Only Jesus and his glory

Regular readers of this blog might recall that every year, around mid-May, I begin asking St Madeleine Sophie what she would like me to write for her feast. Through various means a reply always arrives; sometimes softly, but always with insistence. And always, always, pointing me away from Sophie herself, and towards the One to whom she gave her life, or to her deepest desires for the Society, its members and the wider Sacred Heart family. This year, I wondered what Sophie would say about a double celebration: her feast today, and the centenary, yesterday, of her canonisation - just in time to celebrate her first-ever official feast-day! 

In fact, Sophie's reply came even before I asked. Rootling through some old cards earlier this month I came across a bookmark produced by our sisters in Australia-New Zealand, bearing Sophie's words See and seek nothing but Jesus and his glory. Ah yes... and since then, that bookmark has resided in my prayer corner, with Sophie's message whispering within me, quietly insistent... See and seek only Jesus and his glory... Her words to me, to all of us, called to be contemplatives in action, consecrated to the glory of Jesus' Heart. 

To see only Jesus: in every encounter - especially with the poorest, most vulnerable and marginalised; in every place and situation - especially where love and beauty seem most absent. And to know that to see and seek only Jesus is to see and seek only Love... And true glory is the glory of love. And then Sophie reminded me that this was her message to me - to us - three years ago, when she led me to some words of Pope Francis from Holy Week 2019. True glory is the glory of love because it is the only kind that gives life to the world... and we give God glory when we live whatever we do with love, when we do everything from our heart, as if for him... It's a message she is inviting me - inviting us - to deepen and live with even greater intensity, because love is needed with even greater urgency. You can read it fully here. 

This lifelong, focused, single-minded, wholehearted seeing and seeking was undoubtedly at the heart of Sophie's life, her commitment and mission, throughout her eight and a half decades here on earth. It was what made her holy throughout her life, and a canonised resident of heaven into eternity. 

And if you're new to Sophie... Our Network of Sacred Heart Schools has created a short video of her life and legacy, which ends with some of my sisters (including me) sharing our favourite words from Sophie's many letters and conferences. Watch it here - and do so keeping in mind some words from our main Society website's brief introduction: 

It is best to discover the life of Madeleine Sophie Barat in an atmosphere of prayer... and to let yourself be led with her to the Heart of Jesus, who was her inspiration, her strength, her fruitfulness, her life, as He wants to be ours.

That, I'm sure, would be Sophie's greatest desire for anyone encountering her, whether through this video or any other means...

Happy feast, and happy centenary celebrations to you all! May it be a time for being led more deeply into the Heart of Jesus, and into the joy and mystery of Love!