100th Anniversary
World consecrated to the
Sacred Heart of Jesus
"Greatest Act of my Pontificate"
Pope Leo XIII (1873-1903) is acknowledged by historians to be one of the greatest popes in history. His social encyclical, Rerum Novarum (On capital and labor) continues to be the basis of the Church's understanding and teaching on social justice. He was pope for 25 years during very difficult and turbulent times. He gained exceptional prestige by his numerous teachings and acts of initiative in a pontificate which he began at the age of 68.
Towards the end of his long pontificate there was an event which he held in the highest regard. It was in connection with his declaration of 1900 to be a Holy Year, similar to Pope John Paul's Holy Year/Jubilee Year 2000. To prepare the Church for celebrating the Holy Year, Leo XIII issued on May 25, 1899 the encyclical Annum Sacrum (Holy Year). In that encyclical he stated that he wanted to do something of exceptional importance to mark the beginning of the twentieth century. In his words:
"... We ordain that on the ninth, tenth, and eleventh of the coming month of June, in the principal church of every town, and village, certain prayers are to be said, and on each of these days there be added to the other prayers the Litany of the Sacred Heart approved by Our authority. On the last day the form of consecration shall be recited which, Venerable Brethren, We sent to you with these letters."
This triduum of prayer began on June 9, the Feast of the Sacred Heart, and concluded with the Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart of the human race, June 11, 1899. Pope Leo himself composed the prayer. This encyclical and the Consecration that followed constituted "the greatest act of My pontificate."
In the Pope's encyclical he had a famous passage which was quoted by both Pius XI and Pius XII in their own encyclicals on the Sacred Heart. Leo XIII connected Constantine's vision on the eve of his decisive victory at the Milvan Bridge, October, 312, with the symbol of the Heart of Jesus. In his words:
"When the Church, in the days immediately succeeding her institution, was oppressed beneath the yoke of the Caesars, a young Emperor saw in the heavens a cross, which became at once the happy omen and cause of the glorious victory that soon followed. And now today, behold another blessed and heavenly token is offered to our sight--the most Sacred Heart of Jesus, with a cross rising from it and shining forth with dazzling splendor amidst flames of love. In that Sacred Heart all our hopes should be placed, and from it the salvation of all is to be confidently besought."
The effect of his encyclical and Act of Consecration was a gradual development of the devotion in this century. About 30 years after it was issued, the ideas were crystallized in the establishment of the Feast of Christ the King which now is celebrated as the last Sunday of the liturgical year. The encyclical also had great influence in developing the social reign of the Sacred Heart in the reform of harsh conditions for workers. This need still remains especially in developing countries. But there is world pressure for such reforms. Leo XIII deserves much of the credit.
June 11, 1999, is the 100th Anniversary of the Act of Consecration. In this year the day is also the Feast of the Sacred Heart. How fitting that parishes and institutions and individuals should renew this Consecration on June 11 or on the following Sunday, when many more can participate, as Leo XIII did originally! Here follows the Act of Consecration composed by the great Pope Leo XIII:
ACT OF CONSECRATION
Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before you. We are yours, and yours we wish to be; but to be more surely united with you, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to your Most Sacred Heart. Many indeed have never known you; many, too, despising your precepts, have rejected you. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to your Sacred Heart.
Be King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken you, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned you; grant that they may quickly return to their Father's house, lest they die of wretchedness and hunger.
Be King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof, and call them back to the harbor of truth and the unity of faith, so that soon there may be but one flock and one Shepherd.
Grant, O Lord, to your Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give tranquillity of order to all nations; make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: Praise to the Divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to it be glory and honor forever. Amen.
Blessed Maria Droste--June 8
Christ revealed special message to her
God sometimes intervenes directly in the lives of people to further His plan of salvation. This was the case when He told an obscure nun that He wanted the Pope to consecrate the world to His Sacred Heart.
This month is the 100th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII's consecration of the world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, at the urging of Blessed Maria Droste zu Vischering.
She had told her confessor: "My mission on earth will be completed as soon as the consecration is done." She died a few days later at the age of 36.
Maria was born on September 8, 1863 in Munster, Germany, one of seven children of Count and Countess Clement Droste zu Vischering who both had very good Catholic backgrounds.
She was raised in their wealthy family home--Darfield Castle. At 15 she went to a convent school run by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart at Riedenburg. There, she developed an even greater love for the Sacred Heart.
At 18 she felt called to the religious life and eight years later she joined the Good Shepherd Sisters who looked after needy girls who needed special care. Her religious name was Maria of the Divine Heart and at 28 she took perpetual vows. She had a winning way with the girls and attributed all this to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
She said: "When you are appealing to His Divine Heart for a soul, He will never refuse you, although sometimes He demands much prayer, sacrifice and suffering."
In 1894 she was sent to Lisbon, Portugal, and in May to Oporto where she became Mother Superior of the convent. It was there that Christ appeared to her in visions, making known to her that He wanted the Pope to consecrate the whole universe to His Sacred Heart.
She made known this special message to Pope Leo XIII in June 1898 and in January 1899. In May that year he wrote his encyclical Annum Sacrum which included the desired consecration to the Sacred Heart.
He also mentioned in the Encyclical that he had been cured of a dangerous life-threatening disease. (Privately, he attributed this cure to the intercession of Mother Maria.)
On June 8 Mother Maria personally received two copies of the Encyclical sent by the Holy Father. Later that day she passed away, after the recitation of the First Vespers which commenced the Feast of the Sacred Heart. For the past three years she had suffered much from a spinal disease which had led to a gradual paralysis.
After a solemn Triduum held throughout the world, Pope Leo consecrated the whole human race to the Heart of Jesus on Sunday, June 11th, 1899, adding: "This is the greatest act of my pontificate!"
The Pope had previously received the parents of Mother Maria and had told: "Tell your daughter that the consecration to the Sacred Heart which she asked of me, will be made in every cathedral and church in the world; and tell her clearly that this is in consequence of what she made known to me and that I expect from it the greatest graces for the whole world."
Forty-five years later the body of Mother Maria was found to be incorrupt! She was declared Venerable by the Church in 1964 and was beatified by Pope Paul VI in 1975.
Blessed Maria was one of God's chosen instruments to make better known the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Lives of the Saints by Alfred de Manche
10:36:39 AM.
