Evening Novena For Pope John Paul II

Sacred Heart Novena

-- First Day

The word heart is a strong word and a beautiful one.

"Take heart!" we say, when we want a man to pick up courage.

"He gave her his heart," we say, when a man gives to a woman his pure love.

With perfect understanding we talk of a motherly heart ... of a man who puts heart into his work ... of the innocent heart of a child ... of the pulsing heart of a city.

What more natural then that when Christ the Savior revealed Himself once more to humanity He should borrow our word, knowing that it would ring with complete familiarity?

"Behold the heart that hath loved men so much," He cried, indicating His own heart. And men of good heart and of loving hearts answered, "Indeed we know how much you have loved us."

To the Savior who revealed Himself to the world that needs love, we say:

O God, who in the heart of thy Son, wounded by our sins, dost deign mercifully to bestow upon us the infinite treasures of thy love, grant, we beseech thee, that we who now pay Him the devout homage of our piety may also perform the duty of worthy satisfaction.  Through the same Jesus Christ, Our Lord, who livest and reignest with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.

Amen.