The Twelve Promises of the Sacred Heart: Fr. Hardon’s Call to Devotion

June is the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a time to deepen our love for Christ through a devotion that promises extraordinary graces. Fr. John A. Hardon, S.J., in his typical slow but powerful talk, unpacks the Twelve Promises revealed to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, showing how they are not just spiritual perks but a covenant of love for those who dedicate themselves to Christ’s heart. These promises, which Fr. Hardon calls “the twelve conditional promises of the Sacred Heart,” offer hope, strength, and mercy for every state of life. Why conditional? Because you need to do something, that’s why! But it’s so little effort, and these promises are huge. Here’s a look at each promise, with Fr. Hardon’s insights to inspire you to embrace this devotion and transform your life. Do It!

1. Graces for Your State of Life

Promise: “I will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life.”

Fr. Hardon’s Insight: Whether you’re a priest, religious, or married, God calls you to a stable state of life and pledges the graces to thrive in it. In our “unstable world” where people shift between callings, this promise assures that devotion to the Sacred Heart provides the strength to remain faithful and become holy. “Christ will give us all the graces necessary… to remain in their state of life… to become holy in their state of life.”

Why It Matters: This promise is your anchor, ensuring you have divine help to live your vocation with purpose and sanctity.

2. Peace in Your Home

Promise: “I will establish peace in their homes.”

Fr. Hardon’s Insight: In a world where family and religious life face unprecedented breakdown, this promise is vital. True peace starts within, when our wills align with Christ’s. “There can be no peace within people unless their wills are conformed to the will of God… If you love me, says Christ, keep my divine commandments.” Devotion to the Sacred Heart fosters this alignment, reducing conflict and fostering harmony.

You want to do this: Imagine a home where peace reigns because each member loves Christ’s heart—this devotion makes it possible.

3. Comfort in Trials

Promise: “I will comfort them in all their reflections.”

Fr. Hardon’s Insight: Trials are inevitable, but the Sacred Heart promises strength to endure them. Fr. Hardon redefines comfort as fortitude: “We shall be made fortes, strong… The only courageous people in the world are convinced people.” Through devotion, we gain the conviction that God sends trials to make us stronger, provided we seek His grace.

For such a small effort: This promise turns suffering into a path to spiritual growth, empowering you to face life’s crosses with courage.

4. A Secure Refuge

Promise: “I will be their secure refuge during life and above all in death.”

Fr. Hardon’s Insight: Christ is a constant bulwark, offering assurance and hope beyond what we see. This refuge is especially critical at death, when we step into eternity. “Jesus Christ is not only with us, he is within us as the constant bulwark during life,” ensuring we face life and death with trust in His presence.

Why It Matters: With the Sacred Heart as your refuge, you’re never alone, especially in life’s final moments.

5. Blessings on Undertakings

Promise: “I will bestow a large blessing on all their undertakings.”

Fr. Hardon’s Insight: Life is full of unpredictable enterprises, but Christ, who knows all, blesses our efforts if we love His heart. Success doesn’t depend on natural talent but on “a deep, supernatural, prayerful love of Jesus Christ.” Fr. Hardon notes, “Omnipotence depends on us… Depending on our love of Jesus Christ, he will pour out the ocean of his omnipotence.”

You can do it: Entrust your daily endeavors to the Sacred Heart, and watch divine power amplify your efforts beyond human limits.

6. Mercy for Sinners

Promise: “Sinners will find in my heart the source and the infinite ocean of mercy.”

Fr. Hardon’s Insight: This promise counters the heresy of Jansenism, which claimed Christ died only for the predestined. “Those sinners are us,” Fr. Hardon declares, emphasizing that a single act of love for Christ can erase a lifetime of sin. This is the heart of the devotion: Christ’s mercy is available to all who repent and trust in Him.

What you need to know: No sin is too great for the Sacred Heart’s mercy—start anew with one heartfelt act of love.

7. Fervor for Tepid Souls

Promise: “Tepid souls shall grow fervent.”

Fr. Hardon’s Insight: Christ despises tepidity, warning, “I will vomit you from my mouth.” But through devotion to His heart, lukewarm souls can reignite their faith. A simple plea for mercy and trust in His love can convert tepidity into fervor, offering a fresh start for priests, religious, and laity alike.

Why It Matters: If your faith feels stale, this promise invites you to rekindle it through the Sacred Heart’s transformative love.

8. Rapid Growth in Holiness

Promise: “Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection.”

Fr. Hardon’s Insight: A single selfless act of love for Christ can propel you to sanctity. “Say it and mean it, ‘My Jesus, I love you.’ But mean it, mean it,” Fr. Hardon urges. This promise highlights the speed of spiritual growth possible through heartfelt devotion, especially for those called to high sanctity.

The Win if you dare: Aspire to holiness? The Sacred Heart fast-tracks your journey with one sincere act of love.

9. Blessings Through Images

Promise: “I will bless every place where an image of my heart shall be set up and honored.”

Fr. Hardon’s Insight: Images of the Sacred Heart aren’t mere decorations but channels of grace. Fr. Hardon shares, “My first rational, conscious experience is of a picture of the sacred heart over my bed in my third year.” Honoring such images in homes invites divine blessings, as God uses external signs to confer internal graces.

What to do: Set up a Sacred Heart image in your home—it’s a tangible way to invite Christ’s blessings daily.

10. Power to Convert

Promise: “I will give priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.”

Fr. Hardon’s Insight: Priests with “tender childlike devotion” to the Sacred Heart wield extraordinary influence over souls, especially the most stubborn. Fr. Hardon advises, “Find a priest who has a tender childlike devotion to the heart of Jesus and leave the rest up to the Savior.” Their devotion fuels miraculous conversions.

Why It Matters: This promise assures that priests devoted to the Sacred Heart can lead even the toughest sinners back to God.

11. Eternal Remembrance

Promise: “Those who promote this devotion shall have their names written in my heart, never to be blotted out.”

Fr. Hardon’s Insight: True devotion means sharing it with others. “If you really love someone, you want to share what you have that is precious,” he explains. Promoting the Sacred Heart, especially as devotion to Christ in the Eucharist, ensures your name is eternally cherished in His heart.

How to win this promise: Spread this devotion, and your love for Christ will be remembered forever in His divine heart.

12. Final Perseverance

Promise: “I promise you in the excessive mercy of my heart that my all-powerful love will grant to all those who communicate on the first Friday in nine successive months the grace of final perseverance.”

Fr. Hardon’s Insight: The Church canonized St. Margaret Mary, affirming this promise of dying in God’s friendship through nine First Friday communions. “Devotion to the sacred heart is the most powerful lifetime prayer for begging for the most important grace we need, the last grace in our lives,” Fr. Hardon emphasizes.

What to do: Commit to the First Fridays, and the Sacred Heart guarantees you’ll die in God’s grace, secure in His love.

Embrace the Sacred Heart This June

The Twelve Promises are Christ’s invitation to a deeper relationship with Him, offering graces tailored to every challenge and calling. As Fr. Hardon reminds us, these are conditional promises—our love and devotion unlock their power. This June, dedicate yourself to the Sacred Heart through prayer, First Fridays, and honoring His Sacred Heart! Visit the Bellarmine Forum for daily meditations to guide your devotion, and let Christ’s heart transform your life. Start today, and discover the “ocean of his omnipotence” waiting for you.

This article, The Twelve Promises of the Sacred Heart: Fr. Hardon’s Call to Devotion is a post from The Bellarmine Forum.
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