Why is there devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus?
Catechism Meditation:
Jesus knew and loved us each and all during his life, his agony and his Passion, and gave himself up for each one of us: “The Son of God. . . loved me and gave himself for me.” He has loved us all with a human heart. For this reason, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, pierced by our sins and for our salvation, “is quite rightly considered the chief sign and symbol of that. . . love with which the divine Redeemer continually loves the eternal Father and all human beings” without exception. ―No. 478
REFLECTION. June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Catholic tradition because of the Feast of the Sacred Heart, which is celebrated on the Friday that follows the second Sunday after Pentecost. This feast commemorates the intensity of love and compassion of Jesus Christ as symbolized by His heart, fervently burning with love for humanity. This usually falls in the month of June, making it a special summer devotion for Catholics worldwide. This timing emphasizes the connection between the Holy Spirit’s outpouring at Pentecost and the love of Christ symbolized by His Sacred Heart.
The devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus was officially developed in the Middle Ages, when mystics like Saint Bernard of Clairvaux and Saint Gertrude began to speak of the love in Jesus’ heart. However, it was in the 17th century when Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, a French nun, received visions in which Jesus showed her His heart surrounded by a crown of thorns, calling humanity to honor and console Him. On June 16, 1675, Jesus told Sister Margaret Mary to promote a feast that honored His Sacred Heart. In 1856, Pope Pius IX designated the Friday following the feast of Corpus Christi as the feast of the Sacred Heart for the universal Church. Ever since, the month of June has been devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and His immense love for us all. From these visions, the modern devotion to the Sacred Heart was born, promoted by several popes and spreading throughout the Church.
The Sacred Heart of Jesus is one of the most beloved and profound devotions within the Catholic faith. Through the image of Christ’s heart, the faithful are invited to contemplate the deep, constant, and merciful love of Jesus for all of humanity. This devotion not only reflects a particular aspect of Jesus’ life but also introduces us to the central mystery of His unconditional love and His sacrifice on the cross. The heart symbolizes the center of feelings and emotions, and in the context of this devotion, it represents the burning love of Christ for humanity.
PRAYER. Sacred Heart of Jesus, make my heart gentle and humble like Yours. I place my trust in Your unfailing love.
Timeless Wisdom Quote:
“The affection a human heart bears for another lessens as it multiplies the objects of its love, just as a river loses its fullness the more it divides itself into little streams. But with God there is no decrease of love with the increase of objects loved, any more than a voice loses its strength because a thousand ears hear it. Each human heart can break His Sacred Heart all over again; each soul has within itself the potentiality of another crucifixion. No one can love as much as Our Lord; no one therefore can suffer as much.” ― Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen