Our Sweet Heart on Valentine's Day
Let us pray. Sweet Heart of Jesus, be my Love!
Today is Valentine's Day, a day which is attributed to the heroism of St. Valentine, who was beheaded for defending the Sacrament of Marriage. A Catholic Life has posted a brief history of his life and some related links. [update: St. Valentine was real! One of our helpers, Patte urges us to greet with "Happy Saint Valentine's Day!"]
Today, we also remember the Love of God in the Sacred Heart of Jesus. A Heart that was pierced for love of mankind. He is our Divine Lover. And so it is fitting that today we go to His Heart by resting and abiding in It. The saints did.
St. Lutgarde (d.1246) the Cistercian mystic of Aywieres, Belgium had visions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. When once asked by Our Lord what gift she wanted, she replied: "I want Your Heart." To which Jesus responded: "I want your heart." Then Our Blessed Lord granted the Saint a very special grace. He mystically exchanged hearts with her. St. Lutgarde is the first known mystic to receive this grace.
St. Bonaventure (d.1274), the Franciscan and a great theologian, wrote: "Since we have reached the most sweet Heart of Jesus, and it is good for us to abide in It, let us not readily turn away from It. How good, how sweet it is to dwell in Thy Heart, O good Jesus! Who is there who would not desire this pearl? I would rather give all else, all my thoughts and all the affections of my soul in exchange for It, casting my whole mind into the Heart of my good Jesus." St. Bonaventure also wrote: "Who is there who would not love this wounded Heart? Who would not love, in return, Him Who loves so much?"
The great Dominican mystic, St. Catherine of Siena (d.1380), one day said to Our Lord: "Sweet, Spotless Lamb, You were dead when Your Side was opened. Why, then, did You allow that Your Heart should be thus wounded and opened by force?" Our Lord answered: "For several reasons, of which I will tell you the principal. My desires regarding the human race were infinite and the actual time of suffering and torture was at an end. Since my love is infinite, I could not therefore by this suffering manifest to you how much I loved you. That is why I willed to reveal to you the secret of my Heart by letting you see It open, that you might well understand that It loved you far more than I could prove to you by a suffering that was over."
(From Monks of Adoration)
Today is Valentine's Day, a day which is attributed to the heroism of St. Valentine, who was beheaded for defending the Sacrament of Marriage. A Catholic Life has posted a brief history of his life and some related links. [update: St. Valentine was real! One of our helpers, Patte urges us to greet with "Happy Saint Valentine's Day!"]Today, we also remember the Love of God in the Sacred Heart of Jesus. A Heart that was pierced for love of mankind. He is our Divine Lover. And so it is fitting that today we go to His Heart by resting and abiding in It. The saints did.
St. Lutgarde (d.1246) the Cistercian mystic of Aywieres, Belgium had visions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. When once asked by Our Lord what gift she wanted, she replied: "I want Your Heart." To which Jesus responded: "I want your heart." Then Our Blessed Lord granted the Saint a very special grace. He mystically exchanged hearts with her. St. Lutgarde is the first known mystic to receive this grace.
St. Bonaventure (d.1274), the Franciscan and a great theologian, wrote: "Since we have reached the most sweet Heart of Jesus, and it is good for us to abide in It, let us not readily turn away from It. How good, how sweet it is to dwell in Thy Heart, O good Jesus! Who is there who would not desire this pearl? I would rather give all else, all my thoughts and all the affections of my soul in exchange for It, casting my whole mind into the Heart of my good Jesus." St. Bonaventure also wrote: "Who is there who would not love this wounded Heart? Who would not love, in return, Him Who loves so much?"
The great Dominican mystic, St. Catherine of Siena (d.1380), one day said to Our Lord: "Sweet, Spotless Lamb, You were dead when Your Side was opened. Why, then, did You allow that Your Heart should be thus wounded and opened by force?" Our Lord answered: "For several reasons, of which I will tell you the principal. My desires regarding the human race were infinite and the actual time of suffering and torture was at an end. Since my love is infinite, I could not therefore by this suffering manifest to you how much I loved you. That is why I willed to reveal to you the secret of my Heart by letting you see It open, that you might well understand that It loved you far more than I could prove to you by a suffering that was over."
(From Monks of Adoration)
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Things to do:
1). The official publication of "Deus Caritas Est" is due out on Valentine's day. Get your copy now!. Yes, it's all about Love.
2). Make an offering to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary for your loved one or for someone who is struggling in a relationship.
3). Get a copy of the book Theology of the Body for Beginners by Christopher West.
4 Comments:
Happy valentines day to you! That is a lovely post, I particularly like how Jesus responded to St.Catherine of Siena, if someone does not feel loved, they only need to look at those words right there.
God bless you!
Happy Valentine's Carmel! What a revelation to St. Catherine by Jesus. There is no other place to rest than in His Heart through the Heart of Mary!
Happy Saint Valentine's Day to all! And remember to keep the "saint" in the day. He was real!
Thank you Patte! Yes, St. Valentine's heroism is to be imitated by all. And so I must correct my post that his story is not legend but fact!
Thank you for reminding us to greet with "Happy Saint Valentine's Day!"
God bless you!
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