My dear parishioners,
Peace! The Catechism of the Catholic Church mentions the Heart of Jesus variously. “Scripture is a unity by reason of the unity of God’s plan, of which Christ Jesus is the center and heart, open since His Passover. The phrase ‘heart of Christ’ can refer to Sacred Scripture, which makes known His heart, closed before the Passion, as the Scripture was obscure” (CCC, 112; cf. Luke 24:25-27, 44-46; Psalm 22:14). how in view of the incarnation He loves with a human heart, and “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” (cf. CCC, 470, 478; John 19:34; Pius XII Encyclical Haurietis aquas). One part of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is the Twelve Promises of the Sacred Heart. Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, VHM (+1690) mystically received the promises. Here we consider the tenth of the twelve promises: I will give to priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts.
There are three parts of this specific blessing upon those who are devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus: the Sacred Heart, the role of priests, and those with hard hearts.
First, without the Sacred Heart Himself there are no blessings, no devotion, no salvation.
Second, priests have a special role in both spreading the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and winning hearts over to Christ and His Kingdom of Love. When priests are devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus this gives them a greater leverage with the Lord and over those whom He loves. Priests who are devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus are also devoted to service of and prayer for those for whom He died.
Finely, what does it mean to have a “hard heart”? Natural medicine addresses issues of “cardiac calcification” as particular form of heart disease as well as arteriosclerosis commonly called “hardening of the arteries.” Sin is a spiritual sort of heart disease, a lack of love for God, neighbor and self (cf. Matthew 22:37-39; Mark 12:30-310). When we turn our backs on God and neighbor there is a lack of love on our part. In Ezekiel 36:26 hearts of stone and fleshy hearts are contrasted. In the Gospel, the Lord Jesus addresses hardness of heart when addressing the indissolubility of Marriage (cf. Matthew 19:9; Mark 10:5). The related terms “obstinate” and “unrepentant” are used similarly in the 1983 Code of Canon Law and the 1917 Code of Canon Law respectively when addressing the issue of reception of Holy Communion (see canons 915 and 855.2 respectively).
May we never have hard hearts, physiologically or spiritually. May the tender wounded Heart of Jesus help us to avoid sin, to repent sin, and encourage each other to live holy lives, pleasing in the sight of Almighty God.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr