The road that leads to life

“The road that leads to life”

Prayer…and penance are the two potent inspirations sent to us at this time by God, that we may lead back to him mankind that has gone astray and wanders about without a guide….

Nothing remains [for us] but to invite this poor world that has shed so much blood, has dug so many graves, has destroyed so many works, has deprived so many of bread and labor, nothing else remains for us…but to invite it in the loving words of the Sacred Liturgy: “Be thou converted to the Lord thy God.”

What more suitable occasion…for such a union of prayer and reparation, than the approaching Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus? The proper spirit of this solemnity…is the spirit of loving reparation…for all the offenses that wound that divine Heart.

Let, therefore, this year the feast of the Sacred Heart be for the whole Church one of holy rivalry of reparation and supplication. Let the faithful hasten in large numbers…to the foot of the altar to adore the Redeemer of the world under the veils of the Sacrament [and] let them pour out to that merciful Heart that has known all the griefs of the human heart, the fullness of their sorrow, the steadfastness of their faith, the trust of their hope, the ardor of their charity. Let them pray to him, interposing likewise the powerful patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary…for themselves and for their families, for their country, for the Church; let them pray to him for the Vicar of Christ on earth and for all the other pastors, who share with him…the spiritual government of souls; and let them pray for the whole of poor mankind….

The divine Heart of Jesus cannot but be moved at the prayers and sacrifices of his Church, and he will finally say to his Spouse…Great is thy faith; be it done to thee as thou wilt (Mt 15:28).

Pope Pius XI

Pope Pius XI, whose motto was “the peace of Christ in the Kingdom of Christ,” canonized many saints, including Saint John Vianney and Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. He reigned from 1922 to 1939. [Caritate Christi Compulsi # 28-31, 34. Used with permission of the Libreria Editrice Vaticana. www.vatican.va.]