Happy Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus!

(The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Paris. Photo courtesy of Ron McGuire.)

"The sorrows of Our Savior were greater for His Heart than for His Body -- His Soul suffered far more intensely and bitterly...Yes, my God, it is on this interior Passion of Thine that I wish to meditate. It is upon this afflicted Heart that I wish to bestow all my tenderness....Oh, Jesus, who can console this grief of Thine? If only we could save from Thy enemy the souls of which he would deprive Thee. Lord! We have each a soul, which up to this time has drawn little fruit from Thy sufferings. We will work to save it, so that Thou mayest not have the sorrow of seeing it perish with so many others...We will spare nothing, so that Thou mayest be spared the grief of losing [our souls]. O noble motive, worthy of a great and tender heart. In this way there can be nothing but sweetness in working out our salvation."

~ St. Claude de la Colombiere, in a sermon in the Chapel Royal of St. James' Palace, London.

Father Claude de la Colombiere was the blessed Jesuit to whom St. Margaret Mary confided Our Lord's wishes that a Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus be established, and devotion to His Heart spread. He preached, publicly and privately, this beautiful message of love and reparation.