Cor Jesu, maiestatis infinitae
Heart of Jesus, of infinite majesty, have mercy on us
I cannot pray this invocation without recalling the Prophet Daniel’s vision of the Son of Man in His majesty:
And I lifted up my eyes, and I saw: and behold a man clothed in linen, and his loins were girded with the finest gold; and his body was like the chrysolite, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as a burning lamp: and his arms and all downward even to the feet, like in appearance to glittering brass: and the voice of his word like the voice of a multitude” (Dn 10:5-6).
The Heart Revealed
There is no mention of the heart in Daniel’s description; the heart remains hidden. And yet, the heart is revealed in the face having “the appearance of lightning” and in “the eyes as a burning lamp.”
The Sacred Heart Speaks
The words of the Son of Man to Daniel announce the messages of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to souls of desire down through the centuries:
He that looked like a man touched me again, and strengthened me. And he said, “Fear not, O man of desires, peace be to thee: take courage and be strong.” And when he spoke to me, I grew strong, and I said: “Speak, O my Lord, for thou hast strengthened me” (Dn 10:18–19).
Prayer
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, of infinite majesty,
Thou art the dispensation of the mystery
which hath been hidden from eternity in God,
who created all things;
Thou art the mystery hidden from the sons of men
in other generations,
but now revealed to Thy holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
Thou art the mystery hidden for ages and generations
but now made manifest to Thy saints.
Prostrate before Thee, I offer my own heart
in adoration of Thy splendour,
in submission to Thy wisdom,
and in surrender to Thy designs.
Speak Thou to me
as once Thou spokest to Daniel Thy Prophet,
that the desires of my heart
may be lifted up even to the majesty of Thine,
and that Thy words
may establish my faltering soul
in the strength of Thy grace
and the peace of Thy strength.
Amen.