(Stained-glass window in St. Thomas Beckett Church, Veneta, Oregon)

Our dear Lord suffered and died to gain our love and friendship, and it hurts Him when all we give is performance of duty and fear of Hell. We should make acts of love, offering the great works of the day, the little works of the day, and everything in between, until pretty soon, our whole day is one big act of love.

In The Life of Love Towards the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Very Rev. John Leo Dehon writes:

"The strength which comes from love of Our Lord is not passing. It is as lasting as love itself. Why would not His love, having once entered a soul, be enduring and persevering? On what is His love founded? On a passing and inconsistent sentiment? No. Rather it is based on a profound sentiment which floods the heart once it has been touched by all that Our Lord has done to merit this love. The reasons for loving Him remain always, and each day, each instant, brings new reasons for loving Him, because every day is marked by new favors for His faithful."