“You have to learn from the Heart of Jesus.
That is why Jesus said: ‘Learn from Me, not from books.’”
~Mother Teresa of Calcutta
The Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is all about uniting our hearts with His. We are praying that our Lord will transform us into Him. As St. Margaret Mary Alacoque wrote: “Since love makes lovers one in likeness, let us model our lives on His.” The following Novena will help us model our lives to the greatest virtue of God: humility. Let us conform our mind and will to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
OPENING PRAYER
In the Name of the Father, * and of the Son, * and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O Loving Heart of Jesus, * my Redeemer, * You are the source of all grace and love. * Your Sacred Heart was pierced on the cross; * there You show us how much You love us. * As a token of Your love, You leave Your Heart with us in the Blessed Sacrament; * Your Heart loves us with a soothing tenderness. * I consecrate to You my entire being: * my heart, * my soul, * and my mind. * I unite all my thoughts and desires with Yours. * Please be my consolation in trials, * my rest in work, * and my comfort in distress. * Inflame the hearts of all people everywhere, * especially in this parish, * with love for You. * May my prayers and my service show all people how You love them * and how to return to Your love. * In Your Most Holy Name, * Jesus Christ, * we pray. * Amen.
“The Heart of Jesus is an open Heart. Spend your time there. It is not an ordinary school, but it is a school of Jesus where you come to learn and to know His Heart—where the teachers are His Mother and the Lord Himself. What have you to learn? To be meek and humble; if you are meek and humble, you will learn to pray. If you learn to pray, you will belong to Jesus. If you belong to Jesus, you will learn to believe, and if you believe, you will learn to love, and if you love, you will learn to serve.”
1. THE HEART OF JESUS—MOST MEEK AND HUMBLE
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves” (Matthew 11:28). Is your life all together? Take inventory of your thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Amid stress and toil, Jesus calls us to Him to find rest. He encourages us to turn all our needs and troubles over to Him. Place your right hand on your heart, do you feel it beating? Place your heart inside Jesus’ Heart. Remain still for a moment. Allow Jesus’ Heart to bring calmness into your life.
“If you are humble, nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are. If you are blamed, you will not be discouraged. If they call you a saint, you will not put yourself on a pedestal.”*Most Sacred Heart of Jesus: make my heart meek and humble like You (3x).
2. THE HEART OF JESUS – MOST HUNGRY AND THIRSTY
“After this, aware that everything was now finished, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I thirst’” (John 19:28). Jesus thirsts for your love.
“Hungry for love, He looks at you. Thirsty for kindness, He begs of you. Naked for loyalty, He hopes in you. Homeless for shelter in your heart, He asks of you. Will you be that one to Him?”*Most Sacred Heart of Jesus: make my heart meek and humble like You (3x).
3. THE HEART OF JESUS—MOST PURE
“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8).
“Sins against chastity and charity are directly wounding the Heart of Jesus.”* How pure is my heart? How chaste is my conscience?
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus: make my heart meek and humble like You (3x).
4. THE HEART OF JESUS—MOST SORROWFUL
“Jesus said to them, ‘My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch with Me’” (Matthew 26:38). Why is Jesus sorrowful, even to death?! Am I the cause of His grief and distress? How so? What can I do to soothe Jesus’ sorrow? Jesus asks us to do two things: “Remain with Him and keep watch with Him.” Have I done that lately?
“Do not let the past disturb you—just leave everything in the Sacred Heart, and begin again with joy.”*Most Sacred Heart of Jesus: make my heart meek and humble like You (3x).
5. THE HEART OF JESUS—MOST COMPASSIONATE
“For I have set an example, that as I have done for you, you should also do” (John 13:15). Think about times when you have been very sick or lonely, and how the simple touch of someone’s hand boosted your spirit. Now reflect on how God is present to you. His presence shows how compassionate and reassuring He is to us in our deepest pain. At the Last Supper, Jesus said, “For I have set an example, that as I have done for you, you should also do.” How compassionate are you?
“The Heart of Jesus pierced for love reminds us of the great chance each of us has to receive the Body of Christ and His Precious Blood daily in the Eucharist.”*Most Sacred Heart of Jesus: make my heart meek and humble like You (3x).
6. THE HEART OF JESUS—MOST GENEROUS
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21). What do you treasure most in your life? Be honest and ask yourself, “Which of the following do I care for the most: money, family, friends, fame, power, carnal pleasure, social status, or the like?” Is that your “god?!” Please, think again.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus: make my heart meek and humble like You (3x).
7. THE HEART OF JESUS—MOST GRATEFUL
“And you now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no one can take away from you.” (Luke 16:22). A joyful heart is a grateful heart. How grateful is your heart? Our Lord Jesus is ever-grateful every time we come to visit Him, no matter how brief it is. He shows His gratitude to us every day till the end of time in the Holy Eucharist. In essence, the Holy Eucharist is the Eternal Word giving thanks to God, the Father, on our behalf, for we do not say, “Thanks be to God” enough.
“His hands are outstretched ready to embrace me—and His Sacred Heart completely open that I may enter in—for you and me and for every soul—which loves and desires to be loved.”*Most Sacred Heart of Jesus: make my heart meek and humble like You (3x).
8. THE HEART OF JESUS—MOST FORGIVING
“So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if you do not forgive your brothers their trespasses from your hearts” (Matthew 18:35). Our Lord Jesus has made an eternal covenant with His own Blood to pardon us. At the Eucharistic Altar, He repeats this “Blood Oath” daily to forgive us forever. What will it take for you to make the decision to apologize and let go of the hurt inflicted on you by others? When will you let them go?
“When it is very hard for you—just hide yourself in the Sacred Heart, and there my heart with you will find all the strength and love.”*Most Sacred Heart of Jesus: make my heart meek and humble like You (3x).
9. THE HEART OF JESUS—MOST FAITHFUL
“Jesus said unto him, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). It is our Lord Jesus who loves us first with all His Heart, with all His soul and with all His mind. How faithful are you to His love?
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus: make my heart meek and humble like You (3x).
CLOSING PRAYER
O Most Sacred and Loving Heart of Jesus, * you are concealed in the Holy Eucharist. * I worship you with all my best love and awe,* with deep affection, * and with my most resolved will. * For a while you take up your home within me. * O make my heart beat with your heart! * Purify it of all that is earthly, * all that is proud, * all perversity, * and of all disorder. * So fill it with You, * that neither the events of the day * nor the circumstances of the time * may have the power to ruffle it, * but that in Your love and Your fear, * it may find peace. * Amen.
~ Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman
*Quotes from Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta
