Friday, December 2, 2011

The Sacred Heart and Total Abstinence from Alcohol


                                                Fr. James A. Cullen, SJ, founder of the Pioneers


Francis Phillips, the Catholic Herald UK blogger, is considering joining the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association of the Sacred Heart.  The "Pioneers" were founded in Ireland (not surprisingly) by a Jesuit (also not surprisingly, considering their once-fervent devotion to the Sacred Heart), and its members pledge to abstain from intoxicating drinks for the remainder of their lives.  That's quite a pledge, but it's made for a holy and noble purpose: to make reparation for the sins of drinkers and for the conversion of those addicted to alcohol.  My Irish-born grandfather was a member.  Here is the Pioneer's prayer:


“For thy greater Glory and consolation, O most Sacred Heart of Jesus, for Thy sake, to give good example, to practice self-denial, to make reparation to Thee for the sins of intemperance and for the conversion of excessive drinkers, I will abstain for life from all intoxicating drinks, Amen”.



No comments:

Post a Comment