Association Of Catholic Bloggers

As a new contributor to this blog site, I am humbled to be able to join so many other wonderful writers that contribute to spreading the Love of Jesus and our wonderful Catholic faith. My background: My name is Laura Durant, and I live near Austin, Texas, with my wonderful husband, John. I grew up in the faith, and met my husband as he was converting to Catholicism (what a joy that was!). I am also a member of the Austin Community of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites. I have developed over time a strong love and tenderness for the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary. It started first with my relationship with Mary, who as she so easily and surely does, lead me straight into the loving flames of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Healing Heart of Jesus ( www.healingheartofjesus.com ) The blog I felt called to create is all about the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and focuses on the transformation of my heart and the transformation Jesus wants to do in each of our hearts - ...

June is traditionally dedicated to the  Sacred Heart of Jesus  in Catholic tradition.  Here's the picture of the Sacred Heart I saw most often growing up. Source For a long time I have not really understood this devotion, based on revelations to St Margaret Mary (1647-1690).  She saw Jesus with His heart exposed in His chest.  It all seemed a bit odd to me.  Why would you have your heart on the outside of your clothes?  Read more at "From the Coalface"

"I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled." (Luke 12:29) We have approached the fire of the love of God. Let us allow that fire to burn our lives. Let us feed the desire to spread that divine fire throughout the world, making t known to all the people around us. They too can experience the peace of Christ and find happiness there. A Christian who lives united to Christ's heart can have no goals but these: peace in society, peace in the Church, peace in his soul, the peace of God which will reach its climax when his kingdom comes." ~ St. Josemaria Escriva

Today is Canada Day. On July 1 2011 Canada celebrates its 144th birthday. One hundred and forty-four must be a significant number, because this year we are honoured with a visit from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge who are celebrating with us. O Canada. We have the reputation beyond our shores of being polite, perhaps rather simple, peace-loving, and having cute, folksy accents. Some of those things used to be true, but while our country was founded on wholesome Christian values, our political and social climate has shifted in the last half century. Fortunately we claim St. Joseph as our patron and if anyone can bring about conversion and restoration to this country, it is the foster father of our Lord. This year, our birthday coincides with the great Feast of the Sacred Heart. I believe that Jesus and His earthly father are united in their loving concern for this nation and its people. I earnestly beseech God's mercy on our government leaders. I ask for His guiding hand on al...

 Today is the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The video above, produced by the Apostleship of Prayer, tells us something of the struggle of the Venerable Matt Talbot (2 May 1856 – 7 June 1925) with alcoholism. It mentions the fact that he didn't have the benefit of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), which hadn't yet come on the scene. But it doesn't mention that he was one of the earliest members of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association of the Sacred Heart . The Pioneer Association, or PTAA, describes its mission and vision as follows:  Our mission is to address the problems in society caused by excess alcohol consumption and drug usage. We do this through: Faith and prayer Self denial Example Activities based on presenting alternatives to individuals, particularly the young Advocacy Our vision - based on the love in the Heart of Christ, as expressed in The Gospels - is to help to build a society where people live to their full potential and alcohol can be ...

Picture source The following story was shared by Father Mateo Crawley-Boevey, SS.CC., the priest famous for promoting Home Enthronements to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is a very powerful example of hope and trust. It gave me much hope for certain family members who have not only fallen away from the Church but have turned their backs on Her teachings. I am sure it will inspire us all to have the same devotion to the Sacred Heart and to never stop praying for those relatives and family members, especially the most harden of sinners. There was a certain sister, that when she become a nun offered her prayers and sacrifices, her Masses and Communions, her hours of adoration, her entire life in fact, for the conversion of her brother, a hardened sinner. Long years went by, and reports from home became increasingly worse as her brother plunged deeper and deeper into a life of sin. But she never lost hope, nor did her confidence in the Sacred Heart fail. Finally, one day came the ...

Devotion to the Sacred Heart is a wonderful historical expression of the Church's piety for Christ, her Spouse and Lord: it calls for a fundamental attitude of conversion and reparation, of love and gratitude, apostolic commitment and dedication to Christ and his saving work. Devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus are numerous. Some have been explicitly approved and frequently recommended by the Apostolic See. Among these, mention should be made of the following: Personal Consecration Personal consecration, described by Pius XI as "undoubtedly the principal devotional practice used in relation to the Sacred Heart" ( Miserentissimus redemptor ) . Family Consecration Family consecration to the Sacred Heart, in which the family, by virtue of the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony already participating in the mystery of the unity and love of Christ for the Church, is dedicated to Christ so that he might reign in the hearts of all its members. Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus T...

June is the month devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. St. Margaret Mary Alocoque, after being shown the Sacred Heart, was asked to spread devotion to it. St. Margaret Mary was often visited by souls in purgatory and would recommend to families who had recently lost loved ones to pray Novenas to the Sacred heart for the release of their loved ones from purgatory. There's a beautiful site called Daily Pilgrimage to Purgatory where you can read more about St. Margaret Mary and her love for the souls in purgatory. We live in a day and age where many people don't believe in God and, if they do, many of them believe that everyone goes straight to heaven. They focus completely on God's mercy - not understanding that justice and mercy walk hand in hand. Without justice pure chaos would reign both now and in the afterlife!  There are also those who offer a Mass and a prayer or two for their loved ones and then assume that is sufficient and do no more. Meanwhile, there are souls...