Christian Art | Sacred Heart Of Jesus
John 19: 28-37 | Sacred Heart Of Jesus | King James Audio Bible | KJV
O Sacred Heart of Jesus,
I give myself to You,
take all I am and all that I possess.
I consecrate to You my body, my soul, my heart, and my life.
May everything I do be for Your glory.
Take my heart, and set it on fire with love for You,
so that it may be consumed in the flames of Your Sacred Heart.
Be my refuge and my strength.
Protect me from evil and sin,
and help me to live in Your love forever.
Amen.
Origins And History Of The Devotion To The Sacred Heart Of Jesus
The devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus has its origins in early Christian thought and gradually developed into a formal practice over many centuries. The devotion focuses on the heart of Jesus Christ as a symbol of Jesus’ love, particularly Jesus’ willingness to suffer and die for humanity. This devotion has evolved through biblical interpretation, theological reflection, mystical experiences, and papal endorsements.
Scriptural And Early Christian Foundations
Roots of the Sacred Heart devotion may be found in the Gospel of John. The passage where a soldier pierces Jesus’ side during the crucifixion has been a key point of reflection:
‘But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.’ (John 19:34, KJV)
Early theologians such as and including Saint Augustine saw this as more than a physical detail. Augustine interpreted the piercing of Jesus’ side as the moment when the heart of Jesus was opened, symbolizing the beginning of the Church and outpouring of divine grace through the sacraments. Augustine linked the blood and water that flowed from Christ’s side to the sacraments of the Eucharist and Baptism. This interpretation contributed to an early understanding of the heart of Jesus as a symbol of Christ’s redemptive love for humanity.
Saint Origen, an early Christian theologian, also connected the flow of blood and water to Jesus’ love and the grace given to believers through the sacraments. These interpretations laid the groundwork for later devotion to the heart of Christ, though it was not yet a formalized practice.
Development During The Medieval Period
In the Middle Ages, devotion to the heart of Jesus took on a clearer form through the writings of mystics and theologians. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, an influential Cistercian monk, wrote about the wounds of Christ as sources of spiritual strength and healing. He saw the heart of Jesus as central to understanding the depth of Christ’s suffering for humanity and viewed the heart as a source of divine love and grace. His reflections contributed to the growing focus on the heart of Christ in Christian spirituality.
Saint Bonaventure, a 13th-century Franciscan theologian, emphasized the wounded side of Christ and viewed it as a means for believers to enter into the mystery of God’s love. He described the heart of Jesus as a place of refuge and a means by which Christians could draw nearer to God. This focus on the heart as both wounded and loving became a recurring theme in medieval spirituality.
Mystical experiences further contributed to the development of the devotion. Saint Gertrude the Great, a Benedictine nun in the 13th century, reported visions of Christ in which Christ revealed his heart to her as a place where Jesus’ love for humanity was expressed. In her writings, she described how Christ invited her to rest upon his heart and experience his love firsthand. These visions, along with those of her contemporary Mechtilde of Hackeborn, were important in spreading awareness of the devotion to the Sacred Heart in monastic communities.
The Role Of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque (17th Century)
The most important stage in the development of the Sacred Heart devotion occurred in the 17th century with the experiences of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, a French nun of the Visitation Order. Between 1673 and 1675, she reported several private revelations in which Jesus appeared to her, showing his heart surrounded by flames, pierced and crowned with thorns. According to her accounts, Jesus expressed sorrow over the indifference and ingratitude of humanity and requested that she promote devotion to his Sacred Heart.
In one of the visions, Jesus asked for a specific feast day to be instituted in honour of his Sacred Heart, and Jesus encouraged practices such as receiving Communion on the first Friday of each month and making acts of reparation for the sins of the world. Jesus is reported to have said:
‘Behold this Heart which has so loved men that it has spared nothing, even exhausting and consuming itself, in order to testify its love.’
Saint Margaret Mary’s spiritual director, Saint Claude de la Colombière, a Jesuit priest, played a key role in spreading this devotion. He supported her claims and worked to promote the practice in France and beyond, particularly through the Jesuit order. Despite initial scepticism from church authorities, the devotion began to gain followers within religious communities and among lay Catholics.
Growth And Papal Endorsement
The Sacred Heart devotion grew slowly after Saint Margaret Mary’s revelations, gaining more formal recognition over time. In 1765, Pope Clement XIII approved a Feast of the Sacred Heart for specific dioceses. The devotion continued to spread, particularly with the support of the Jesuits, who made it a central part of their missionary work and educational outreach.
In 1856, Pope Pius IX extended the Feast of the Sacred Heart to the universal Church, giving the devotion greater prominence. He viewed it as a way to encourage Catholics to reflect on the love of Christ and make reparation for sins. The image of the Sacred Heart began to be widely displayed in churches and homes as a reminder of Jesus’ love and the call to repentance.
In 1899, Pope Leo XIII consecrated the entire world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, emphasizing its role in addressing the social and moral challenges of the time. He believed the devotion could inspire Catholics to respond to modern difficulties with renewed faith and moral strength.
20th Century And Beyond
In the 20th century, Pope Pius XII issued the encyclical Haurietis Aquas in 1956, providing a theological explanation of the Sacred Heart devotion. He described the Sacred Heart as representing both the physical heart of Christ and Christ’s love for humanity. The encyclical called for deeper understanding of the devotion, connecting it to the broader themes of Christ’s love, the Eucharist, and the Church’s mission.
The image of the Sacred Heart, with the heart of Jesus depicted surrounded by flames and crowned with thorns, continues to be a significant symbol in Catholic spirituality, reflecting enduring importance of Christ’s love for humanity and the call to repentance and conversion.
What Is The Litany Of The Sacred Heart Of Jesus?
V/ Lord, have mercy on us.
R/ Christ, have mercy on us.
V/ Lord, have mercy on us.
R/ Christ, hear us.
V/ Christ, graciously hear us.
V/ God the Father of Heaven,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ God the Holy Spirit,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ Holy Trinity, one God,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ Heart of Jesus, Son of the Eternal Father,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ Heart of Jesus, formed by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mother,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ Heart of Jesus, substantially united to the Word of God,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ Heart of Jesus, of infinite majesty,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ Heart of Jesus, holy temple of God,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ Heart of Jesus, tabernacle of the Most High,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ Heart of Jesus, house of God and gate of heaven,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ Heart of Jesus, glowing furnace of charity,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ Heart of Jesus, vessel of justice and love,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ Heart of Jesus, full of goodness and love,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ Heart of Jesus, abyss of all virtues,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ Heart of Jesus, most worthy of all praise,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ Heart of Jesus, King and center of all hearts,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ Heart of Jesus, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ Heart of Jesus, in whom dwells the fullness of divinity,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ Heart of Jesus, in whom the Father is well pleased,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ Heart of Jesus, of whose fullness we have all received,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ Heart of Jesus, desire of the everlasting hills,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ Heart of Jesus, patient and rich in mercy,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ Heart of Jesus, rich to all who call upon You,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ Heart of Jesus, fount of life and holiness,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ Heart of Jesus, propitiation for our sins,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ Heart of Jesus, loaded down with opprobrium,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ Heart of Jesus, bruised for our offenses,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ Heart of Jesus, obedient unto death,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ Heart of Jesus, pierced with a lance,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ Heart of Jesus, source of all consolation,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ Heart of Jesus, our life and resurrection,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ Heart of Jesus, victim for sin,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ Heart of Jesus, salvation of those who hope in You,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ Heart of Jesus, hope of those who die in You,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ Heart of Jesus, delight of all the saints,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
R/ Spare us, O Lord.
V/ Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
R/ Graciously hear us, O Lord.
V/ Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
R/ Have mercy on us.
V/ Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
R/ Make our hearts like unto Thine.
Let us pray:
Almighty and eternal God, look upon the Heart of Your dearly beloved Son and upon the praise and satisfaction He offers You in behalf of sinners. And, being appeased, grant pardon to those who seek Your mercy, in the name of the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen.
