The Pathway to the Sacred Heart of Jesus: A Rule of Life

What is the surest way to prepare for Heaven while still living on earth? For fifty-eight years of priestly ministry, Fr. Robert I. Bradley, S.J., taught that the heart of the Christian life is to live in union with the Sacred Heart of Jesus—to belong to Him, dwell in His love, and allow that love to transform every aspect of our lives. The doorway into this intimate relationship is the Holy Eucharist, whether received at Mass or encountered in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. Drawing on a lifetime of prayer, pastoral experience, and spiritual direction, Fr. Bradley developed a practical Rule of Life that can be adapted to any vocation or state in life. As we draw closer to Christ through prayer, the sacraments, and fidelity to our Rule of Life, we discover a deeper peace amid life's struggles and a growing holiness under the guidance of our Blessed Mother and St. Joseph. The road is not easy, but it leads to the greatest of all destinations: a life lived in Christ now, and eternal life with Him hereafter.

FR. ROBERT IGNATIUS BRADLEY, S.J. (1924-2013) was ordained to the priesthood August 15, 1955, in Louvain, Belgium. He earned a Ph.D. in English history from Columbia University and a Sacred Theology Doctorate from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. As a priest and professor, he devoted his life to teaching, spiritual direction, and conducting retreats, as well as chaplaincies for Catholics United for the Faith, the Poor Clares in Arlington, VA, and the Traditional Latin Mass in Austin, TX. He is the author of two books on the Roman Catechism and many articles for Catholic publications. Although he was a scholar, he was most at home serving Jesus at the altar and praying three Rosaries daily to Our Mother Mary, who guided him throughout his life.