The Sacred Heart refers to the heart of Jesus. The actual devotion is less to the actual physical heart, although the focus is squarely on that particular organ, but to the Love of Jesus. The heart, being the traditional symbol of where love resides within a person. The Catholic culture does not shy away from physical representations of abstract or non-physical realities. Therefore, devotion often involves an image (picture/sculpture/medal) of the heart of Jesus. The heart is usually surrounded with a crown of thorns and has a wound in its side to represent Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice for us on the Cross. Rays of light emanate from image of the heart and it is topped with flame, representing His intense love for us. So intense that it can purify the hardest of hearts. Many times there will be a cross just above the flames. The heart is sometimes incorporated into a painting or statue of Jesus, where Jesus is pointing to his heart.
Although the devotion to the Sacred Heart was surly practiced by the eleventh century, it became widely known in its present form due to the visions of Jesus experienced by Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647–1690). After one of the Saint’s greatest visions (June 16, 1667), her confessor encouraged her to write down what took place. Her confessors consecrated himself to the Sacred Heart and quietly started to propagate the devotion. After her confessor’s death, the account that Saint Margaret Mary had written for him was found in his papers and published. This resulted in the Sacred Heart becoming very popular devotion. In recent years, with resurgence of the more traditional aspects of the Church, the devotion is gaining a renewed interest among many Catholics.
Promises of the Sacred Heart, as given to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque:
1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.
2. I will give peace in their families.
3. I will console them in all their troubles.
4. I will be their refuge in life and especially in death.
5. I will abundantly bless all their undertakings.
6. Sinners shall find in my Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.
7. Tepid souls shall become fervent.
8. Fervent souls shall rise speedily to great perfection.
9. I will bless those places wherein the image of My Sacred Heart shall be exposed and venerated.
10. I will give to priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts.
11. Persons who propagate this devotion shall have their names eternally written in my Heart.
12. In the excess of the mercy of my Heart, I promise you that my all powerful love will grant to all those who will receive Communion on the First Fridays, for nine consecutive months, the grace of final repentance: they will not die in my displeasure, nor without receiving the sacraments; and my Heart will be their secure refuge in that last hour.
Although the devotion to the Sacred Heart was surly practiced by the eleventh century, it became widely known in its present form due to the visions of Jesus experienced by Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647–1690). After one of the Saint’s greatest visions (June 16, 1667), her confessor encouraged her to write down what took place. Her confessors consecrated himself to the Sacred Heart and quietly started to propagate the devotion. After her confessor’s death, the account that Saint Margaret Mary had written for him was found in his papers and published. This resulted in the Sacred Heart becoming very popular devotion. In recent years, with resurgence of the more traditional aspects of the Church, the devotion is gaining a renewed interest among many Catholics.
Promises of the Sacred Heart, as given to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque:
1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.
2. I will give peace in their families.
3. I will console them in all their troubles.
4. I will be their refuge in life and especially in death.
5. I will abundantly bless all their undertakings.
6. Sinners shall find in my Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.
7. Tepid souls shall become fervent.
8. Fervent souls shall rise speedily to great perfection.
9. I will bless those places wherein the image of My Sacred Heart shall be exposed and venerated.
10. I will give to priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts.
11. Persons who propagate this devotion shall have their names eternally written in my Heart.
12. In the excess of the mercy of my Heart, I promise you that my all powerful love will grant to all those who will receive Communion on the First Fridays, for nine consecutive months, the grace of final repentance: they will not die in my displeasure, nor without receiving the sacraments; and my Heart will be their secure refuge in that last hour.