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.

Sacred Heart Novena

Eight Day

"Behold the heart that has loved men so much and that has been
loved so little in return."

It is upon the second half of the Savior's statement that the loving
Christian focuses his attention.

We have known always the love of God. We have tried not to
remember the lovelessness of men and women.

With love for everyone and for everything, now as on the first
Christmas, no love remains for Christ. With Love walking in a
thousand cheap disguises, as it did even during the climax of
love on Calvary, love passes by without a nod to the victim of
love.

That is why the Savior Himself asked loving souls for a little
reparation.

"Make up," He pleads, "for the millions who do not love me."

"Tell me at least that you wish sinners would stop their sin,
and the faithful in name would become faithful in fact, and the
sins committed in the ugly travesty on love would cease to kill
the human power of love.

"Consecrate yourself," He begs, "to my heart. Dedicate your
homes and your children to my loving protection. Spend at
least an occasional hour with me."

We consecrate ourselves to the loving Christ and 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.