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 seventh of the twelve promises: Tepid souls shall become fervent.
This promise of the Sacred Heart to devotees who were tepid that they shall become fervent implies knowledge of both tepidity and fervor. Revelation 3:16 is somewhat helpful here: “You are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold. I will vomit you out of My mouth.” Our friends at the University of Oxford remind us that to be fervent is to be intensely passionate and comes from the Latin term for boil (fervere), while the Latin tepere means “be warm.” When the Lord Jesus came among us to save us from ourselves He came “to cast a fire upon the Earth” which He wished “were already kindled!” (cf. Luke 12:49). We have received the flame of faith in Baptism. Our lives of prayer and devotion, and study help us to keep the flame of faith burning brightly. Laxity is a lack of fervor and devotion. If I never pray, never go to Holy Mass I am lax or indifferent, spurning the desire of the Sacred Heart.
When Saint Dominic (+1221) is depicted in sacred art there is often a little dog carrying a burning torch with him. It is said that St. Dominic’s mother had a dream one night that her son would spread the flame of faith across Europe. The doggy is a play on Dominic’s name Domini-cannus (dog of the Lord). Saint Dominic loved the Lord God and his neighbor well in this life and still in Heaven. The Dominican Saint and Doctor of the Church, Catherine of Siena (+1380) likewise saw herself espoused to the Lord in a very loving relationship. These saints, like all saints, had burning, fervent love for the Lord and those for whom He came. May our love for God and neighbor be intense (cf. Matthew 22:37-38; Mark 12:30-31; Luke 10:27). May God’s grace at work in us help us to be neither lax nor tepid but fervent.
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr