This year, we’re celebrating the 60th anniversary of the MSC Missions Office on the Western Road, Cork, and as part of our anniversary commemorations, we’re looking back on old issues of our newsletter, the MSC Message, on a walk together down Memory Lane.
As we prepare for the beginning of our Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart on August 31st, we look back at some special reflections and prayers to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart from over 40 years ago, in the MSC Message of 1984.
Spring 1984: “He wanted you close to His Cross, He gives you a share in His Glory…”
That was the gift of love that Jesus gave to Mary. It began very early in their mother/son relationship. It blossomed into Mary’s Assumption into Heaven. For her part Mary responded with faith and love. She did not always understand. When her keen intelligence failed her, her heart did not. She reflected on all those things that Jesus brought her into her life as a woman and found new strength from the memories of God’s favour in the past. This was especially so in the dark moments. The strength of her conviction gave strength to the dispirited friends of Jesus.
Today Mary continues to offer hope to a sometimes hopeless world. That same conviction in God’s goodness, in His love for the world that gave us His Son through her, reaches out to us in the community of Easter believers.
MEMORARE
Remember,
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart,
the great things the Lord has done for you.
He chose you for his Mother.
He wanted you close to the Cross
He gives you a share in his glory.
He listens to your prayer.
Offer him our prayers of praise and thanksgiving;
present our petitions to him.
Let us live like you in the love of your Son,
that his kingdom may come.
Lead all men to the source of living water
that flows from the heart,
spreading over the world hope and salvation,
justice and peace.
See our trust in you;
answer our prayer.
Show yourself always our Mother.
Amen.
Summer 1984: Our Lady of the Sacred Heart
In the memorare to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart we pray:
Let us live like you in the love of your Son, that His kingdom may come.
On the 25th of March this year the Pope led the Church in an act of entrusting the human family to our Lady. Love is the only guarantee of survival for the human family. But along side the fury of hate at work in human history love seems to be so weak and powerless. It is easy to begin to doubt that Christ’s way of love and forgiveness cannot withstand the forces of destruction ranged against God’s kingdom of love. Jesus chose to give Mary as His mother to the human family at the moment of his bitterest defeat as he hung near death on the cross. In the eyes of his mockers he was an utter failure.
It is only in the quiet confidence of Mary’s faithful love that our world can survive the mad plunge towards annihilation that seems to have taken hold of international affairs in the last few decades. Let us stay close to her in that faithful love of which she is a model. And let us join her in prayer to her Son.
Christmas 1984: Our Lady of the Sacred Heart
It was through suffering that Jesus accomplished the saving of the world. It was a suffering embraced out of obedient love for His Father. All who would follow Him must walk the path of suffering, taking up the cross each day. The one who is most closely associated with Him in this mission is Our Lady. The Holy man who met her in the temple the day she dedicated her infant Son to God spoke of the sword that would pierce her soul.
She is acquainted with suffering. She has always been close to it. In our time, how often has presence in the hearts of those who suffer grinding poverty or sickness or oppression given them hope in their suffering. Bernadette at Lourdes, the poor children at Fatima, the silent oppressed people at Knock, all remind us of her comforting presence. The first miracle of Jesus came as a response to a mother who felt for the young couple on their wedding day at Cana.
She is as near to suffering humanity today as on the day she was given to John who stood for the human family at the foot of the cross. “Behold your mother” – Our Lady of the opened heart.
All are welcome to join us in celebration of our annual Novena to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart from August 31st to September 8th. Pray with us at 10.00am & 8.00pm daily at the Sacred Heart Church on the Western Road, Cork, or via the live stream on our website. We look forward to seeing you there!