeasure or without receiving their Sacraments, My Divine Heart making Itself their assured refuge at the last moment." With regard to this promise it may be remarked: 1) that Our Lord required Communion to be received on a particular day chosen by Him; 2) that the nine Fridays must be consecutive; 3) that they must be made in honor of His Sacred Heart, which means that those who make the nine Fridays must practice the devotion and must have a great love for Our Lord; 4) that Our Lord does not say that those who make the nine Fridays will be dispensed from any of their obligations or from exercising the vigilance necessary to lead a good life and overcome temptation; rather He implicitly promises abundant graces to those who make the Nine Fridays to help them to carry out these obligations and persevere to the end; 5) that perseverance in receiving Holy Communion for nine consecutive First Fridays helps the faithful to acquire the habit of frequent Communion, which Our Lord eagerly desires; and 6) finally, that the practice of the Nine Fridays is very pleasing to Our Lord since He promises such a great reward, and that all Catholics should endeavor to make the Nine Fridays. PROTECTION PROMISED BY OUR LORD AT THE MOMENT OF DEATH. "The Divine Heart of Jesus again gave me to understand and assured me," writes St. Margaret Mary, "that the pleasure which He takes in being known, loved and honored by His creatures is so great that He promised me that none of those who practice this amiable devotion and are devoted to His adorable Heart will ever perish." SPECIAL REWARDS IN HEAVEN FOR THOSE WHO ARE DEVOTED TO THE SACRED HEART "The adorable Heart of Jesus has shown inexpressible favor to our Holy Founder [St. Francis de Sales] because the devotion has been established in our Institute. Never has his accidental glory been so much increased as by this means. [The order is the Visitation Order.] "Our good Father Claude de la Colombiere by his intercession in Heaven is the cause of what takes place here on earth for the glory of the Sacred Heart." PROMISES MADE FOR PEOPLE IN THE WORLD AND THEIR FAMILIES "Our Divine Lord assured me," writes St. Margaret Mary, "that He takes such pleasure in being known, loved and honored by His creatures, that He promises: 1) that people in the world will find through this amiable devotion all the helps necessary for their state of life, that is to say; 2) peace in their families: He promised me that He will unite families that are divided. Our Divine Lord wishes us to have great charity for our neighbor; He wishes us to pray to Him for our neighbor as we would for ourselves, for it is one of the special effects of this devotion to unite hearts divided and to bring peace to souls; 3) consolation in their afflictions; 4) solace in their labors: He promised that He would protect and assist families that were in any necessity, if they addressed themselves to Him with confidence; 5) the blessings of Heaven on all their enterprises; 6) that in His Sacred Heart they would find refuge during their life and especially at the hour of their death." SPECIAL PROMISES MADE TO PERSONS CONSECRATED TO GOD PROMISES MADE TO RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES "Our Divine Lord promised me," writes St. Margaret Mary, "that as His Sacred Heart is the source of all blessings, He will pour out the sweet unction of His ardent charity on all those communities where His Sacred Heart is honored and who place themselves under Its special protection. "He promised me that He would keep their hearts united so that they would form but one. "He promised me that He would turn away the thunderbolts of Divine Justice from them and restore them to favor, if they should fall. "Let religious embrace this amiable devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, for they will draw from It such help that no other means will be needed to reestablish in their first fervor and in the most exact observance of their rule those communities that have become lax, and to bring to the height of perfection communities that are already fervent." TEN PROMISES FOR THE APOSTLES OF THE SACRED HEART FIRST PROMISE FOR APOSTLES OF THE DEVOTION "My Divine Master;' writes St. Margaret Mary, "showed me the names of several persons written in letters of gold on His Sacred Heart, names of which He will never allow to be effaced. These are the names of the persons who have labored the most to make His Sacred Heart known and loved." SECOND PROMISE FOR APOSTLES OF THE DEVOTION "The Sacred Heart of Jesus has such a great desire to be known, loved and honored by men; He wishes so ardently to establish the empire of His love in all hearts by destroying in them the empire of Satan, that He promises great recompenses to all those who devote themselves with their whole hearts to establishing the reign of His Sacred Heart according to the lights and graces which He gives them." THIRD PROMISE FOR APOSTLES OF THE DEVOTION In addition to the friendship of the Divine Heart, the apostles of the Devotion are assured of the protection of the Blessed Virgin and of the Saints, especially of St. Margaret Mary. She writes: "Oh! what happiness for us and for all who contribute in making the loving Heart of Jesus known and glorified! For they will draw down upon themselves the friendship and eternal blessings of this unique Love of our hearts. The Blessed Virgin will be their special protectress, she will assist them in attaining to the perfect life." FOURTH PROMISE FOR APOSTLES OF THE DEVOTION The apostles of the Sacred Heart will make rapid progress in virtue. The Sacred Heart of Jesus will sanctify and glorify them. "The loving Heart of Jesus," writes St. Margaret Mary, "has made known to me that He will take care to sanctify and glorify us before His Heavenly Father in the measure in which we exert ourselves to procure glory for Him and to increase the reign of His love in the hearts of men." FIFTH PROMISE FOR THE APOSTLES OF THE DEVOTION The apostles of the Sacred Heart will receive the grace of the pure love of God. "The zeal with which you labor to make the Sacred Heart of Jesus known and loved will gain for you in an ever increasing degree the crowning gift of the pure love of God." SIXTH PROMISE FOR THE APOSTLES OF THE DEVOTION The apostles of the Sacred Heart will draw down special blessings on their native land and on their families. "Oh! what happiness for those who contribute to making the adorable Heart of Jesus known, loved and glorified! By what means they will secure a powerful Protector for their native land." SEVENTH PROMISE FOR THE APOSTLES OF THE DEVOTION Great blessings are reserved for the works of zeal undertaken by those apostolic workers who propagate the devotion to the Sacred Heart. They will make great conversions. "My divine Savior," writes St. Margaret Mary, "assured me that those who labor for the salvation of souls will have the art of touching the hardest hearts and will obtain marvelous success, if they themselves are animated with a tender devotion to His Divine Heart. "He will penetrate the most unfeeling hearts by the words of His preachers and faithful friends. He will so pour out the sweet unction of His ardent charity with such strong and powerful graces on their words that He will make them like a flaming sword which will cause the most frozen hearts to melt in His love. The words of these apostles will be like two-edged swords, which will penetrate the most hardened hearts and make the holy fountain of penance spring up in them, purifying and sanctifying the most obstinate sinners and rendering them susceptible to the love of this Divine Heart. By this means the most criminal souls will be led on to salutary penance." EIGHTH PROMISE FOR THE APOSTLES OF THE DEVOTION It will be given to the apostles of the Sacred Heart to understand the inestimable value of the Cross, and they will obtain strength and consolation in their difficulties. "The adorable Heart of Jesus," writes St. Margaret Mary, "wishes to establish the reign of His pure love in all hearts. Happy are those whom He will employ to aid Him to establish His reign! But He did not tell me that His friends would have nothing to suffer, for He wishes them to make their greatest happiness consist in tasting its bitterness." NINTH PROMISE FOR THE APOSTLES OF THE DEVOTION The apostles of the Sacred Heart will obtain the grace of final perseverance and of a holy death. TENTH PROMISE FOR THE APOSTLES OF THE DEVOTION The Sacred Heart Itself will be the reward of Its apostles. "Happy are those," writes St. Margaret Mary, "whom the Sacred Heart of Jesus will employ in establishing His reign. For it seems to me .that It is like a king who thinks only of recompensing His friends while He gains victories and triumphs over His enemies. When this Heart reigns victorious on Its throne, It will be Itself their eternal recompense." PARTICULAR PROMISES MADE AND SPECIAL MISSION ENTRUSTED TO THE ORDER OF THE VISITATION AND TO THE JESUIT FATHERS "This mission," writes Father Ramiere, S.J., "is not of an exclusive character. It is a source of joy for the Sisters of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and the confreres of Blessed Claude de la Colombiere to see their efforts shared by religious of the various orders and congregations, by secular priests of every rank and even by the simple faithful." DEVOTION TO THE SOULS IN PURGATORY AND THE DEVOTION TO THE SACRED HEART Among the devotions which should form a crown of honor around the Sacred Heart, St. Margaret Mary gives a privileged place to devotion to the Souls in Purgatory. She herself had an extraordinary devotion to these Souls and called them her good suffering friends. The revelations which she received about the sufferings of these Souls, about our Divine Lord's tender love for them and His eager desire for their deliverance, of the great efficacy of the devotion to the Sacred Heart for their early release, and the fact that St. Margaret Mary, the apostle of the public devotion to the Sacred Heart, combined these two devotions so intimately in her own person, indicate that there is such a close connection between the two devotions that the devotion to the Souls in Purgatory may be said to form a part of the devotion to the Sacred Heart. Her extraordinary compassion for these suffering Souls may be said to be a share of the compassion of the Divine Heart for them; she called the devotion to the Sacred Heart the sovereign remedy for their relief. It is a remarkable fact that our Divine Lord demanded of the two pioneers of the public devotion to His Sacred Heart an act of consecration of themselves to It, and a total donation in favor of the Souls in Purgatory of all the satisfactory merits of their lives and of all the prayers, Masses and good works offered for them after their death, and that they were the first to make this heroic offering. St. Margaret Mary was in constant communication with the Souls in Purgatory; our Divine Lord allowed many privileged Souls among them to visit her, to tell her of their great sufferings and what it was that caused them, and to appear to her in glory after their deliverance. Towards the end of her life this became known outside the convent and people came to inquire from her about their deceased friends. While she usually declined to give any reply at the time of the inquiry, later on she sometimes declared that such a person was now in Heaven and exhorted the relatives of others to continue their prayers. MARVELOUS EFFICACY OF THE DEVOTION TO THE SACRED HEART TO SUCCOR THE SOULS IN PURGATORY "Would that people knew;' writes St. Margaret Mary, "with what eagerness the poor Souls in Purgatory ask for this new remedy which is so powerful to relieve their sufferings. They call the Devotion to the Sacred Heart the 'Sovereign remedy,' and ask particularly for Masses in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus." ST. MARGARET MARY RECOMMENDS NOVENAS IN HONOR OF THE SACRED HEART FOR THE SOULS IN PURGATORY Writing to Mother de Saumaise she says: "There is a Soul in Purgatory that I cannot comfort as much as I desire. She told me to apply to you and ask you to have three Masses said for her, and, in addition, to offer your Rosary and all the practices of our holy rule for nine days, and a general Communion. She said that these things would greatly alleviate her pains and that she would not be ungrateful." ST. MARGARET MARY WAS ACCUSTOMED TO OFFER HER PRAYERS TO OUR BLESSED LADY THROUGH THE SOULS IN PURGATORY, AND IN A LETTER TO MOTHER GREFIÉ SHE EXPLAINS THE REASON: "It is not through any want of confidence in Our Blessed Lady that we ask the help of the Holy Souls in Purgatory; it is in order that they may join their supplications to ours and offer them up to this Good Mother to obtain for us the continuation of her maternal assistance. By doing so we confess that, after God, it is from the Blessed Virgin that all good comes to us." Of all the practices for the relief of the Holy Souls, the most efficacious is that which is called "the Heroic Act of Charity," which, as already stated, both St. Margaret Mary and Blessed Claude de la Colombiere made at our Divine Lord's request. It consists in offering up in favor of the Souls in Purgatory all our satisfactory merits and all the indulgences we can gain during our lives, and all the prayers, Masses and good works offered for us after our death, thus reserving nothing for ourselves and trusting completely in the mercy of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. St. Margaret Mary makes reference to it in several of her letters. PRAYER FOR THE HOLY SOULS O Divine Heart of Jesus, grant I pray Thee, eternal rest to the Souls in Purgatory, the final grace to those who are about to die this day, true repentance to sinners, the light of faith to pagans, and Thy blessing to me and to all who are dear to me. To Thee, therefore, O Most Merciful Heart of Jesus, I commend all these souls, and in their behalf I offer unto Thee all Thy merits in union with the merits of Thy Most Blessed Mother and of all the Angels and Saints, together with all the Masses, Communions, prayers and good works which are this day being offered throughout Christendom. O Most Holy Heart of Jesus, shower Thy blessings in abundant measure upon the Thy Holy Church, upon the Supreme Pontiff and upon all the clergy; to the just grant perseverance; convert sinners; enlighten unbelievers; bless our relations, friends and benefactors; assist the dying; deliver the Holy Souls in Purgatory; and extend over all hearts the sweet empire of Thy love. Amen. Contact Us HOME-------------------12 PROMISES SUB-DIRECTORY---------------------DIRECTORIES www.catholictradition.org/Two-Hearts/devotion12.htm

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Prayer to St. Michael

PRAYER TO SAINT MICHAEL.

THE ARCHANGEL

Most glorious Prince of the Heavenly Armies, Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in our battle against principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places. (Ephes. VI, 12). Come to the assistance of men whom God has created to His likeness and whom he has redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of the devil. Holy Church venerates thee as her guardian and protector; to thee the Lord has entrusted the souls of the redeemed to be led into heaven. Pray, therefore, the God of Peace to crush Satan beneath our feet, that he may no longer retain men captive and do injury to the Church. Offer our prayers to the Most high, that without delay they may draw His mercy down upon us; "take hold of the dragon, the old serpent, which is the devil and Satan", bind him and cast him into the bottomless pit "so that he may no longer seduce the nations". (Apoc. XX, 2)