Father Debrabant shares a profound spiritual milestone: placing the Congregation's approved Rule and an Act of Consecration upon the altar at Paray-le-Monial. Drawing from this sacred event, he reminds the Sisters that their very name—the Holy Union of the Sacred Hearts—demands a life modeled on the love of Jesus and Mary. With paternal frankness, he calls for a serious examination of conscience, warning that community faults like criticism and jealousy wound the Heart of Christ, and emphasizes that practicing genuine charity is an essential duty and a necessary path to salvation.
4th July 1973
Praised and blessed for ever be the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and of Mary! This should be our constant prayer and desire, my very dear children. It was with this fervent desire that I have placed on the altar of the Sacred Heart at Paray-le-Monial a precious reliquary containing the approved Rule of your dear Congregation, together with an Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus which included myself and all the members of the Congregation of the Holy Union of the Sacred Hearts.
I asked the Superior of St. Ame to place it with our solemn promises on the altar of the Sacred Heart, there on the very spot where Our Lord appeared to Blessed Marguerite Marie Alacoque. This consecration of ourselves should be the source of very great blessings; indeed, every day I ask that it may be so, when I offer the holy sacrifice of the Mass. Yes! My very dear Daughters, I beg our dear gentle Savior, over and over again, to make our hearts like His own divine Heart and that of His most holy Mother.
Ah yes! You know only too well that your models you should be the Hearts of Jesus and of Mary; from them can learn the sort of love you should have for each other, for others you come in contact with, for the children under your care. Make this love of Jesus and Mary the subject of your meditation frequently. Do not neglect this essential and primary duty; unless you make real efforts to practice charity you cannot expect to be recognized as brides of Christ or children of Mary.
Two hundred years ago Our Lord revealed how His heart longed for our salvation; He wished to rekindle in our hearts that love which He awakened in the hearts of the Apostles and first Christians by the institution of the Holy Eucharist. What wonderful effects it produced among them¡ they "had but one heart and one soul", reflecting the life of the saints in heaven. They loved each other in thought and judgment, as well as in word and deed. I ask you, my dear children, in the names of Jesus and Mary whether there is such charity among you today? I beg of you to set about acquiring it earnestly and perseveringly. For, without charity heaven’s gate will remain closed to you. If God exacts it of all Christians, how much more does he expect it of you, who have consecrated yourselves to His service, under the title of "Holy Union of the Sacred Hearts?
Think well upon these great truths, my dear children; it is Our Lord's own command that you should have this charity among you. Yet, you have not yet understood it. Try again and put it into practice, sincerely and generously. I have spoken of it many times over, in previous circulars, but are you any the better for it? Each one must examine her own conscience before God, and answer the question truthfully.
You may be quite certain that discontent, grumbling, interior as well as exterior, complaining, criticism and fault-finding, rash judgments, antipathies and jealousy, the evil habit of condemning the faults of others while remaining blind to your own shortcomings - all these are So many blows that wound the heart of Jesus Christ and destroy charity in the soul.
Charity is absolutely necessary for salvation. So, my dear children examine yourselves seriously and make sure that you are free from these faults which will prevent you from loving union with Jesus in Holy Communion. Begin today I say when death comes it will be too late.
I hope you will pay attention, my dear Daughters, to the words of your devoted father, and with this prayer, I bless you all most sincerely, my very dear Daughters, in the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Immaculate.
Douai, Debrabant
Charity is absolutely necessary for salvation.