O sweetest Jesus, whose
overflowing charity towards men is most ungratefully repaid by such
great forgetfulness, neglect and contempt, see, prostrate before Thy
altars, we strive by special honor to make amends for the wicked
coldness of men and the contumely with which
Thy
most loving Heart is everywhere treated. At the same time, mindful
of the fact that we too have sometimes not been free from
unworthiness, and moved therefore with most vehement sorrow, in the
first place we implore Thy mercy on us, being prepared by voluntary
expiation to make amends for the sins we have ourselves committed,
and also for the sins of those who wander far from the way of
salvation, whether because, being obstinate in their unbelief, they
refuse to follow Thee as their shepherd and leader, or because,
spurning the promises of their Baptism, they have cast off the most
sweet yoke of Thy law. We now endeavor to expiate all these
lamentable crimes together, and it is also our purpose to make
amends for
each one of them severally: for the want of modesty in
life and dress, for impurities, for so many snares set for the minds
of the innocent, for the violation of feast days, for the horrid
blasphemies against Thee and Thy saints, for the insults offered to
Thy Vicar and to the priestly order, for the neglect of the
Sacrament of Divine love or its profanation by horrible sacrileges,
and lastly for the public sins of nations which resist the rights
and the teaching authority of the Church which Thou hast instituted.
Would that we could wash away these crimes with our own blood! And
now, to make amends for the outrage offered to the Divine honor, we
offer to Thee the same satisfaction which Thou didst once offer to
Thy Father on the Cross and which Thou dost continually renew on our
altars, we offer this conjoined with the expiations of the Virgin
Mother and of all the Saints, and of all pious Christians, promising
from our heart that so far as in us lies, with the help of Thy
grace, we will make amends for our own past sins, and for the sins
of others, and for the neglect of Thy boundless love, by firm faith,
by a pure way of life, and by a perfect observance of the Gospel
law, especially that of charity; we will also strive with all our
strength to prevent injuries being offered to Thee, and gather as
many as we can to become Thy followers. Receive, we beseech Thee, O
most benign Jesus, by the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
the Reparatress, the voluntary homage of this expiation, and
vouchsafe, by that great gift of final perseverance, to keep us most
faithful until death in our duty and in Thy service, so that at
length we may all come to that fatherland, where Thou with the
Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest God for ever and ever.
Amen.
Pope Pius XI
Encyclical on the Most Sacred Heart
Romancatholicweb.com
