“The Month of the Sacred Heart Day by Day” by Fr. Patrick Troadec

In his foreword, he shows how merciful Love is a precious help to us, especially today: “Given the degree of corruption in the world, devotion to the Sacred Heart has never been more necessary to avoid slipping imperceptibly into lukewarmness, defeatism, or a lack of trust in God.”

“To avoid giving up in adversity, the most effective way is to throw ourselves body and soul into the Sacred Heart, to draw strength and consolation from it. The more we know Him, the more we will love Him, and the more we will honor Him."

He adds: "The 350th anniversary of the central apparition of the Sacred Heart to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque is an additional reason to meditate on the many reasons for our deep attachment to the divine Heart of Jesus.

"Let us go to the Sacred Heart, who loved us so much and who calls us despite our ingratitude; let us go to Him through reparation, through conversion, through consecration" [Bishop Rastouil, Bishop of Limoges, Pastoral Letter, 1944]. Let us keep the hope that He will, in His time, bring His merciful designs to fruition."

The author indicates the plan he has adopted: "Since the month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart, the booklet proposes a daily meditation for thirty days, at the rate of two pages per day. The first meditations present the divinity of Jesus Christ, His humanity, His infinite love, His mercy, and then the following ones explain what devotion to Him consists of before specifying its origin and development.”

"Then follow the requests of the Sacred Heart and His promises. In response to His advances, the booklet explains what personal and family consecration to the Sacred Heart consist of, as well as our duties towards Him, without omitting those of civil society.”

"A final meditation focuses on the links that unite devotion to the Sacred Heart with devotion to the Holy Eucharist. Day by day, the reader is led to fathom the riches of the divine Heart of Jesus and thus to grow in devotion to Him."

As in Fr. Troadec's previous booklets, the content is profoundly spiritual and the format extremely practical: "Each day offers a quotation from Holy Scripture, followed by a meditation whose content is inspired by the writings of the Fathers of the Church, St. Thomas Aquinas, Bossuet, or more recent authors, such as excerpts from the Pastoral Letters of French Bishops written between 1900 and 1950. 

"Two thoughts allow for deeper meditation. To ensure that it produces abundant, concrete, and lasting fruit, one or two prayers, and three or four resolutions are also proposed. Finally, to nourish piety, a few prayers and hymns conclude the booklet."

The author's pastoral intention will be realized, as St. Francis de Sales liked to say, "quite simply": "All, whatever their state in life, should find in this daily reading material for spiritual growth." The thought of the day will sometimes be enough for them as a subject for prayer and will give a beautiful direction to their day."

Fr. Patrick Troadec, The Month of the Sacred Heart Day by Day. Via Romana, 96 pages, €10.