In his homily during the Apostolic Journey to Poland in 1999, St. John Paul II emphasized that the Sacred Heart of Jesus embodies the infinite and merciful love that the heavenly Father has bestowed upon the world through His Son, Jesus Christ. He recalled the words of Pope Leo XIII, that we should place all our hope in the Heart of Jesus. In Him, we must seek, and from Him, we must expect the salvation of all people (Annum Sacrum, 6). St. John Paul II continued by saying, I also encourage you to renew and deepen your devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
June is a special month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a devotion that has been cherished by many faithful for centuries. A friend of mine told me that, in their country, there was a time when every Catholic home had a statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This illustrates how deeply rooted this devotion is in people’s hearts, reflecting their closeness to God’s love.
I always remind people how fortunate we are in the Catholic Church to have almost unlimited devotions to choose from, whichever helps deepen our spiritual life. Sacred Heart has been a generic devotion for many, perhaps because we are created from the love that flows from the Sacred Heart of Jesus, where our salvation is also deeply rooted. Pope Pius XII, in his encyclical letter “Haurietis Aquas,” stated that… this devotion is nothing else than devotion to the divine and human love of the Incarnate Word and to the love by which the heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit exercise their care over sinful humanity.
In the 17th century, several saints helped spread devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. St. Francis de Sales taught people to be humble, gentle, and merciful. St. John Eudes was the first to make this devotion public by creating special prayers and a feast day. Jesus showed His loving heart to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and asked her to help others love His Heart more deeply. St. Claude de la Colombière and St. John Bosco also worked hard to promote this devotion.
Jesus loves each of us so much that he gave his life for us, and that kind of love is too deep to fully understand. When we show devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we remember how much he loves us, how he wants to be close to us, and how God’s love is endless and full of mercy.
Here’s a short prayer for you:
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, truly present in the Holy Eucharist, I consecrate my body and soul to be entirely one with Your Heart. Be my strength, my guide, and my comfort in times of trouble. I promise that I will always be faithful to You and will never forsake You. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.
