"One of the soldiers with a spear opened his side, and immediately there came out blood and water."(John 19:34)

As we are still in the octave of the Most Sacred Heart Feast then it is edifying to meditate on the origin of this devotion. It could be found in the Scriptures, when Our Lord says: "Learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart" (Matt 11:29), and warns us in the same Gospel: "from the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies." (Matt 15:19). He teaches us that all good things, all His great acts of charity and mercy have their source in His Heart.When His side was opened on the Cross, the Divine Providence has shown us this way His Heart burned out of love. Devotion to the Sacred Heart began well before 16th century, however, Lutheran Reformation suppressed it for a while. Afterwards, the Lord choose St Mary Margaret Alacoque as the instrument in His plan to make this devotion known and loved. However, great obstacles appeared on the way and devotion together with the Mass in honout of the Most Sacred Heart have been approved by the Church not earlier than one hundred years later. But in the end it was to be fulfilled what Our Lord said to St Mary Margaret, that His Heart will conquer the world. All that is great in the Kingdom of Mercy is marked with the Cross and must be fought for. Therefore, we can remain in peace in every persecution and trouble. In devotion to the Sacred Heart we need to follow Our Lord example and become meek through patience and love in our own families, and humble through conquering pride and delusions in matters of religion and faith in particular. Let us pray with love and understanding the arrow prayer: "Jesus meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto yours!"