The Catholic Defender: The Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to St. Margaret Mary Promise 10

10) I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts. This promise of Our Lord is a most important one. How many people today can identify having loved ones who have gone into apostasy.

This promise shows the Lord's intent to touch the most hardened hearts who many times hate God.

Many have been deceived into false doctrines who twist the scriptures and lure people into darkness calling it light.

Problems are also coming from within when leaders abuse their authority and hurt the faith instead of helping the faith.

Psalms 95:8-9 states, "Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah, as on the day of Massah in the desert. There your ancestors tested me; they tried me though they had seen my works." The people hardened their hearts against Moses challenging the Lord. As a result the people wondered 40 years in the desert. Sometimes we find ourselves wondering in a strange land ourselves and through a thousand different reasons we find ourselves in spiritual bondage.

In my nearly 27 years in the United States Army, I had many encounters with those in such bondage. Literally living in the trenches, I was able to reach many that would never see a priest. I would send them to a priest once I was able to share the Catholic Faith with them.

Ephesians 4:17-19 states, "So I declare and testify in the Lord that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds; darkened in understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance, because of their hardness of heart, they have become callous and have handed themselves over to licentiousness for the practice of every kind of impurity to excess." Sadly, I have many times ran into a person who might have been baptized Catholic and that was it. No religious training, no further care for the upbringing of the child. Recently I spoke with a 16 year old girl whose parents left the Church when she was 4 years old. I spent two hours explaining the Catholic faith. It's sad when the parents themselves are responsible for sending their young into this spiritual bondage. They become ignorant and it would take a miracle to reach them.

Reaching these people is exactly what Our Lord seeks to find. Yes, we need faithful priests who will have the backbone to care to be good leaders that will touch these hardened hearts. But these priests need support around them, prayer warriors willing to stand in the gap for them. I am like a first base coach working to get such a person on first base and help them towards second base. From second base the third base coach, the Catholic priests get's them to third and finally to home plate. Romans 2:5 states, "So I declare and testify in the Lord that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds; darkened in understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance, because of their hardness of heart, they have become callous and have handed themselves over to licentiousness for the practice of every kind of impurity to excess."

The word heart is spoken of in the bible almost a thousand times, the heart as the seat of emotion can lead a person in the wrong direction, feelings is not the foundation of truth, not without knowledge, wisdom and understanding. Mark 6:45-52 states, "Then he made his disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. And when he had taken leave of them, he went off to the mountain to pray. When it was evening, the boat was far out on the sea and he was alone on shore. Then he saw that they were tossed about while rowing, for the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them. But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out. They had all seen him and were terrified. But at once he spoke with them, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” He got into the boat with them and the wind died down. They were [completely] astounded. They had not understood the incident of the loaves. On the contrary, their hearts were hardened."

Notice this large crowd Hardened their hearts that affected their ability to see the wonderful truth of the multiplication of the loaves of bread. Like then, many people harden their hearts against the miracle of the Eucharist. Their ignorance closes their eyes and turns them to every rabbit hole imaginable. It is a very sick spiritual condition. Through the 10th promise of the Lord Jesus, He offers hope to us who have loved ones gone astray, who it will take a miracle to reach them. Do not let indifference to the Catholic faith be the reason why your loved ones are cursed into spiritual bondage. Let our eyes be opened so that we can see with the eye's of faith. To know the difference of what God's Word really is.

Donna Marie McGargill, 1984 Keyboard acc. Craig S. Kingsbury [Verse 1] What do you want of me, Lord? Where do you want me to serve you? Where can I sing your praises? I am your song. [Refrain 1] Jesus, Jesus, you are the Lord. Jesus, Jesus, you are the way. [Verse 2] I hear you call my name, Lord, and I am moved within me. Your Spirit stirs my deepest self. Sing your songs in me. [Refrain 2] Jesus, Jesus, you are my Lord. Jesus, Jesus, you are the way. [Verse 3] Above, below, and around me, before, behind, and all through me, your Spirit burns deep within me. Fire my life with your love. [Refrain 3] Jesus, Jesus, be the warmth of my heart. Jesus, Jesus, you are the way. [Verse 4] You are the light in my darkness, You are my strength when I'm weary. You give me sight when I'm blinded. Come, see for me. [Refrain 4] Jesus, Jesus, you are my Light. Jesus, Jesus, you are the way. [Verse 5] I am your song and servant, singing your praise like Mary. Surrendered to your Spirit, "Let it be done to me." [Refrain 5] Jesus, Jesus, "Let it be done to me." Jesus, Jesus, you are the way.