Day 1

Here I am, because you called me!

OPENING PRAYER

Sacred Heart of Jesus, source of true love, living sign of the tenderness of God who becomes flesh, who draws near and gives himself without reserve. In you we discover the deepest truth of our existence: that we were created out of love, for love, and that our life is a constant call to embrace that love and give it to others.

O Sacred Heart, help us to remain in you. May we, listening to your heartbeat, experience the sweetness of your love. May your fire transform us and send us out. May the blood and water that flow from your side be a source of life and nourishment for our souls.

Amen.

GOSPEL (Matthew 9:9)

As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.

REFLECTION

The venerable image portraying Christ holding out his loving heart also shows him looking directly at us, inviting us to encounter, dialogue and trust; it shows his strong hands capable of supporting us and his lips that speak personally to each of us.

He himself told us, “I am sending you out” (Luke 10:3). It is part of our being friends with him. For this friendship to mature, however, it is up to you to let him send you forth on a mission in this world, and to carry it out confidently, generously, freely and fearlessly. (⁠Dilexit Nos⁠, 54 and 215)

CLOSING PRAYER

Lord Jesus, your love precedes us. Help us to know that we are loved by you, to discover that dream of love you have for each of us which is your call, and to respond to it by accepting your love and giving ourselves to others.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, make my heart like yours.

See the whole novena here ⁠https://www.regnumchristi.com/en/sacred-heart-novena-june-2025/