Sacred Heart

The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is a well-known and widely practiced devotion in the Catholic Church. It focuses on the heart of Jesus Christ as a symbol of God's endless and passionate love for all people. This devotion is also followed by high church Anglicans and some Western Rite Orthodox communities.

In the Latin Church, a special celebration called the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is held on the third Friday after Pentecost. Many people also know about the 12 promises connected to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The modern form of this devotion grew from the experiences of a nun named Margaret Mary Alacoque from France. She said she learned about this devotion during a series of apparitions between 1673 and 1675. Later, in the 19th century, another nun in Portugal, Mary of the Divine Heart, shared similar messages about the Sacred Heart.

Ideas about the Sacred Heart appeared even earlier in history, during the Middle Ages, in different parts of Catholic mysticism, especially through the writings of Gertrude the Great.

Description

In Christian art, the Sacred Heart is often shown as a glowing heart with flames, pierced by a spear and surrounded by a crown of thorns. There is also a cross above it, and sometimes it appears inside Jesus’ chest with his wounded hands pointing to the heart. The wounds and crown of thorns remind us of Jesus’ suffering, and the flames show his strong love for everyone.

History of the devotion

The devotion to the Sacred Heart started as a way to honor Jesus' love for people. In the early years of Christianity, there wasn’t much focus on Jesus’ heart. But later, especially around the 12th and 13th centuries, people began to show more love for Jesus’ suffering and his wounds.

One of the first signs of this devotion appeared in monasteries during the 11th and 12th centuries. Over time, many people, including groups of religious followers, began to honor Jesus’ heart. In the 16th century, the devotion grew even more, with special prayers and practices being written down.

A big moment came with Margaret Mary Alacoque, a nun who said she had special visions of Jesus. She shared ways to honor his heart, like spending time in prayer each week and receiving Holy Communion on certain Fridays. These ideas helped many people grow closer to Jesus’ love.

Another important figure was Mary of the Divine Heart, who also reported special messages about honoring Jesus’ heart. Her efforts led to a special promise from a pope to honor the Sacred Heart for the whole world. Because of these devotionals, many people found new ways to show their love and thanks to Jesus.

Papal approval

In 1353, Pope Innocent VI started a special Mass to honor the Sacred Heart.

Over time, many popes supported this devotion. In 1899, Pope Leo XIII asked the whole world to promise to care for the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He also encouraged special prayers and events to show love and respect for Jesus' heart.

Later popes, like Pius X, Pius XI, Benedict XV, Pius XII, Benedict XVI, and Francis, all helped keep this devotion strong and important for many people.

Worship and devotion

Worship of the Sacred Heart includes many special practices, like prayers, hymns, and dedications. It is a common part of services in the Roman Catholic Church.

Since around 1850, many groups, churches, and countries have made special promises to honor the Sacred Heart. In 1875, the first stone was laid for a special church in Paris called the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. In 1874, Ecuador became the first country to make a special promise to the Sacred Heart, and since then, many other countries have done the same.

Feast day

Main article: Feast of the Sacred Heart

The Feast of the Sacred Heart is a special celebration in the Catholic Church. It happens on the third Friday after Pentecost. During this time, people often make special promises and prayers to honor the Sacred Heart.

Month of the Sacred Heart

Main article: Month of the Sacred Heart

The month of June is a time when many people focus on honoring the Sacred Heart. Special church services, prayers, and other activities are common during this month.

Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart

Main article: Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

A special prayer to honor the Sacred Heart was written by Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque. In 1899, Pope Leo XIII wrote a special promise for all people to honor the Sacred Heart. Later, in 1908, a prayer for families to use together was also approved.

First Fridays Devotion

Main article: First Fridays Devotion

The First Fridays Devotion is a special way to honor the Sacred Heart. It started from reports of special messages given by Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque. People who follow this devotion go to church and receive special blessings on the first Friday of each month for nine months in a row.

Holy Hour

Main article: Holy Hour

Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque reported that Jesus asked her to spend an hour each Thursday night in special prayer. This practice became known as the Holy Hour, where people spend an hour praying or thinking about special moments in Jesus' life.

Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

The enthronement of the Sacred Heart means putting an image of the Sacred Heart in a special place in the home after some special preparation. Many families also put an image of the Immaculate Heart of Mary nearby.

Scapular of the Sacred Heart

Main article: Scapular of the Sacred Heart

The Scapular of the Sacred Heart is a special item some Catholics wear as a sign of their faith. It shows the Sacred Heart of Jesus on one side and the Virgin Mary on the other.

Prayers

The Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a common prayer in Catholic services. There is also a special morning prayer to the Sacred Heart.

Alliance with the Immaculate Heart

Main article: Alliance of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

The idea of the "Alliance of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary" means honoring both the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary together. This idea was popular in the 1980s and 1990s. Pope John Paul II talked about this idea in 1985. Devotions to both hearts grew in the 18th and 19th centuries, especially with the help of a special medal showing both hearts. In 1956, Pope Pius XII encouraged people to honor both hearts.

Sacred Heart imagery

The Sacred Heart, often shown with a crown of thorns, appears on the back of the Miraculous Medal. In Québec, a special flag called the Carillon-Sacré-Coeur was used by the Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste.

Many people display images of the Sacred Heart in their homes. In 1873, the bishops of Ireland dedicated their country to the Sacred Heart, which made the Sacred Heart lamp a popular item in Irish homes. Sometimes, the Sacred Heart is shown together with the Immaculate Heart of Mary. However, in 1879, church leaders said that while these images are fine for personal devotion, they should not be placed on the altar during church services.

Institutions and religious congregations

For a list of institutions named Sacred Heart, see Sacred Heart (disambiguation).

The name "Sacred Heart" is used for many Catholic institutions, including schools, colleges, and hospitals in many countries. It is also the name of many Catholic parishes and religious groups.

Peter Coudrin of France started the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary on December 24, 1800. This religious order of the Latin Church did missionary work in Hawaii. Clelia Merloni from Forlì in Italy founded the Congregation of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Viareggio, Italy, on May 30, 1894. There are many other religious orders named after or inspired by the Sacred Heart, and Pope Francis says it would take too long to list them all.

Specific devotions

Many important people in the Catholic Church have shown deep love and respect for the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Some of these people include Margaret Mary Alacoque, Charles de Foucauld, Thérèse of Lisieux, and Josefa Menéndez.

Josefa Menéndez wrote about how kind and gentle the Sacred Heart of Jesus is toward everyone.

In Eastern Catholicism

Some Eastern Catholic Churches, like the Ukrainian Church, also practice devotion to the Sacred Heart. Others view this practice as a way of adopting Latin traditions. Many of these churches celebrate a similar feast called "Jesus, Lover of Mankind" on July 17.