and freedom from graver faults. Our Lord is very jealous of the manner in which those who have been called by Him to a life of closer union with Himself correspond with the graces which He bestows. He is for ever repeating in the hearts of His servants, who make their meditation day by day upon His Passion and the ingratitude of men, the loving complaints which are familiar now from the history of the establishment of the Devotion of the Sacred Heart. The coldness of friends He has told us, by the mouth of Blessed Margaret Mary, is harder to bear than the violence of acknowledged enemies. We hear again of words addressed by our Lord to a faithful soul in our own days,* which are like the echo of the former declaration. The anti-septic to the growing infidelity of the age is, if we may accept the intimation, to be chiefly sought in the increased fervour of the Religious Orders. It is not for us to pronounce upon the authenticity of new revelations, nor is it needful for our argument. It will be considered more a truism than an impertinence to say that there is room for improvement, and there is practically no limit to the increase of power for good which could accrue to the Church from any such improvement, deep and wide, and worthy of the name. A more complete spirit of detachment, a fuller renunciation of self, a more generous observance of rule, will secure a triumph visible even to the eyes of the flesh. The most obstinate resistance offered by the rulers of the world of this darkness will succumb to the prayers of many who, having by their own deliberate choice united themselves to Jesus Christ as voluntary victims, will receive from Him in proportion to the fidelity with which they carry out their holy resolution power to convert the sinner, and to enlighten them that sit in darkness. As a subject then which touches closely the interests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and which is therefore dear to all the children of the Church, we confidently commend the intention which has been assigned * Mother Agnes Clare Steiner of the Second Order of St. Francis, 1844.

to the zeal of our Associates in the month of February, asking them to pray to the Queen of all saints for the spiritual perfection of all Religious Orders, not simply for its own sake, but more particularly as it may help to propitiate the justice of God offended by so many studied insults and may accelerate the day of mercy.

PRAYER.

Sacred Heart of Jesus! through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer to Thee the prayers, labours, and crosses of this day, in expiation of our offences, and for all Thy other intentions.

I offer them to Thee in particular for Thy servants in religion, whom Thou dost call to be with Thee the saviours of mankind by sharing in Thy state of immolation. Give to these souls fulness of generosity, that they may not lose from their holocaust any portion of merit to themselves, or blessings to the world, which it is able to procure. Amen.

The Holy League of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. For the triumph of the Church and Holy See, and the Catholic regeneration of nations.

FEBRUARY, 1880.

I. GENERAL INTENTION: Religious Orders and their Mission of Atonement.

II. PARTICULAR INTENTIONS.

1. Sexagesima Sunday.. -Desire of the greater glory of Jesus Christ; 4,464 acts of thanksgiving.

2. Mon. THE PURIFICATION B.V.M.-Generosity; 2,831 First Communions. 3. Tues. S. Peter's Chair at Rome.Kindness in thought; 2,922 persons in affliction.

4. Wed. S. Andrew Corsini, B.C.-Contempt of the world; 7,414 parents.

5. Thurs. S. Agatha, V.M.-(S.7., THE JAPANESE MARTYRS S. J.)-Christian energy; 15,137 young men.

6. Fri. THE PASSION OF OUR LORD.-COMMUNION OF REPARATION, &c.-FRIDAY OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS.-GENERAL COMMUNION OF THE HOLY LEAGUE.--Desire of perfection; 7,712 interior graces.

7. Sat. S. Romuald, Ab. C.-Renunciation of self; 10,877 religious men.

8. Quinquagesima Sunday.-Devotedness; 2,008 works of piety.

9. Mon. Conversion of S. Paul. Jan. 25. -(S.J., S. Titus, B.C. Feb. 6.)-Christian care of children; 23,031 children.

10. Tues. S. Scholastica, 1.-Spirit of prayer; 8,453 nuns.

11. Wed. ASH WEDNESDAY. brance of the Last Things; 9,950 graces of perseverance.

12. Thurs. S. Martina, V.A. Jan. 30.(S.J., Conversion of S. Paul. Jan. 25.)Obedience to superiors; 2,196 superiors. 13. Fri. THE CROWN OF THORNS.-Self

denial; 3,526 sick.

14. Sat. S. Ignatius, B.M. Feb. 1.-(S. J., S. Martina, V.M. Jan. 30.)-Zeal of the House of God; 4,668 ecclesiastics.

15. First Sunday of Lent.-Spirit of peace; 2,547 graces of concord.

16. Mon. S. Titus, B.C. Feb. 6.—(S.J., S. Ignatius, B.M. Feb. 1.)-Trust in the mercy of God; 11,476 sinners.

17. Tues. S. John of Matha, C. Feb. 8.(S.F., S. Agatha, V.M. Feb. 5.)—Docility; 3,679 vocations.

18. Wed. Ember Day.-Feria.—(S. J., S. John of Matha, C. Feb. 8.)-Desire to advance in the spiritual life; 1,208 Church students and novices.

19. Thurs. Feria. (S.J., B. John de Britto, M. Feb. 11.)-Punctual observance of religious duties; 2,947 parishes.

20. Fri. Ember Day.-Feria.—THE LANCE AND NAILS.-Recourse to God in all our needs; 12,113 various intentions.

21. Sat. Ember Day.- Feria.-(S.J., B, Didacus Carvalho, S.J., M.)-A Christian spirit; 5,878 families.

22.

Second Sunday of Lent.-Loyalty to the See of S. Peter; 2,554 heretics and schismatics.

23. Mon. S. Peter Damian, B.C.D.Willing cooperation for the welfare of the young; 2,963 houses of education.

24. Tues. Vigil.-S. Peter's Chair at Antioch. Feb. 22.-Zeal for the glory of God; 2,735 promoters.

25. Wed. S. Matthias, Ap.-Zeal for the ́ good of souls; 1,998 foreign missions.

26. Thurs. Feria.-(S.J., S. Catharine of Ricci, V. Feb. 13.)-Right use of property; 3,844 temporal concerns.

27. Fri. THE WINDING SHEET OF OUR LORD.-Charitable remembrance of the dead; 11,997 dead.

28. Sat. Feria.---(S. J., BB. John Baptist S.J. and Comp., MM. Feb. 15.)-Brotherly love; 3,990 communities.

29. Third Sunday of Lent.-Desire of salvation; 2,025 missions and retreats.

Intentions sent for publication must arrive in London not later than the morning of the first day of the month. It is recommended that they should be written on a page by themselves. An Indulgence of 100 days is attached to all the Prayers and Good Works offered up for these Intentions.

The Intentions of the Archconfraternity of St. Joseph of Angers, and the Children of St. Joseph at Brussels, are recommended to the prayers of the Associates.

Applications for Diplomas of Affiliation to the Apostleship of Prayer for England, is to be made to the Rev. A. G. Knight, S.J., 111, Mount Street, Grosvenor Square, London, W.; for Ireland, to the Rev. Edward Murphy, S.J., St. Ignatius Church, Galway. Sheets of the Living Rosary, adapted to the requirements of the Association, Tickets of Admission, Intention Sheets, large and small, may be had from F. Gordon, 48, South Street, Grosvenor Square, London, W.

THE MESSENGER

OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS.

An Address of His Holiness Leo the Thirteenth.

[ON the 23rd of November last the Holy Father Leo the Thirteenth received a deputation of the Associates of the Apostolate of Prayer in Italy, and addressed to them the following words of encouragement. It was not in our

power to communicate them to our readers in an earlier issue than our February number, but we regret that an unfortunate mistake, discovered just too late, prevented their appearance then.]

Your presence, very dear Sons, is most gratifying to Us; the sentiments with which you have shown that you are animated give Us great consolation. We welcome your expression of them, knowing that they are shared by all the marshalled multitude of the faithful associated to the Apostolate of Prayer, of whom you are here the worthy representatives. Whilst We thus make known to you the joy We feel on this occasion, it is an additional happiness to renew cherished recollections and to speak to you of pleasant hopes in connection with this Apostolate and the devotion to the Sacred Heart which goes along with it.

MARCH, 1880.

J

Yes, it is a happiness to call to mind to the greater glory of God, that from the moment when the Divine will committed to Our hands the charge of a portion of the flock of Jesus Christ, We held it for a duty of Our pastoral ministry to present to the faithful the most efficacious means of salvation, among which without doubt the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus holds the highest rank. We resolved in consequence, and We ordered by a special decree, that the pious Association of the Apostolate of Prayer should be established at Perugia; We named a director of the work, and We recommended it earnestly to the zeal of the parochial clergy, that it might be made known to the faithful confided to their care.

At a later time, the Divine Goodness permitted Us to consecrate to the Sacred Heart with great solemnity, and after a preparation of pious exercises, the town and the entire diocese of Perugia. To this day Our heart thrills with joy at the remembrance of the enthusiastic piety, devotion, and love with which the faithful responded to Our fervent and urgent appeal, and the abundant fruits of salvation which were gathered then.

And after being raised to the Chair of St. Peter, We could not do less than promote throughout the Church devotion to the Sacred Heart. We seized with cagerness the opportunity which was lately offered to Us of helping the increase and extension of your work by giving Our approval to the statutes. We have remarked, moreover, with the highest satisfaction that the centre of the Apostolate of Prayer for Italy has been transferred to Rome, and that this proceeding was devoutly celebrated a week ago, with festal honours and solemn ceremony, in the presence of a large concourse of the faithful.

And now We desire with all the ardour of Our soul that the devotion to the Sacred Heart may be propagated and diffused over all the earth. Knowing, in truth, how salutary and profitable it is to souls, We entertain a sweet and firm hope that great graces will be derived without