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 ninth of the twelve promises: I will bless those places wherein the image of My Sacred Heart shall be exposed and venerated.
A major part of the actual devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus includes an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The best images of the Sacred Heart of Jesus are those which do not separate the Heart from Christ Himself. Pius XII reminds us of the five various components which together make up the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The first part of the authentic Sacred Heart of Jesus is His Heart. Jesus Christ is both true God and true man. His human heart is also divine. The love the Lord Jesus has for us is both human and divine. Our single veneration of His Sacred Heart acknowledges both loves from His Sacred Heart. The second part of the authentic Sacred Heart of Jesus is the wound in the His Heart. From the pierced side of Christ crucified flowed blood and water, the source of the sacramental life of the Church. The waters of Baptism and the Blood of the Eucharist have their sacred power from this sacred flow. The third part of the authentic Sacred Heart of Jesus is the Crown of thorns surrounding His Heart. While the Lord was mocked on Good Friday with the Crown of Thorns, Christ’s Kingship is honored in the devotion of the Sacred Heart with the Crown of Thorns surrounding the image. Jesus Christ is the King of the Universe. His Sacred Heart is to rule our hearts, our homes, our city and nation, the whole world. The fourth part of the authentic Sacred Heart of Jesus is the Cross. The sacred humanity of Jesus Christ was nailed to the wood of the Cross for our redemption in sacrifice. The fifth part of the authentic Sacred Heart of Jesus Flames. For us sinners, the Lord Jesus died with burning love.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr