“To love, beautiful speeches are not necessary, but works of mercy,” said Monsignor Lisandro Rivas to the religious congregations that remembered in Venezuela the 350 years of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Various religious congregations -female and male- identified with the spirituality of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Venezuela, gathered together to celebrate this liturgical feast that Saint John Eudes celebrated for the first time, on October 20, 1672, as recognized by the Catholic Church.
They did it twice: on October 15 at the Sagrado Corazón de Jesús church; in Caracas and the afternoon of Thursday the 20th, at the San Gabriel retirement home, in La Tahona.
Monsignor Lisandro Alirio Rivas Durán, (Missionary Institute of the Consolata) and auxiliary bishop of Caracas, presided over the Eucharist on Saturday, October 15, leaving an important message about the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the current era.
«In Venezuela, at the beginning of the 20th century, when many Venezuelan congregations were founded, they took the Heart of Jesus as patronage and model to be able to promote those charisms that responded to the specific needs of the country such as health, education and work with the most vulnerable,” he said. Aleteia.
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What is the Sacred Heart of Jesus asking of us in these times?
«By celebrating the 350 years of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Saint John Eudes, it is a deep call to revive from the current moment that we live in Venezuela and the world, especially when we see that the hearts of many men and women, each once again, it is turning into a heart of stone.”
“It is very important that we reflect on this event and ask ourselves the following questions: What is the Heart of Jesus asking of us Christians today? What is he asking of the Church? And to the consecrated life? What are you asking the Venezuelan people to walk?
“I am sure that the responses are aimed at showing others a more humane and open heart, to welcome the brother who suffers, who is alone and who has left the Venezuelan land to go to other places,” he commented at the end of the Eucharist.
“That is why we must ask the Heart of Jesus to help us, strengthen us and open our hearts to universal brotherhood and fraternity as Pope Francis asks.”
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The Holy Door of the Sacred Heart in Caracas
Fray José Juan de Paz Santos (Dominico) welcomed the pilgrims and devotees inviting them to cross “The Holy Door” to also celebrate the 100-year jubilee of this temple, whose central nave was blessed on the day of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1922.
He reported that this parish started «a jubilee year on June 24, 2022 which will last until November 5, 2023, which is when the 100 years of the left nave dedicated to the Virgen del Rosario are celebrated».
Pope Francis through the apostolic penitentiary granted Plenary Indulgence for this almost year and a half of jubilee celebration, in addition to the authorization to install a Holy Door, he told the pilgrims who came to his parish.
He commented that in order to earn indulgences, parishioners must duly participate in the sacrament of reconciliation and devoutly participate in the Eucharistic celebration when crossing the holy door. “They must also pray for the intentions of the Holy Father and carry out works of mercy with our brothers, especially those most in need”.
Eudists celebrated and admitted new applicants
On the afternoon of October 20, Rafael Viloria, provincial of the Eudists in Venezuela, not only celebrated for the 350 years of the official start of the devotionalso welcomed six young people who applied to join the Congregation of Jesus and Mary.
They are Nilson Méndez, Bryan Facenda, Yohandy Méndez, Carlos Granados, Jesús Martinez and Roller Gómez, from various regions of Venezuela. The young people, citing numeral 69 of the Eudist constitutions “ask to be admitted to the period of probation”, as the beginning of their formation for life in this congregation.
“The purpose of the process will be to form for apostolic life in community. We consecrate you on this day to the Sacred Heart of Jesus so that you may be faithful and let yourself be shaped by his merciful love,” Viloria said. Aleteia.
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What teachings does Saint John Eudes leave when instituting the feast to the Sacred Heart of Jesus?
“Undoubtedly, after 350 years, for all the faithful devotees, it remains a great commitment to go even further. Going from mystical contemplation to pastoral action will always be a great challenge as Christians. Provocation that will lead to concretize the mercy of Jesus in working and in sensitive acts, “explained the provincial of the Eudists in Venezuela.
He mentioned the teachings of Monsignor Lisandro Rivas, who radically expressed on October 15: «To love, beautiful speeches are not necessary, but works of mercy». That expression should resonate in our hearts in the face of the boom in service that today has been awakening in our churches through our laity, he noted.
He commented that the service must be accompanied by the feelings that spring from the heart of Jesus. «If not, he will be one more servant who has fueled his desire to feel humanly useful, and powerful; but far from doing it with the sentiments of Jesus».
The priest taught that no one today disputes the historical paternity of John Eudes regarding the liturgical cult of the hearts of Jesus and Mary. «Not to recognize it would be to ignore the history and the sacred milestones that led him to carry out such an event.».
Finally, he had words of gratitude and solidarity with the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus; the Franciscan Missionaries of the Mother of the Divine Shepherd; Augustinian Recollects of the Sacred Heart of Jesus; the Little Sisters of the Poor of Maiquetía; the Sisters of the Divine Shepherd; the Repairing Sisters of the Heart of Jesus; Dominicans of the Holy Family; consecrated virgins; the Order of Preachers; the Dehonian fathers and the Eudists.
A question from Venezuela: “What is the Sacred Heart of Jesus asking of us?”