Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
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Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
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HistoryThe Month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart. The Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the Friday following the second Sunday after Pentecost. In addition to the liturgical celebration, many devotional exercises are connected with the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Of all devotions, devotion to the Sacred Heart was, and remains, one of the most widespread and popular in the Church.
Understood in the light of the Scriptures, the term "Sacred Heart of Jesus" denotes the entire mystery of Christ, the totality of his being, and his person considered in its most intimate essential: Son of God, uncreated wisdom; infinite charity, principal of the salvation and sanctification of mankind. The "Sacred Heart" is Christ, the Word Incarnate, Saviour, intrinsically containing, in the Spirit, an infinite divine-human love for the Father and for his brothers.
Excerpted from the Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy
Pope Pius XII explained the concept of the Sacred Heart by saying,“Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, of its very nature, is a worship of the love with which God, through Jesus, loved us, and at the same time, an exercise of our own love by which we are related to God and to other men.”
In 1765, Pope Clement XIII officially recognized and approved devotion to the Sacred Heart and in 1856, Pope Pius IX declared that a worldwide feast day would be devoted to the Sacred Heart. The feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is celebrated each year on the Friday following the second Sunday after Pentecost, or nineteen days after Pentecost.
The Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a moving way to express devotion to Our Lord by making reparation through adoration for the offenses committed against His Sacred Heart. It is often prayed during First Friday services.
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DevotionsDevotion to the Sacred Heart is a wonderful historical expression of the Church's piety for Christ, her Spouse, and Lord: it calls for a fundamental attitude of conversion and reparation, of love and gratitude, apostolic commitment and dedication to Christ and his saving work.
Devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus are numerous. Some have been explicitly approved and frequently recommended by the Apostolic See. Among these, mention should be made of the following:
Personal Consecration
Personal consecration, described by Pius XI as "undoubtedly the principal devotional practice used in relation to the Sacred Heart" (Miserentissimus redemptor).
ACT OF PERSONAL CONSECRATIONFamily Consecration
Family consecration to the Sacred Heart, in which the family, by virtue of the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony already participating in the mystery of the unity and love of Christ for the Church, is dedicated to Christ so that he might reign in the hearts of all its members (Aliae concessiones).
ACT OF FAMILY CONSECRATIONLitany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
The Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, approved for the whole Church in 1891, which is evidently biblical in character and to which many indulgences have been attached (Aliae concessiones).
ACT OF LITANY OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUSAct of Reparation to the Sacred Heart
The act of reparation, a prayer with which the faithful, mindful of the infinite goodness of Christ, implore mercy for the offences committed in so many ways against his Sacred Heart (Aliae concessiones).
ACT OF REPARATION TO THE SACRED HEARTThe Practice of the First Fridays
The pious practice of the first Fridays of the month which derives from the "great promises" made by Jesus to St. Margaret Mary. At a time when sacramental communion was very rare among the faithful, the first Friday devotion contributed significantly to a renewed use of the Sacraments of Penance and of the Holy Eucharist. In our own times, the devotion to the first Fridays, even if practised correctly, may not always lead to the desired spiritual fruits. Hence, the faithful require constant instruction so that any reduction of the practice to mere credulity is avoided and an active faith encouraged so that the faithful may undertake their commitment to the Gospel correctly in their lives. They should also be reminded of the absolute preeminence of Sunday, the "primordial feast" (Sacrosanctum Concilium), which should be marked by the full participation of the faithful at the celebration of the Holy Mass.
NINE FIRST FRIDAYS DEVOTION TO THE SACRED HEARTExcerpted from the Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy
https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/overviews/months/06_1.cfm
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What does the Sacred Heart symbolize?
Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus dates back to the time of the Apostles. This devotion honors Jesus’ burning love for each of us and also makes reparation for the rejection, persecution, and disdain His Sacred Heart receives from the world.
The Sacred Heart is frequently depicted in Catholic art. Some depictions present the Sacred Heart alone, while others show Jesus with His Sacred Heart radiant in His chest or in His hand.
(Pompeo Batoni’s d
epiction of the Sacred Heart)In this image, we can see various small emblems, each representing an aspect of Christ’s sacrificial love.
The first thing we notice is that Jesus’ heart is exposed, for He has poured Himself out for us and desires that we enter into His Most Loving Heart.
The crown surrounding the Sacred Heart recalls Jesus being crowned with thorns, and reminds us that He endured persecution and ridicule for us.
The fire represents the burning flame of divine love and the essence of divinity. (Remember Moses and His encounter with the bush that burned but was never consumed?). The Sacred Heart is on fire with love for mankind.
The cross amidst the flames reminds us of His sacrifice for us upon the Cross of Calvary, a sacrifice undertaken out of His infinite love for sinners.
A royal crown is often depicted on top of the Sacred Heart as a symbol of Jesus’ kingship. The lance-wound references John 19:33-37, when the Roman soldiers pierced Jesus’ side and blood and water flowed from the wound, which, according to the Gospel of John, “took place that the scripture might be fulfilled, ‘Not a bone of him shall be broken’” (John 19:36). This image of blood and water is highly symbolic. It represents the Passover Lamb sacrificed for our sins to save us from death and reminds us that Jesus shed every last drop of His blood for our sake.
Now, when you honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus today, you can meditate on its profound symbolism and on Christ’s burning
love for you.
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The Twelve Promises of the Most Sacred Heart
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I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.
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I will establish peace in their families.
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I will console them in all their troubles.
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They shall find in My Heart an assured refuge during life and especially at the hour of their death.
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I will pour abundant blessings on all their undertakings.
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Sinners shall find in My Heart the source of an infinite ocean of mercy.
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Tepid souls shall become fervent.
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Fervent souls shall speedily rise to great perfection.
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I will bless the homes where an image of My Heart shall be exposed and honored.
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I will give to priests the power of touching the most hardened hearts.
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Those who propagate this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, never to be effaced.
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The all-powerful love of My Heart will grant to all those who shall receive Communion on the First Friday of nine consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they shall not die under my displeasure, nor without receiving their Sacraments; My heart shall be their assured refuge at that last hour.
-From Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque’s Vision of Jesus
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From the Writings of Saint Margaret Mary
“Look at this Heart which has loved men so much, and yet men do not want to love Me in return. Through you My divine Heart wishes to spread its love everywhere on earth.”
– From Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque’s Vision of Jesus
“The Sacred Heart of Christ is an inexhaustible fountain and its sole desire is to pour itself out into the hearts of the humble so as to free them and prepare them to lead lives according to his good pleasure. From this divine heart three streams flow endlessly. The first is the stream of mercy for sinners; it pours into their hearts sentiments of contrition and repentance. The second is the stream of charity which helps all in need and especially aids those seeking perfection in order to find the means of surmounting their difficulties. From the third stream flow love and light for the benefit of his friends who have attained perfection; these he wishes to unit to himself so that they may share his knowledge and commandments and, in their individual ways, devote themselves wholly to advancing his glory. This divine heart is an abyss filled with all blessings, and into the poor should submerge all their needs. It is an abyss of joy in which all of us can immerse our sorrows. It is an abyss of lowliness to counteract our foolishness, an abyss of mercy for the wretched, an abyss of love to meet our every need. Are you making no progress in prayer? The you need only offer God the prayers which the Savior has poured out for us in the sacrament of the altar. Offer God his fervent love in reparation for your sluggishness. In the course of every activity pray as follows: ‘My God, I do this or I endure that in the heart of your Son and according to his holy counsels. I offer it to you in reparation for anything blameworthy or imperfect in my actions.’ Continue to do this in every circumstance of life. But above all preserve peace of heart. This is more valuable than any treasure. In order to preserve it there is nothing more useful than renouncing your own will and substituting for it the will of the divine heart. In this way his will can carry out for us whatever contributes to his glory, and we will be happy to be his subjects and to trust entirely in him.”
– From a Letter by Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque
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