Ninth Page
FATHER WILBERFORCE'S MEMORANDUM
HOLY CROSS LEICESTER. Nov. 9 1882
Dear Father Powell
You asked me to express to you in writing my opinion regarding a volume of
letters written by Miss T.H. containing among other matters an account of
certain revelations which she considers to have been made to her by Our Blessed
Lord Himself. Concerning devotion to the Sacred Head as the Seat of divine
Wisdom. This would also include some opinion as to the spirit of the writer of
these letters.
I must first express the diffidence with which I give any opinion about matters
so exalted in their nature and so widely removed from the beaten track of the
spiritual life, especially as I have not any knowledge of the soul in question.
1 As to the devotion itself.
The object of this which in a certain sense may be called a new devotion, is the
Sacred Head of the Divine Word Incarnate; but not simply that Sacred Head itself
considered as the chief organic part of the material Body of Jesus Christ, but
that Sacred Head considered as the Shrine or Tabernacle of the created Soul of
the God Man united as that soul is, in one Person, with the uncreated and
eternal Wisdom of God the Son. Thus the Devotion bears a striking analogy to the
devotion in honor of the Sacred Heart which beat in the breast of our Incarnate
God, yet not simply as a material object of worship but as the Shrine and symbol
of the Love of Jesus Christ, love residing in the Soul which was united in one
Person with the Son of God.
There would appear to be no theological objection to a devotion in honor of the
Sacred Head as the Shrine of the intellectual faculties and powers of the Soul
of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the soul is the form of the whole body, and
therefore of the head, the principle organ of the body; and as the Soul of Our
Blessed Lord is united in one Person with the God Head, His Sacred Head is
manifestly Divine and worthy of the highest Adoration or the worship of Latria.
St Thomas (Summa. pt 3.Qu.6.Art. 4) teaches that the son of God assumed a
created Soul and a created Intellect, and the holy Doctor quotes the words of St
Augustine who proves this truth from the teaching of Our Lord Himself, Animan
quoque dicit S Augustinus Se harbere osentendit dicens Joan X 18. Ego pono
Animam meam et iterum sum eam, Intellectum quoque animae ostendit se habere,
dicens Matt. x 29. discite a Me, quia mitis sum and humilis cordis Et de ipso
per prophetam Deus sicit, Isa Lii 13 Ecce intelliget Puer Meus St Thomas then
proceeds to prove this Catholic doctrine by three reasons against the
Apolinarians and Arians.
The same holy doctor (sum. Pt. Qu xxx Art 1) teaches that the Divinity of Christ
and His Humanity are to be Adored with one and the same worship. He quotes Canon
9 of the council of Constantinople which refines the doctrine in these words: 'Si
quis in duabus naturis adorari dicit Christum, ex quo duae adorationers
introducuntur, sed non una adoratione Deum Verbum incarnatum cum propria ipsius
carne adorat, sicut ab intitio Dei ecclesiae traditum est, talis anathema sit'.
Then the Angelic doctor proceeds to show that ex parte Ejus qui adoratur there
is only one and the same Adoration of the two natures, because the Person is
One; but on the other hand Ex parte causae qua honoratur' we can admit that
there is more than one Adoration; for Christ is honored by one Adoration on
account of His Created Wisdom.
In the devotion now being considered when the Sacred Head is honored and as the
Person is Divine, the honor due to the Sacred Head is Divine (vid. St. Thom.
Sum. pt 3. Qu xxv Art 2) This being as above stated in strict analogy to the
worship of the Sacred Heart, needs no further proof to show its perfect harmony
with the teaching of the Catholic Church.
On the fitness of the devotion.
Having thus shown that the devotion to the Sacred Head is not opposed to the
teaching of the Catholic faith, the next question that arises may thus be put:
Is the Devotion a congruous one? Is there any special fitness in it? At this
particular time?
If we consider that the Devotion in itself will be acknowledged that there is a
certain special fitness in it as a Devotion to the Eternal Wisdom. In support of
this view the teaching of St Thomas can again be adduced. The holy Doctor (Sum.
pt 3. Qu 3 Art 8) maintains that it was more fitting that the Person of the Son
of God should assume our nature than that either of the other Persons of the
Adorable Trinity should become Incarnate. One reason advanced by St Thomas to
prove this will throw considerable light on this devotion....St Thomas considers
that it was more fitting that the Son of God should become Incarnate rather than
the Father or the Holy Spirit because to the Eternal Son is attributed Wisdom (1
Cor.i.24) Christ the Wisdom of God. For as man sinned and perished by an
inordinate desire of wisdom and knowledge, so it is especially fitting that he
should be restored by him to whom Wisdom is especially attributed.
From this we may rightly proceed to conclude that a most fitting object of
special devotion for man after being redeemed is that very Wisdom by Whom the
redemption has been accomplished. Now the Shrine of that Wisdom, its earthly
tabernacle, is the Sacred Head of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The Devotion therefore
in itself is most congruous and fitting.
It will not be difficult in the second place to show that there is a peculiar fitness in this devotion to the age in which we live. In order to suit a particular time, a Devotion ought to meet the special dangers of the day of the day supplying an antidote to prevalent spiritual diseases. Now the spirit of this age is evidently one of spiritual rebellion. The human mind intoxicated by modern scientific discoveries is inclined to cast off all restraint and to refuse any longer to remain subject to the sweet yoke of faith. Rationalism, pure and simple, is the prevailing spirit of the day. This spirit is at once most injurious to God and especially to the Wisdom of God in high, the Fountain of Wisdom, because it causes man to love and value the foolishness of human wisdom, despising what they consider to be the folly, but which truly is the eternal Wisdom of God. Moreover this spirit is most destructible to souls who are induced by it to love the darkness rather than the light.
Against this pernicious spirit of evil and its consequences the Devotion to the
Sacred Head is especially directed. For as it consists in the Adoration and
praise of the Sacred Head as the Shrine of the Divine Wisdom, it is particular
adapted to be used in reparation for all the insults offered to that Divine
Wisdom by the sins of the infidelity and intellectual pride. Just as the
Devotion to the Sacred Heart met the error of Jansenism so destructive of the
spirit of Love, so the devotion to the Sacred Head will oppose the blightening
errors of rationalism and infidelity, so insulting to the Infinite Wisdom of God
Incarnate.
Moreover a fervent Devotion to the Divine Wisdom and its earthly shrine will
bring down on the Faithful, we most confidently hope, a special grace to
preserve their faith intact and to spread that precious gift among many still
out of the fold.
We may then conclude that this Devotion is thoroughly theological, in strict
harmony with the devotion already so solemnly and frequently approved, of the
Sacred Heart, most congruous in itself, and lastly particularly suited to the
special needs of the age in which we live.
PRAYER TO THE SACRED HEAD OF OUR BLESSED LORD JESUS AS THE SEAT OF DIVINE
WISDOM.
Wisdom of the Sacred Head guide me in all my ways,
O Love of the Sacred heart, consume me with Thy fire.
Three glorias in honor of the Divine Will, Memory and understanding.
O Seat of Divine Wisdom and guiding power which governs all the motions of the
Sacred Heart, may all minds know thee, all hearts love Thee and all tongues
praise Thee, now and forever more.
LITANY TO THE SACRED HEAD OF JESUS.
Lord have mercy on us, Christ have mercy on us Lord have mercy on us. Christ
hear us, Christ Graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on us
God the Son Redeemer of the World Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Sacred Head of Jesus formed by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary
(after each invocation say GUIDE US IN ALL OUR WAYS)
Sacred Head of Jesus Substantially United to the Word of God.
Sacred Head of Jesus Temple of Divine Wisdom Sacred Head of Jesus, Centre of
Eternal Light Sacred Head of Jesus Tabernacle of Divine Knowledge
Sacred Head of Jesus Safeguard against error Sacred Head of Jesus Sunshine of
Heaven and Earth Sacred Head of Jesus Treasure of Science and Pledge of Faith
Sacred Head of Jesus Radiant with Beauty, and Justice and Love
Sacred Head of Jesus Full of Grace and Truth Sacred Head of Jesus Living Witness
of Humility Sacred Head of Jesus Reflecting the Infinite Majesty of God,
Sacred Head of Jesus Centre of the Universe Sacred Head of Jesus Object of the
Father's joyous Satisfaction
Sacred Head of Jesus upon which the Holy Spirit Rested
Sacred Head of Jesus Around which the Glory of Mount Tabor Shone
Sacred Head of Jesus Who had no place on earth on which to Rest.
Sacred Head of Jesus Whom the Fragrant Anointing of Magdalen Consoled
Sacred Head of Jesus Bathed with the Sweat of Blood in Gethsemani
Sacred Head of Jesus who Wept for our Sins Sacred Head of Jesus Crowned with
Thorns
Sacred Head of Jesus Outraged by the Indignities of the Passion
Sacred Head of Jesus Consoled by the loving gesture of Veronica
Sacred Head of Jesus Bowed to the earth which was Redeemed at the moment of
death on Calvary
Guide us in all our ways.
Sacred Head of Jesus Light of every being born on earth,
Sacred Head of Jesus Our Guide and our Hope Sacred Head of Jesus Who knows all
our Needs Sacred Head of Jesus Who gives Us All Graces Sacred Head of Jesus that
Governs all the motions of the Sacred Heart
Sacred Head of Jesus Whom we wish to adore and make known through the World
Sacred Head of Jesus Who knows all the secrets of our hearts
Sacred Head of Jesus Who enraptures and Angels and Saints,
Sacred Head of Jesus Who one day we hope to be unveiled forever,
Jesus we Adore Your Sacred Head; We surrender Utterly to All Degrees of Your
Infinite Wisdom
This litany bears the imprimatur of Fredericus Gul, Liverpool England 1927
While the Devotion is approved...Teresa Higginson has been given the title of
Servant of God. However the revelations to her from Our Lord, in authenticating
have been put on hold awaiting the miracles associated with beatification