The Charism/Spirituality

We have as our Charism, “God’s Love,” which we live and propagate as spirituality as exemplified by the Hearts of Love of Jesus and Mary; the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts.

The Spirit of the Institute is essentially “Love”, that sacrificial and undivided love found only in the united Hearts of Jesus and Mary. This love should urge the Brothers to cultivate continuous and consistent loving union with God.

Flowing from the mystery of God’s love, the life of the Brothers shall be the manifestation of this Love. So that whatever we do, in our work, mission and life, we do it in love. It is the desire of the Institute that each brother would be consumed by the Love of God so that they no longer exist for themselves or anything else but for the Love of God, deriving all the meaning of their life from this continuous loving union with God, outside which there is no meaning in existence.

It is this Charism we live as spirituality that we propagate through different apostolate, as we submit ourselves to the Church for the services of humanity.

Devotions and Apostolate

Our Institute, with her character of living and sharing God’s Love in imitation of Jesus and Mary, is privileged to propagate the devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary; the two inseparable Hearts ever united in Love. We strive to live and share this love as a way of sanctifying ourselves as well as working for the salvation of souls. In consonance with the mission and purpose of the Sons of the Two Hearts of Love which is the salvation of all souls and the sanctification of all creation, all our communities shall be exhorted to observe the traditional vigils typical of our Institute when possible, every day or at least once in a week, three hours (12 am - 3 am). In the Novitiate and in all houses of prayer of the Institute, the holy hour and vigil shall be observed every day. In keeping with our sound tradition, every community shall observe a daily Holy Hour of prayer and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. We should venerate in a special way, the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Two Hearts ever united in love. Mindful of the fact that the Holy Mother of Jesus is the Patroness of our Congregation, let us venerate her especially in Liturgical worship. The members should have the most special Devotion to the Virgin Mother of God, model and patroness of all consecrated life. They should pray the Rosary every day. We shall celebrate with fitting dignity, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Each year the members will make a retreat of five Canonical days. This annual retreat shall be organized by the Superior General for all the members. Where this is not possible he shall see to it that each brother carries out this annual retreat by providing all that is possible and necessary for this purpose. Every last Saturday of the Month shall be observed as a period of Monthly recollection and meeting in our communities. The local Superiors shall ensure that it is properly observed. Devotional prayers to the Two Hearts of Love are to be recited by every member and as when due.

Since our form of life is active and contemplative, apostolic action is an essential aspect of our life; therefore, members are to be imbued with an apostolic spirit animated by the sacrificial love flowing from the united Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Consumed by the love of Jesus and Mary and in keeping with the pressing needs of time and place, we help the Church in her mission. In doing this, we should preserve the distinctive element of our Charism which consists in loving God, propagating devotion to the Hearts of Love and bearing witness through our consecrated life. We willingly take on any form of apostolate as long as it is in keeping with our form of life and responds to the needs of the Church. Conscious of our lowly state, we generously take up all apostolate which are regarded as especially difficult. Our giving in to assisting wherever is in keeping to the glory of God, the sanctification of the members and for the salvation of all souls.

Areas of Apostolate include Catechesis; Retreats; Confession and Spiritual care of Religious and Lay faithful; Parish assistance; Organization of lay apostolate groups; Education/School managements, Hospital managements, Prison, Care for needy and helpless children especially orphans; Rehabilitation of delinquents; Care and training of handicapped people; Vocational training; Producing religious articles, Press and publishing; Family and marriage counseling; etc.

PRAYER LIFE

The Church teaches that religious state constitutes a close imitation and abiding re-enactment in the Church, of the form of life which the Son of God made His own when He came into the world to do the Will of His Father and which He proposed to the disciples who followed Him. Jesus the only Begotten of the Father lived a life of uninterrupted communion with the Father. He was often seen by His disciples praying. He did not only admonish them to pray and never lose heart but above all He taught them how to pray. In line with the Church’s teaching, the first and the principal duty of the Sons of the Two Hearts of Love of Jesus and Mary is to be the contemplation of things Divine and in constant union with God in prayer. Since we are consecrated more closely to the service of God by the profession of the Evangelical Counsels, we should strive with freedom of spirit to pursue this life of prayer faithfully and constantly. Brothers, above all, cultivate the spirit of holy prayer and devotion to which all created things ought to be subservient, so that united with the Two Hearts of Love of Jesus and Mary, we learn to adore, thank, make reparation, implore graces in such a way that our entire life becomes a hymn of praise to God and a concrete and loving service to the brethren. Mindful of the fact that fidelity to prayer or the abandonment of prayer determine the vitality or decadence of religious life, members shall practice affective prayer (prayer of the heart) leading us to an intimate experience of God. By desiring above all the Spirit of the Lord and His Holy operation, let us always pray to God with pure heart and give to people a witness of genuine prayer in such a way that all may see and perceive in us and in our communities, the goodness and kindness of God present in the world.

Liturgy:

Since we have been consecrated to the service of God by Baptism and religious profession, we should place the highest value on sacred liturgy which is the exercise of the priestly office of Jesus Christ, the summit of all Church’s activity and the source of Christian life. We should strive to nourish our spiritual life and that of our community from the liturgy, and to open its treasures to the faithful. In order to achieve this, it will be very useful to designate brothers in the community who are to prepare the liturgical functions so that this function may be daily renewed creatively and willingly, with faithful observance of liturgical norms and in accordance with their spirit.

Eucharist:

Mindful of the centrality of the Eucharist as the heart of our community and the source of our life, each day we are to make every effort that the Holy Mass is celebrated in our communities. We should fully, consciously and actively participate in the Eucharistic sacrifice in which we celebrate the Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ until He comes. Only when this is impossible or no Mass within reach are the brothers to practice spiritual communion. We must keep back nothing for ourselves in this offering so that He may receive us totally who gives Himself totally to us. The Eucharist in which our Lord Jesus Christ is present to us under the consecrated Species shall be reserved in our Oratories or churches in a dignified place and manner, so that members may pay frequent visit and adoration to the Eucharistic Jesus.

Liturgy of the Hours:

In fulfillment of the priestly office of Christ, the Church celebrates the Liturgy of the Hours, wherein she listens to God speaking to His people and recalls the mystery of salvation. In this way the Church praises God without ceasing, in song and prayer, and intercedes to Him for the salvation of the whole world. As Sons of the Two Hearts of Love, called and consecrated to God, our communities shall assemble daily in Christ’s name to celebrate the Liturgy of the Hours in common. Fidelity to this daily prayer which remains always a fundamental obligation for each one of us must have the first place in our lives. Conscious of the mission of the Congregation of Sons of the Two Hearts of Love in the Church and in the world for the salvation of all souls and the sanctification of all creation, each community is to celebrate the Office of Reading, Lauds, One Little Hour, Vespers and Compline every day, and when possible, especially on Feast days, Sundays and Solemnities the members shall celebrate it with beautiful and sweet melody. Where this cannot be done in its entirety, at least Lauds and Vespers shall be in common. Those who cannot celebrate the Liturgy of the Hours for grave reasons in common should bear in mind that also when praying it privately they are united with the whole Church and particularly with the brothers. So that the Word of God may penetrate our heart more deeply and form our whole life more effectively, the Liturgy of the Hours should be living and active (alive). It is praiseworthy to observe intervals of silence which greatly contributes to an attentive and fruitful celebration.

As far as possible in the community celebration, the Liturgy of the Hours should be sung with plain and simple melody. On Solemnities and Feast days, the liturgy should be celebrated with particular solemnity. Members should be attentive not so much to the melody of the voice as to the harmony of the heart so that the voice may accord with the heart and the heart is in harmony with God. Contemplation of the Love of God is absolutely recommended. At least a quarter of an hour is to be spent daily in silent contemplation of the infinite Love of God. Half an hour of silent meditation daily is recommended. When practicable, especially during retreats and special days of recollection and prayer, one hour of meditation is to be done. The members will read His holy words in the Holy Scripture daily, meditate on it and model their whole lives on it. The loving Lord speaks to them always in the Holy Scripture.