15 June 2013 Biblical foundation of the Sacred Heart Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus springs from the scriptural knowledge “that God is love” (Jn 4:16). This Almighty, most holy, most merciful, perfect and transcendent God brought all things and mankind into existence out of love; but mankind rejected this love. Still, in His infinite mercy, God sent His only Son to redeem and bring us back to Him by dying on the cross. The devotion to the Sacred Heart is a warm, loving and explicit response to God’s plea for the love of His people. The word ‘heart’ is rarely mentioned in the Old Testament, but it shows in many other terms God’s love with Israel. In the New Testament, St John (Jn 19:34) emphasizes the Heart of Jesus as the source and fountain of the sacramental life in the Church; the symbol of God’s immense love by making us temples of the Holy Spirit and sharers of eternal life. The earliest Christians adored and venerated the wounds of Jesus Christ particularly the wound on His side. The Church originated from this pierced side. Later on, men came to see in the open side, the wounded Heart of our Saviour. Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is intimately associated with the most fundamental teachings of the Gospels. Jesus is the personified revelation of the Father’s infinite love. As true God and true man, his personal caring love in every person is symbolized in his human heart. Ref: A F Makalinao, “St Margaret Mary Alacoque”, pp27-8 The Unique Heart ‘Heart of Jesus, formed by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary, have mercy on us!’ So do we pray in the litany of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. This invocation refers directly to the mystery on which we meditate when we recite the ‘Angelus’: through the operation of the Holy Spirit the Humanity of Christ, Son of the Eternal Father, was formed in the womb of the Virgin of Nazareth. Through operation of the Holy Spirit, the Heart was formed in this Humanity! The heart is the central organ of the human organism of Christ; at the same time the true symbol of his inner life, thought, will, sentiments. Through this Humanity, Christ’s Humanity is ‘God’s Temple’ in a particular way. At the same time, also through this Heart, it remains incessantly open to man and everything which is human: ‘Heart of Jesus, from whose fulness we have all received.’ The month of June is dedicated in a special manner to veneration of the Divine Heart. Not only one day of the month, but every day of the month. Linked to this is the devout practice of reciting the litany of the Sacred Heart every day. A marvellous prayer, wholly focused on the interior mystery of Christ: God-Man. The litany of the Heart of Jesus reflects the deepest experiences of human hearts. In it we speak ‘of the heart’, and enable hearts to speak to ‘that unique heart’. When recited and meditated, this prayer becomes ‘a real school for the interior man’: the school of the Christian. Ref: Cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, 1984, pp447-8 The World Created by God for Man Man’s situation in the modern world seems far removed from the objective demands of the moral order, from the requirement of justice, and even more of social love. We are dealing here only with God’s message: “subdue” the earth. This message was confirmed by Christ the Lord in the mystery of the Redemption. The Second Vatican Council expressed it in the call to share in the kingly function of Christ. The essential meaning of this “kingship” and “dominion” consists in: priority of ethics over technology, primacy of person over things, and superiority of spirit over matter. An advancement of persons, not just multiplying things people can use. Not of “having more” as of “being more”. Ref: Cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, pp247-8 Three Great Visions of St Margaret Mary She had many encounters with the Sacred Heart. However, three visions were outstanding which gave her the form Jesus wanted for devotion to His Heart. 1. 27 December 1674 -- On this day, the feast of St John, Jesus chose Margaret Mary to be his special instrument in promoting the devotion to his Sacred Heart. Jesus appeared to her and permitted her to lean on his breast and said, ‘My divine Heart is so passionately fond of the human race that it no longer can keep back the pent-up flames of its burning charity any longer. They must burst out through you and reveal my heart to the world, so as to enrich humankind with my precious treasures ... You are the one chosen for this great scheme: you’re so utterly unworthy and ignorant, it will be all my work.’ 2. Sometime in 1674, according to St Margaret Mary, she was adoring Jesus before the exposed Blessed Sacrament. Jesus appeared to her ‘... in a flame of glory: his five wounds burning like suns, flames issuing from all parts of his human form, especially from his divine breast which was like a furnace and which he opened to disclose his utterly affectionate and lovable heart, the living source of all these flames ... He revealed to me the indescribable wonders of his pure heart for humankind ... But his eager love had been met only with coldness and rebuffs.’ Jesus asked her, ‘Do me the kindness -- at least of making up for all their ingratitude ... First of all, you are to receive me in the Holy Eucharist as often as obedience allows. Accept all mortification or humiliation that may result as a token of my love. Besides this, you are to receive Holy Communion on the first Friday of each month. Then, every Thursday night, you are to get up between eleven o’clock and midnight for an hour-- lying face downwards -- not only to allay God’s anger by asking mercy for sinners but also to soothe in some way the heartache I felt when my apostles deserted me, when I had to reproach them for being unable to watch with me even for an hour.’ 3. 16 June 1675, during the octave of ‘Corpus Christi’, Jesus appeared to her and said, ‘I am asking you to have the Friday after the octave of Corpus Christi set apart as a special feast in honor of my Heart -- a day in which to receive me in Holy Communion and make a solemn act of reparation for the indignities I have received while exposed on the altars of the world.’ Ref: A F Makalinao, “Apostle of the Sacred Heart”, pp23-5 • Foundation of Our Lady of the Feuillants, in the diocese of Toulouse and Rieux, in the year 1145. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Foundation of Our Lady of the Feuillants, Toulouse, France (1145). (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html) • Our Lady of the Bernardines / Feuillants. (“Notre Dame des Feuillants”). Toulouse, France. 1145. History of the Order. ... (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • Our Lady of the Bernardines”/ Feuillants Diocese of Toulouse, France 1145. (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html); (www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html) • Our Lady of the Taper (England, 12th Century). (www.divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html); (http://mariedenazareth.com) • Our Lady of the Taper. Cardigan, Wales. History. Wood sculpture. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • Most Pure Heart of Mary. History, detailing wide variety of celebration dates. Carmelite province. Congregation of the Handmaids of the Most Pure Heart of Mary, for black nuns in Georgia. Prayer. Moveable feast -- Saturday after the Octave of “Corpus Christi” [15 June 2013]. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)