Sacred Heart of Jesus
Reveals His Love for Us All“My Divine Heart is so passionately in love with humanity….” – Jesus to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1673.
Christ appeared before St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a French nun, several times between 1673-1675. Each time he appeared he shared his love for us – a love that is not just words, but real and obvious, pouring out from His pierced Heart on the Cross.
These visions lead to the Feast Day of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which we celebrate on Friday, June 27th. It is always the Friday after Corpus Christi Sunday – the second Sunday after Pentecost.
Honoring the Sacred Heart of Jesus began centuries before 1673.
The Church has references as early as the second century through St. Justin Martyr and in the 7th century by Pope Gregory the Great.
Both preached that John 19:34-35 is a metaphor for the divine graces that will forever flow from the heart of the crucified Jesus: “But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth—that you also may believe.”
Saints Bernard of Clairvaux and Anselm of the 12th century, preached of the love of the Sacred Heart is for everyone, because we were all redeemed by His Passion and Death.
Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque recorded that Christ told her that a feast day should be given to His Sacred Heart and those devoted to it would be granted graces, deepening their relationship with Him.
It was in 1765, when Pope Clement XIII named the feast day in France. However, it wasn’t until 1856, when Pope Pius IX declared the feast day should be extended to the universal Church.
Pope Pius IX wrote, “(Jesus) showed His Heart to us bearing about it the symbols of the passion and displaying the flames of love, that from the one we might know the infinite malice of sin, and in the other we might admire the infinite charity of Our Redeemer, and so might have a more vehement hatred of sin, and make a more ardent return of love for His love.”
Imagery of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Flames – represent the infinite fire of love that Christ has for each soul.
Crown of Thorns – “And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe”. (John 19:2). Although Christ suffered the crown of thorns on His head, all that He suffered in the crucifixion He suffered in the depths of His Heart.
Wounded Heart – the wound of the guard’s sword is visible – the wound in which blood and water flowed. “Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out.” (John 19:34). Both the water and blood are very symbolic to our Church – our faith – with the water of Baptism and the Blood of the Eucharist.
The Cross – The cross at the top of the Heart seems dwarfed by the Heart and almost implanted at the top. St. Margaret Mary said, “The entire reality of the crucifixion derives its meaning from and cannot be understood apart from the Heart of Jesus.” It is His Heart that supports the weight of the cross!”Jesus’ 12 Promises of the Sacred Heart
shared with St. Margaret Mary Alacoque for us all who are reverent to the devotion:1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state in life.
2. I will establish peace in their families.
3. I will comfort them in their trials.
4. I will be their secure refuge during life, and, above all, in death.
5. I will shed abundant blessings on all their undertakings.
6. Sinners will find in My Heart an infinite ocean of mercy.
7. Lukewarm souls will become fervent.
8. Fervent souls will rapidly grow in holiness and perfection.
9. I will bless every place where an image of My Heart shall be exposed and honored.
10. I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.
11. The names of those who promote this devotion will be written in My Heart, never to be blotted out.
12. I promise thee, in the excessive mercy of My Heart, that My all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Friday of nine consecutive months, the grace of final penitence; they shall not die in My disgrace nor without receiving their Sacraments; My Divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.
Editor’s note: the art of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is by Jill Rund of Jill Elizabeth Art. Her Catholic art and ministry are available many featuring gold leafing at: https://jillelizabethart.com
