In prayer we come to Him with everything that touches our life,
with the sufferings and hopes of humanity.
(Constitutions, 20)
As apostolic contemplatives, Religious of the Sacred Heart root our lives in prayer. With a mission to discover and reveal the love of God, our spirituality and our mission are based in love. Our contemplative outlook is part of who we are, whether in prayer, in ministry or in our daily lives.
"The contemplative outlook on the world has been a call to be authentic apostles of Christ's love, to help bring to birth a more welcoming world, to make known a God who is great, bountiful and tender. It is a call to educate in such a way that God's plan, God's glory, may become a reality, so that all may grow as brothers and sisters in the inward freedom of the children of God, and have fullness of life." (Superior General Concepcion Camacho, RSCJ)
The pierced Heart of Jesus opens our being to the depths of God and to the anguish of humankind.
(Constitutions, 8)
On these pages, we will share prayers, poems, reflections and artwork that reflect the spirituality of the Society of the Sacred Heart. We hope you will return here periodically for resources appropriate to the liturgical season and our Sacred Heart traditions.
As you take a moment to sit quietly with this image, where are your eyes drawn? Is it the figure of Jesus on the cross, the various churches, the contrast of light and darkness in the painting, the depth of color? What catches your attention? What stirs your heart? God communicates to us through images, sounds, words, feelings, imagination and intuition. What is God communicating to you as you gaze at this image?
The following is an excerpt from Seeking the One Whom We Love: How RSCJs Pray:
You Gave Me Wonder
The moment of Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan is an event so important it appears in all four of the Gospels. I wonder if it is the moment when Jesus’ lifelong discernment of his special vocation – to make God’s love known in the heart of the world – was clear to him, accepted and confirmed?
Jesus was always a bit out of step; he had not followed the norm of settling down and raising a family. Otherwise, he was fully a part of the life of Nazareth. Jesus had wept at their funerals and danced at their weddings.
Loving God, unseen Companion of our life, give us faith and eager expectancy as we begin this fresh stage of our journey. Take from us all fear of the unknown and teach us to wrest treasures from darkness and difficulties. As the days come and go, may we find that each one is laden with happy opportunities and enriching experiences; and when this year reaches its completion, may our best hopes be more than ever fulfilled. Amen.
This image brings to mind the understanding of the ONENESS of the heart of Christ in the world today. I see two hearts, intimately joined. Through these two hearts, which I envision beating as one, I see the river of light and life running and pouring forth. This outpouring of love is learned from Christ by all those who seek to know Christ and are loved by Christ.
Life brings with it both light and darkness as illustrated in this piece of art. The movement, shape and flow are affected by the events of every day.
Fourth Sunday of Advent
See the Holy in the Other, Encounter
“Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”
~ Luke 1:45
“Thus we learn to contemplate reality and to experience it with His heart, to commit ourselves to the service of the Kingdom and to grow in love.”
~ 1982 Constitutions, #21
With great gratitude to God for St. Madeleine Sophie and her companions, who began the great adventure of the Society of the Sacred Heart on November 21, 1800. The Society, born amid tumult in France, continues to pray for the tumult today in France and in so many parts of our world.
A story from the book “St. Madeleine Sophie: Her Life and Letters” by Margaret Williams, RSCJ:
Happy Feast of St. Philippine Duchesne. Meg Brudney, head of school at Duchesne Academy in Omaha, Nebraska, offers us a heartfelt reflection on Philippine’s meaning for her and for our world. During these days as we see our world in increasing pain across all boundaries, Philippine can continue to help us deepen our love and work for peace for the whole world and all God’s people.
With love and prayers,
Barb Dawson, Meg Causey, Anne-Marie Conn, Sheila Hammond and Diana Wall
ISAIAH 35:2-6
They will see the glory of the LORD,
the splendor of our God.
Strengthen the hands that are feeble,
make firm the knees that are weak,
Say to those whose hearts are frightened:
Be strong, fear not!
Here is your God, he comes with vindication;
With divine recompense he comes to save you.
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened,
the ears of the deaf be cleared;
Then will the lame leap like a stag,
then the tongue of the mute will sing.
The month of November invites us to remember all those who have died, those known to us and those unknown. It is worth considering that we celebrate All Saints and All Souls days, not in spring or summer, but in the fall when nature is letting go, life is moving inward. This is a time for harvesting, for reflection.
In taking this time for reflection, two themes emerge: