A Letter from India on the Sacred Heart
In this uncertain commotion of public affairs, the thought of that most holy Heart, whose words are full of heavenly sweetness and charity—“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you”—wonderfully uplifts and consoles us.
My dear Faithful,
It has long been my heartfelt desire to write to you, especially since I am unable to deliver this message to each one of you in person, which would have been my greatest wish. Nevertheless, I hope this letter conveys my thoughts and sentiments, particularly as we joyfully commemorate the 350th anniversary of the apparitions of the Sacred Heart to Saint Margaret Mary in Paray-le-Monial. This is truly a great feast, one of deep significance for our mission, which is consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It offers a wonderful opportunity to rekindle the fervor that may have grown tepid over time. Allow me, if I may, to share a few words of encouragement to deepen your devotion to the Sacred Heart, the principal patron of our mission.
For some time, we have endured great solicitude and anguish due to the adversities of the times and places in which we live. It has not yet pleased Divine Providence to grant the longed-for day when we might be relieved from these persistent afflictions. Indeed, considering the state of the world, we have begun to feel new evils, and it seems we may justly fear others. Therefore, amidst the various calamities afflicting the Church at large and our mission in this particular condition under this radical Hindu regime, and with the anxious anticipation of future events that continually distress the mind, nothing is more incumbent upon us than to persist with humble hearts and steadfast hope in heavenly aid. We must knock unceasingly at the door of divine mercy and clemency, imitating the royal psalmist who provides us with examples of immense trust.
In such great obscurity and instability of public affairs, we should not seek, through human reasoning, to discern whence or how the desired help will come, for the thoughts of mortals are timid and our foresight uncertain. But God, in whose goodness we trust, is powerful to deliver us from any storm. He will surely be propitiously present, moved by the prayers of His servants, and will command the winds and the sea, and there will be a great calm.
Indeed, my dear friends in Christ, in this uncertain commotion of public affairs, the thought of that most holy Heart, whose words are full of heavenly sweetness and charity—“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you”—wonderfully uplifts and consoles us. For you know with what tender compassion it embraces all the afflicted, helping and restoring them in marvelous ways. From this divine Heart proceeded those sentiments of mercy we have so often contemplated in pious meditation: “I have compassion on the multitude.” Have we not frequently experienced the effects of this mercy in our own distresses? It is Jesus Himself who, while He walked on earth, went about doing good. Ascending into heaven to intercede for us, He did not leave us orphans but promised to be with us all days until the consummation of the world. Hence, the day before He suffered for our salvation, He instituted the most august Sacrament, so that in this mystery, contemplating the immense charity of His divine Heart, we might be inflamed with love and trust and seek His help in all our necessities.
The Heart of Jesus is open to us, dear Faithful. Therefore, approaching this inexhaustible fountain of goodness with great confidence, let us cry out with a suppliant voice: “Save us, Lord Jesus, for we perish. Help us, for we are Yours. Under the banner of Your holy sacrifice, You have gathered us, that we may follow You and, adhering to Your commands, accomplish Your will at all times.” We should not doubt that He will mercifully receive our prayers, especially if we devote ourselves to Him with our whole heart and remember with full faith the abundant benefits He has promised to all who piously and confidently take refuge in His most holy Heart. Therefore, in our great distresses and the perils of the world, let us devoutly turn to the most Sacred Heart of Jesus as a treasure entrusted to us and a certain refuge in every affliction. With unwavering faith, let us seek and expect from it salvation, safety, peace, and all that we desire for ourselves, the entire nation, and the universal Church.
Therefore, I desire that in all the homes of our faithful, the Heart of Jesus be solemnly enthroned by the fathers of families, and that certain prayers in His honor be recited daily without fail, especially during this month of June. The Litany of the Sacred Heart, rich in devotion and earnestly recommended by the Church, should not be neglected. It would be most fitting to pray it with great fervor after the family Rosary, as a visible token of our heartfelt devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
May all these prayers and pious exercises serve as a continual reminder, urging us to cultivate with the greatest zeal those virtues most pleasing to the Most Sacred Heart—virtues so often praised in the Gospel. Moreover, the amendment of our lives and the renewal of our spirit will be a sure pledge of being heard, as the Blessed Apostle John testifies with these beautiful words: “Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God; and whatever we ask, we shall receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:21–22).
I wish you all a very blessed month and the feast of the Sacred Heart.
With my priestly blessings,
Fr. Therasian Xavier
June 7, 2025, Palayamkottai
