The Sacred Heart

You are one God in three Persons. You are a Person, O God the Father. You are a Person, O God the Son. You are a Person, O God the Holy Spirit. You are three equal and distinct Persons, yet not three Gods, for God is one: one in nature, in essence, and three in Persons. You are a Person, O God the Father, because you are a substance who exists of yourself within the divine nature, and you act and work. Have mercy on us. You are a Person, O God the Son, because you are a substance who exists of yourself, begotten within the divine nature, and you act and work. You are a Person, O God the Holy Spirit, because you are a substance who exists of yourself, proceeding from the Person of the Father and from the Person of the Son, and you act and work. Yet there are not three substances, but one single substance. You, O God, are incomprehensible: no intellect that you have created can, through all its efforts, come to understand you, neither your nature nor your judgements and thoughts. In order for one to understand you, it would be necessary to be God like you, which is impossible, for you alone are God, and besides you there can be no other, not even one like you. You are God, Lord of heaven and earth; all things are under your dominion, and in all things, you seek to do your will for your glory. We are yours and you are ours; to you alone we always give honour and glory, to you yourself, as you will never give your honour to another.

St Paul writes that we Christians are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells within us. Since the Spirit of God lives in us, it is essential that we come to know who this Spirit is and how we may recognise him within ourselves. God is one in three persons, distinct from one another: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Father recognises Himself in begetting the Word, who is called His Son. The Father loves the Son, and the Son loves the Father; from this mutual love proceeds the Holy Spirit. These three persons are equal and share in everything fully. Where the Holy Spirit is present, his gifts, listed in the Book of Isaiah, are never lacking. These are: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord (Isaiah 11:2–3). In addition to these gifts, the Holy Spirit also bestows his fruits, which, as St Paul writes, are: love, joy, peace, patience, long-suffering, gentleness, kindness, goodness, faith, purity, continence, and modesty. Whoever possesses the Holy Spirit cannot fail to experience his consolation through these gifts and fruits. Without the Holy Spirit, no one can give glory to God or earn merit. Without him, no one can believe, hope, love, or truly repent. Without the Spirit, no one can discern the deceptions of nature, the devil, or other people. Without the Holy Spirit, no one can keep God’s law, let alone recognise the Spirit of God. Without Him, a person remains in a state of misfortune. We invoke the Holy Spirit for help in times of temptation, for enlightenment in the examination of conscience, and in discerning our vocation in life. We call upon him in times of desolation, adversity, doubt, fear, tribulation, and in all our other needs. Let us therefore turn to the Holy Spirit in prayer. May we frequently pray, with faith and devotion, the words of St George Preca: God the Holy Spirit, enlighten the minds and enkindle the hearts of the followers of Jesus Christ. Amen.

For many of us, the white smoke on 8th May 2025 came as a great surprise. Many had predicted that this conclave would be a lengthy one. Yet, it was not to be. So much so, in fact, that it seemed the whole world suddenly tuned in to see what was unfolding in St Peter’s Square. Then, the doors of the loggia opened, and we heard the long-awaited words: “Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum. Habemus Papam.” The joy that followed was truly palpable. The crowd’s excitement subsided as all awaited the name of the new Pope – Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost. His was not a name frequently mentioned, certainly not alongside those more favoured by journalists and commentators. Then came the name he had chosen: Leo XIV. As one might expect, he appeared deeply moved. And who wouldn’t be, upon discovering that God had called them to be a father to all? Then the microphone was passed to him, and his first words to the multitude gathered in the square were: “Peace be with you all!” Prophetic words indeed, not only because of the troubling times in which we live, when peace seems so elusive, but above all because these were the very words spoken by the Master, Jesus, when he first appeared to his apostles after his resurrection. This brief greeting was the message, and perhaps more profoundly, the prayer with which the new Pope wished to begin: a prayer for peace in our families, among nations, and throughout the world. To encourage his children, the Pope continued: “God loves us all... evil shall not prevail!” With these words, he urged us not to lose heart, so that as a people of faith we might continue to bring the light of the Lord to the world, to bear witness to his victorious peace. Pope Leo XIV concluded his message with an invitation to join him in becoming builders of bridges. In a world seemingly overwhelmed by division and conflict, may we become signs of the true peace that only the Lord God can bestow.

On the 7th Sunday after Easter, we are invited to contemplate the glorious moment of Christ’s Ascension. In Luke 24, we see Our Lord blessing His Apostles before being taken up into Heaven. He sends them into the world with a mission: to teach all nations and to baptise in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. After this, a cloud gently veils him from their sight, marking the end of his earthly ministry. Yet, this is not a farewell, but a fulfilment, Christ ascends to reign at the right hand of the Father. Let us pause and gaze upon the Heart of Jesus, now glorified, to whom all power in Heaven and on earth has been given. In this divine moment, he invites us to trust, to follow, and to love more deeply. His heart remains open to each of us, a place of refuge and strength. Lord Jesus Christ, make my heart like unto yours. Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us. God the Father, I offer you the Divine Heart of your Son Jesus Christ, with all its merits, so that you will grant me the grace to find refuge in your all-powerful heart. Amen. Praise be to God.

During the General Audience on Wednesday, 28 May 2025, Pope Leo XIV draws our attention to our beloved Jesus, who, like the Good Samaritan, heals our wounds and restores our hope. He invites us to turn to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the model of true humanity, and to ask him to make our hearts ever more like his. In The Book of Signs, St George Preca sets out the marks of those who are truly devoted to the Heart of Jesus. One who is truly devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus: Delights in its image. Spreads devotion to it among friends. Lives always in a spirit of humility. Trains himself in performing humble acts of service for his neighbour. Places great trust in it. Finds refuge in his sorrows in this Heart—a true refuge for sinners. Speaks with charity about his neighbour. Offers help to his neighbour whenever possible. Takes pleasure in hearing others speak about the Heart of Jesus. Rejoices with inner sweetness in the Eucharist. Feels compassion for the sufferings of his neighbour. Prays for the conversion of sinners. Cherishes a quiet and recollected life. Sees Jesus Christ in every person. Shows patience towards those who trouble his heart. Prayer: Lord God, You have commanded me to give you my heart; grant me, therefore, your grace, that I may indeed offer it to You, for without You, we can do nothing.

In Holy Scripture, we encounter two perspectives on how the future is perceived: the apocalyptic, anticipating upheaval before justice prevails, and the prophetic, likened to the steady journey to the Promised Land. The prophetic perspective is not marked by catastrophe but by gradual progress, shaped by a vision of a better world. What kind of politics are Christians called to live? In this Jubilee of Hope, we are invited to embrace a politics of hope. We have the grace of free will, which gives us the strength to overcome the present. Additionally, we also have the grace of repentance, through which we can overcome the past. This is the power of the politics of hope; it enables us to live with joy and enthusiasm what God has prepared for those whom he loves. By God’s grace, we are not a people of despair but pilgrims of hope. Micah 6:8 calls us to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly. By cultivating virtue and committing ourselves to noble deeds, we contribute to a more just and compassionate world. Even the smallest acts of love, like seeds sown in darkness, have the power to grow and bear fruit. “It is never too late to touch the heart of another” (Spe Salvi, 48). Our prophetic calling as Christians is to live a politics of hope, bearing witness to the Gospel through our lives. Hope compels us to serve, love, and transform the world in which we live. In this Jubilee of Hope, may we embrace a politics of hope, allowing God to shape us as we offer a vision of a redeemed world, marked by the love of Christ.