Celebrating the Devotion of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
The Devotion of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus celebrates Jesus Christ while diving into His love on a deeper level. The focus on His heart comes from symbolism in almost every culture of the heart as a symbol for love and affection. The Sacred Heart symbol in particular is depicted with a crown of thorns, pierced and bleeding, to depict His self-sacrificing love at the time of the crucifixion. Here are our thoughts on this Catholic devotion.
Why the Heart?
In Matthew 11:29, Jesus said “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Jesus offered His followers a gentle alternative to a harsh world. They would still need to follow a leader, but that leader would ultimately sacrifice Himself so that their sins would be forgiven. This showed the strength of His heart, one that still beats today with a deep love for humanity.
Origins of the Devotion
This Devotion arose in Benedictine and Cistercian monasteries. At the time, devotions to saints had already begun. St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a visiting nun, had a personal revelation involving a series of visions of Christ. As she prayed before the Blessed Sacrament, Christ emphasized His love to her. He showed how wounded He was because of man’s indifference to this love and offered 12 Promises. Here are a few:
Those who promote the devotion will have their names written in His Heart.
He will give priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.
He will bless every place in which an image of His Heart is exposed and honored.
He will establish peace in the homes of His devoted followers.
He will be their secure refuge in life and death.
How to Celebrate the Sacred Heart
Catholics around the world celebrate Jesus’s love and the symbol of the Sacred Heart on June 12th or the entire month of June. Here are a few ways to celebrate with your family:
Bake a heart shaped pizza, cake or cookies in honor of the Sacred Heart.
Read the full text of the 12 promises
Read the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and for the Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
In Jesus’s time on Earth, He showed humanity a love like they’d never seen with His Sacred Heart. At our schools, we honor this Devotion and other Catholic celebrations to help students grow in their faith. Polk Catholic schools foster an atmosphere of care and an environment of high expectations and effective discipline. To learn more about what makes us different, contact us online.