You expired, Jesus, but the source of life gushed forth for souls, and the ocean of mercy opened up for the whole world. O Fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.

Amen.

For my friend Nadine's Mom Leona McCleary.

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 heart answered, "Indeed we know how much you have loved us."

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

The Prayer of the Sacred Heart Of Jesus

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.

Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion--inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.

Amen.