NATIONAL SHRINE OF THE SACRED HEART: 7TH PROMISE: TEPID SOULS WILL BECOME FERVENT

Friday, August 10, 2012

7TH PROMISE: TEPID SOULS WILL BECOME FERVENT

The 12 Promises of the Sacred Heart have long been practiced in the history of our faith. The devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus? Even longer.
Since the beginning of time, these have been founded and applied in the spiritual lives of many saints.

Today, we, as "Sacred Heart warriors", are faced with a challenge:
How do we keep the Sacred Heart relevant in our ever-changing times?

Starting with this (July 2012) issue of Heart Works, we will explore each Sacred Heart promise (or two) to deepen our understanding of what these mean in the world today.

We will attempt to simplify what is "Divine Wisdom" and hopefully translate it into simple action by addressing the heart of the message in each promise.

Promise # 7: "Lukewarm/Tepid souls will become fervent."

Lukewarm
- neither hot nor cold
- I will spit you out, Jesus said

Tepid
- lacking in passion, enthusiasm and conviction

Tepid. What a very 'curious' word. It reminds me of a Filipino word that sounds like it.

To be "tepid" is like "pagti-tipid". It can mean "to scrimp on one's passion for life". It is to be mediocre, "maligamgam" sa buhay.

In a day and age where recession looms in every country in the world, it is only practical for us to be "tipid" on our expenses and luxuries. But if there is one thing we should never be stingy with, kung may isang bagay na di natin dapat tinitipid, it is in being passionate lovers of Jesus.

Huwag tayong magtipid sa pagbuhos ng LOVE BEYOND DEVOTION* para sa Sacred Heart. Mahalaga na iakma natin sa ating isip, salita, puso at gawa ang pagpapalaganap ng mensahe ng Banal na Puso.

A life half lived is a life not lived. To live out our lives whole-heartedly means to be all out - "bigay-todo" - for His Sacred Heart. Huwag natin hayaan ang ating mga sarili na mawalan ng gana - na maging walang ka buhay buhay - sa pagmamahal kay Kristo.

Fervent
- very hot; glowing
- marked by a great intensity of feeling

The reassurance that this 7th promise gives us is that in committing to a love for the Sacred Heart beyond devotion, we not only make a difference in the "Sacred Heart Movement". We too are changed beautifully by it. When we imbibe a love for Christ that is burning rather than lukewarm, everything becomes clearer and brighter. Everything about us and around us becomes more alive: "Mas may buhay".

The promise is that when we start with true love for the Sacred Heart, our passions will grow and spread far and wide, making our relationships at home, at work, with ourselves and with God better, stronger and happier - more vigorous and full of life! Who doesn't want that right? To wake up everyday with a happy and hopeful spirit - one with meaning and purpose each day - is a dream that the Sacred Heart promises to make a reality for you and me.

Let today be the start. Begin with a resolve to live fully and love passionately, like the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Let your heart burn with the desire to be more like Him that you too can live up to the potential He has gifted you with.

May our (tepid) hearts be like His (fervent) Sacred Heart!

*What do we mean when we say BEYOND DEVOTION?

- To do more than just memorize novenas and practice rituals but also to pray passionately from our own hearts, in our own words.

- To adapt in our homes, our work and in everything we do (and to everyone around us) the love, kindness, mercy, compassion and enthusiasm that the Sacred Heart teaches us.

FR. VICTOR Y. APACIBLE

Parish Priest / Rector

NATIONAL SHRINE OF THE SACRED HEART

Makati City, Philippines

SCHEDULE OF CELEBRATIONS

Rector / Parish Priest: Rev. Fr. Roderick L. Castro
Resident Guest Priest: Rev. Fr. Rogelio A. Orpiada

WEEKDAY MASSES
6:00 AM, 6:45 AM and 7:30 AM * 12:15 PM * 6:00 PM

SATURDAY MASSES: 6:00 AM, 6:45 AM, 7:30 AM
ANTICIPATED MASSES: 5:00 PM / 6:30 PM (Tagalog)

SUNDAY MASSES
6:00 AM, 7:30 AM (Tagalog), 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM 12:00 NN
2:30 PM (Children's Mass Tagalog), 4:00 PM (Tagalog),
5:30 PM, 7:00 PM and 8:30 PM

SPECIAL MASSES - Second Sunday
7:30 AM Mass for the Elderly (Tagalog)
5:30 PM Mass for the Youth

CONFESSIONS
Monday to Friday 6:00, 6:30, 7:00, 11:45 AM, and 5:30 PM
Saturday 6:00, 6:30, 7:00 AM, 4:30 PM and 6:00 PM
Sunday
6:30, 7:00, 8:30, 10:00, 11:30 AM
4:00, 5:00, 6:30 PM, 8:00 PM
First Wednesday
6:00, 6:30, 7:00, 11:45 AM * 12:15, 5:30, 6:00 PM
First Friday
6:00, 6:30, 7:00, 11:45 AM * 12:15, 5:30, 6:00, 7:00 PM

ALL FRIDAYS
Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus at all Masses

FIRST FRIDAYS
Whole Day / Night Adoration and Vigil in Church
Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus at all Masses
Veneration of relic of St. Margaret Mary after 12:15 PM Mass
Additional 7:00 PM Mass
Additional Mass at 12:00 MN followed by continuation of Adoration/Vigil until 5:00 AM

FIRST SATURDAYS
5:00 AM Dawn Procession in Honor of Blessed Virgin Mary

BAPTISM: Every Sunday at 11:45 AM (Mass Baptism)
Individual Baptism is by appointment

ANOINTING OF THE SICK / EMERGENCIES: Anytime

ADORATION CHAPEL: 5:00 AM - 9:00 PM Daily

ENTHRONEMENT OF THE SACRED HEART
By Appointment

STA. CRUZ CHAPEL SUNDAY MASSES
7:30 AM (Tagalog) / 6:30 PM

12 SACRED HEART PROMISES

Every First Friday of each month, devout and faithful Catholics consecrate to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the spirit of reparation.

Jesus Christ Himself made the following promises to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, in favor of those who fervently practice and promote this devotion.

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 comfort them in all their afflictions.

4. I will be their security and refuge during life, and above all, in death.

5. I will bestow abundant blessings upon all their undertakings.

6. Sinners will find in My Heart the Source, and Infinite Ocean of Mercy.

7. Lukewarm souls shall become fervent.

8. Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection.

9. I will bless every place in which an Image of My Heart is exposed and honored.

10. I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.

11. Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart.

12. I promise you in the excessive Mercy of My Heart, that My all powerful Love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Fridays in nine consecutive months, the grace of final perseverance; they shall not die in My disgrace, nor without receiving their Sacraments. My Divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.

MY SACRED HEART DAILY PRAYER

O Lord, I pray that in my home, peace, quiet and well being may prevail under the shadows of Your Holy Mantle.

Bless and protect, O Lord, my endeavors, my enterprises, and all those who depend on me and everything that I long for and desire.

Banish from my mind and my heart false ideas and evil sentiments. Infuse in me a love of my neighbor and grant me the means to help him.

Give me resignation and fortitude of spirit in time of adversity, so that I may rise above the contradictions of life.

Guide and protect, O Lord, my own who are exposed to the dangers and contingencies of the world.

Do not forget, O my Jesus, our loved ones with whom we are united in life and whose departure from this earth caused us sorrow, at the same time consoled by the thought that, because they remained faithful to You, You did not abandon them at the hour of death.

Have pity on them, O Lord, and bring them to their eternal glory in heaven. Amen.

PRAYER TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER

Heavenly Father, as we honor and cherish our earthly father, we give you grateful thanks and praise for giving us one of the most important persons in our earthly life.

For it is in the person of our very own father, that we are able to understand and experience the true meaning of fatherly love. Because of him and through him, we are able to comprehend the essence of your Divine Fatherly love.

We thank you for being such a wonderful Heavenly Father to all of mankind. We are most eternally grateful for your Divine Virtues of Mercy, Compassion, Benevolence and Providence.

We praise your Holy Name for your Divine Love for us, for You are so gracious and merciful that You didn't withhold from us Your very own Son our Lord Jesus Christ, who willingly offered His own life so that all of mankind might be saved through Him and that through Him, we are reconciled to You.

We are always grateful that You continue to provide for our daily temporal and spiritual needs and that You are always compassionately forgiving us for our many faults and sins.

We acknowledge with human humility, that we came into this world with nothing and shall also leave with nothing.

For who we are and all that we have comes to us from the abundant grace of Your Divine Providence, to sustain our needs and those of our neighbors.

Thank You for Your Divine Patience with us, Your prodigal children who at times, neglect and are indifferent to the many great things You lovingly do for us.

Because of Your inexhaustible Divine Mercy, we are always assured of a warm welcome upon our return to our Eternal Home to You.

Almighty God and Divine Father, we ask that You grant us Your Fatherly Blessings and send us Your Holy Spirit as You continuously watch over and provide for us in perfect accordance with Your Divine Will.

We ask this in the Holy Name of Your Son, Jesus Christ with the Maternal Intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, Amen!