Changing the World…One Heart at a Time

Today’s feast of St. Alphonsus Ligouri, together with a book I just finished about St. Margaret Mary, has brought a beautiful prayer, written by the former, to my mind of late.
 
I first learned it as a high school or college student, when our pastor began promoting First Friday devotions.  He would lead us in this prayer. 
 
You may be familiar with it, and, if not I’d like to introduce you to a beautiful treasure:
 
Most sweet Jesus,
Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before You.
We are Yours, and Yours we wish to be; but to be more surely united with You, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to Your Most Sacred Heart.
Many indeed have never known You; many, too, despising Your precepts, have rejected You.
Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to your Sacred Heart.
Be King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken You, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned You; grant that they may quickly return to their Father's house,
lest they die of wretchedness and hunger.
Be King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof,
and call them back to the harbor of truth and the unity of faith, so that soon there may be but one flock and one Shepherd.
Grant, O Lord, to Your Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give tranquility of order to all nations; make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: Praise to the Divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to it be glory and honor for ever.
Amen.
 
In writing this, I wonder, if more people would undertake a heartfelt recitation of this prayer with some frequency, how might our world change? 
 
I guess we (you and I) can start with ourselves! 
 
We never know how our small efforts, united with the Sacred Heart, might impact the lives of others.  These efforts  by our above-mentioned pastor’s certainly made an impact on me, which continues to this day.

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