Mother Louise Margaret Claret de la Touche - Little Book of the Work of Infinite Love

THE LITTLE BOOK
OF THE
WORK OF INFINITE LOVE

Second Edition

Translated from the
1946 Italian Edition

by Father Patrick
O'Connell

NIHIL OBSTAT:

JACOBUS BROWNE

Censor Deputatus.

IMPRIMI POTEST:

JACOBUS,

Episcopus Fernensis.

die 1 Nov., 1949

die 9 Iunius 1962.

Originally published by Fr. Patrick O'Connell and the Irish members of "The Priests' Universal Union of the Friends of the Sacred Heart."

Copyright 1979 by TAN Books and Publishers, Inc.

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 79-90490

ISBN: 0-89555-130-6

TAN Books
Charlotte, North Carolina
www.TANBooks.com

1979

PREFACE

The Associates of the Priests' Universal Union and the Faithful Friends of Bethany of the Sacred Heart are many and belong to every class of society. Their number is ever increasing. The Associates and the Faithful Friends are united to the Priests Universal Union and to the Sisters of Bethany of the Sacred Heart by a spiritual bond, and find in that union and in the spirit of the Work of Infinite Love efficacious means of arriving at perfection and of exercising a fruitful apostolate.

We therefore think it an opportune time to bring out for them an enlarged edition of their Little Book of the Work of Infinite Love giving fuller information about the nature and scope of the Work and of the characteristics and duties of the Associates and the Faithful Friends.

These souls will see the important part reserved for them in the organization of the Work of Infinite Love, and will find new light and energy to live an even more profound spiritual life according to the doctrine of Infinite Love, to merit special graces for the Church and the Priesthood, and to radiate in the circle in which they move the joy of the Christian life.

Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, 22nd August, 1946. The Central Council of the Priests' Universal Union of the Friends of the Sacred Heart.

FOREWORD TO THE SECOND EDITION

This little book is the result of years of study and meditation by the Sisters of Bethany of the Sacred Heart on the communications which Mother Louise Margaret received from Our Divine Lord on the Work of Infinite Love. Though it is primarily intended for the Members and Associates of the Priests' Universal Union of the Friends of the Sacred Heart, and the Faithful Friends of Bethany of the Sacred Heart, it will be found useful for all who are striving to advance in the love of God.

The Work of Infinite Love with its four branches, while in many respects similar to other associations for priests and laity, has its own definite object. His Holiness St. Pius X and His Councillors who were aware of the existence of numerous associations for priests and laity, were convinced that there was need of a universal union that would unite the more zealous and pious priests of the various countries of the world into one body, and that it was Our Lord's wish that such a union be established.

This union has been established with the approval and blessing of St. Pius X. Since then it has continued to grow and expand, and has received the support and encouragement of Popes Benedict XV, Pius XI, Pius XII and of His present Holiness John XXIII. This Universal Union does not aim at supplanting or interfering with other clerical associations, but at helping them. (See The Sacred Heart and the Priesthood. pp. 213/214).

To assist the Priests' Universal Union in its work, three auxiliary branches have been formed. The most important of these is a contemplative order called Bethany of the Sacred Heart which is recruited from those generous souls who are willing to offer up their lives in prayer and penance for the welfare of the Pope, bishops and priests of the Church. The Sisters of Bethany have received full papal approval and Cardinal Larraona has been appointed to be their Protector.

In the case of the two other branchesthe Associates of the Priests' Universal Union and the Faithful Friends of Bethanyan external organization is expressly excluded in order to avoid the possibility of interfering with pious societies already existing; members of such Societies as well as, Sisters or Brothers in Religious Orders can become Associates of the Priests' Universal Union or Faithful Friends of Bethany.

More detailed information about the origin and nature of the Work of Infinite Love and its four branches, and of the duties and obligations of its members will be found in The Life and Work of Mother Louise Margaret, The Sacred Heart and the Priesthood and The Book of Infinite Love. The English translation of these three books has been presented to His Holiness Pope Pius XII of blessed memory, who gave a letter of commendation for the three books and a special blessing for the introduction of the Work of Infinite Love into Ireland England and America.

PATRICK O'CONNELL

THE WORK OF INFINITE LOVE

"Behold the plan of Jesus: The priest filled with love will communicate the flames to those placed under his direct influence (for each priest has a certain number of souls placed under his influence); they in their turn will inflame the souls of those around them, and thus, little by little, Infinite Love will regain possession of the world."

("The Designs of God," Chap. IV No. 17).

DECLARATION

In giving these pages to the public, we have no intention of making any pronouncement on the nature of the mystic communications which they contain, and we declare that we submit ourselves entirely to the judgment of holy Church.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

,

A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF MOTHER LOUISE MARGARET CLARET DE LA TOUCHE.

Mother Louise Margaret Claret de la Touche was born at St. Germain de Laye in France on March 15th, 1868. Almighty God had designs on her soul from her youth; at the tender age of eleven she made a vow of Virginity with a promise to become a Religious if God gave her a vocation. She entered the Convent of the Visitation at Romans in France in the November of 1890 and was professed on October 17th, 1892.

Early in her religious life she began to enjoy special favours from Our Divine Lord of a similar nature to those which St. Margaret Mary Alacoque received. Her life resembled in many respects that of St. Margaret Mary, especially in sharing in Our Lord's suffering life and in being chosen to be the bearer of a new message of love to the world from His Sacred Heart. The substance of that message (which she received on the Feast of the Sacred Heart, 1902, and during the seven following daysnow the Octave of the Sacred Heart), was that Our Saviour made a new donation of His Sacred Heart to priests that they might become filled with the love which It contains and so communicate it to the world; and that He wished that a new world-wide organization for priests should be formed that would unite the Bishops and priests of the world to promote devotion to His Sacred Heart.

She continued to receive special lights during prayer and communications from Our Lord till the time of her death. These she committed to writing in accordance with Our Saviour's commands and submitted them to her Superiors and to her Director. They were examined by competent Theologians and afterwards by the Holy See, and were found to be in conformity with the teaching of the Church in every detail. These notes formed the subject matter of The Sacred Heart and the Priesthood and The Book of Infinite Love which she wrote under obedience and which embody the communications that she received from our Divine Lord.