Thankfully we have a whole month devoted to the Sacred Heart because…is there a more delightful devotion than that to the Sacred Heart of Jesus? I was talking with a Protestant once and I mentioned something about a parish named Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, and he said: “Oooh! I love the sound of that!”

Why wouldn’t anyone who loves Jesus? I think all of us have grown up just taking this devotion for granted, seeing images, statues, holy cards and stained glass windows depicting Jesus pointing to His heart. We also know that He appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in France (between 1673 and 1675). But, unless we are true devotees, what else is commonly known and spoken of? I’m ashamed to say I knew very little myself before tackling this column. An image can often be more powerful, consoling and inspiring than words, but I think it’s important to know why Our Lord appeared as He did, what His message was, and what He wants us to do.

On December 27, 1673, St. Margaret Mary received her first vision of Jesus. She was allowed to rest her head on His heart for several hours (imagine!) but Our Lord had much to tell her. His heart appeared as on a throne of flames, with the wound of the soldier’s spear, a Cross implanted in it from the top, and a crown of thorns around it (from our sins). He told her that He greatly desired to be loved by mankind and wants to tear us away from Satan’s power by physically showing how greatly He loves us. 

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St. Margaret was told to spread devotion to His heart to heal all the cold and broken hearts. He asked humanity to make reparation to His heart for His love not being returned, to trust in His heart, to honour His heart, to love His Father more—but that’s not all. Jesus revealed to her the many plans He had to draw us to Himself (all contained in her autobiography and letters). 

He requested a feast day during the octave of Corpus Christi in order to make reparation to His Sacred Heart and gave us the Nine First Fridays’ devotion which carries with it the promise of final repentance and not dying without the Sacraments. One of our Sisters wrote a great book on this topic “Come to Me: Living the Nine First Fridays.) These devotions and promises are just as valid and needed today, more than three centuries later.

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The Divine Mercy devotion, in a sense, has eclipsed the devotion to the Sacred Heart. Yet what is the Divine Mercy image but extending rays representing the blood and water that flowed from Jesus’ heart on the Cross? We often talk about Jesus’ wounded or pierced side, but it’s really His heart, is it not?

So much more could be said about the rich history of this devotion: the Sacred Heart Enthronement in homes, Our Lord’s request that France be consecrated to His Sacred Heart (which was fatefully delayed), the beautiful Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Paris that alone stayed lit up when Paris lost power and went dark right after the blasphemous opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics—mocking the Last Supper. 

In the 1800s, also in France, Our Lord revealed to a Carmelite nun that His heart is contained in the Blessed Sacrament—something we now know as a scientific fact through the examination of Eucharistic miracles. The transformed Host in these miracles is always heart tissue of a man who suffered greatly.

Has Canada been officially consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus? It doesn’t seem so, but the bishops have consecrated Canada twice to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, whose feast day is the Saturday right after the feast of the Sacred Heart.

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Consider honouring an image of the Sacred Heart in your home to remind all who see it of God’s infinite love and constant care and concern for us. Get the kiddos accustomed to turning to His compassionate heart for help in times of trouble. Pray the Litany of the Sacred Heart before it with family and friends.

As the Catholic Catechism says: “He has loved us all with a human heart. The Sacred Heart of Jesus…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.”