The devotion to the Sacred Heart can sometimes get a little lost in sentimentality. Yet it points to a truth which Pope Francis is reminding us is at the very centre of our Faith – the mercy of God. Sometimes it is the language of prayers etc which can put us off, so here are three traditional prayers in modern English. The first was written by St Margaret Mary Alacoque, the visionary of the Sacred Heart in Paraty-le-Monial in Burgundy.

O Heart of love,
 I place all my trust in you.
 I fear all things from my own weakness,
 but I hope for all things from your goodness.

Secondly, from St Claude la Colombiere SJ her spiritual director:

Jesus I feel within me
 a great desire to please you but, at the same time,
 I feel totally incapable of doing this
 without your special light and help, 
which I can expect only from you. 
Accomplish your will within me, 
even in spite of me.

And lastly a prayer from Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta:

Make us worthy, Lord,
 to serve our fellow human beings throughout the world
 who live and die in poverty and hunger.
 Give them through our hands this day
 their daily bread,
 and by our understanding love
 Give peace and joy.

Fr Matthew