History of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Devotion
"Behold the Heart which has so loved men that it has spared nothing... in order to testify Its love..." (Jesus to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque)
Devotion to the Sacred Heart is a special devotion to Jesus, highlighting God’s love for humanity, especially as manifested through His total self-gift in the Incarnation, Passion and Holy Eucharist.
Love Flowing From the Cross
Since the time of Jesus, when blood and water poured forth from the side of Jesus as he hung upon the cross, the faithful have reflected in a special way on the heart of God “who so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, 19:34)
In the eleventh and twelfth centuries, devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus became more concrete as the wounded heart of Christ was honored especially in Benedictine and Cistercian monasteries. In the thirteenth century, St. Gertrude experienced a vision in which she was allowed to rest her head near the wound in Jesus’ side and heard the beating of his Divine Heart. Devotion to the Sacred Heart continued to develop and on August 31, 1670, the first feast of the Sacred Heart was celebrated with a special Mass and office of prayers written by St. John Eudes.
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and the Sacred Heart of Jesus
In 1673, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque experienced visions of Jesus who revealed His desire that His Heart of flesh be honored. Similar to St. Gertrude’s vision, St. Margaret Mary was allowed to rest her head upon Jesus’ Sacred Heart who revealed to her His love. In these apparitions, Jesus requested that the faithful:
- receive Jesus in the Eucharist frequently;
- receive Communion especially on the First Friday of the month;
- observe a Holy Hour of devotion;
- celebrate a feast of reparation on the Friday after the octave of Corpus Christi.
In 1856, Pope Pius IX made the Feast of the Sacred Heart a universal feast to be celebrated on the Friday after the Corpus Christi octave, just as Jesus had requested to St. Margaret Mary.
On June 11, 1899, Pope Leo XIII solemnly consecrated all mankind to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
(www.newadvent.org)
An Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
(Written by St. Margaret Mary Alacoque)
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, to Thee I consecrate and offer up my person and my life, my actions, trials, and sufferings, that my entire being may henceforth only be employed in loving, honoring and glorifying Thee. This is my irrevocable will, to belong entirely to Thee, and to do all for Thy love, renouncing with my whole heart all that can displease Thee.
I take Thee, O Sacred Heart, for the sole object of my love, the protection of my life, the pledge of my salvation, the remedy of my frailty and inconstancy, the reparation for all the defects of my life, and my secure refuge at the hour of my death. Be Thou, O Most Merciful Heart, my justification before God Thy Father, and screen me from His anger which I have so justly merited. I fear all from my own weakness and malice, but placing my entire confidence in Thee, O Heart of Love, I hope all from Thine infinite Goodness. Annihilate in me all that can displease or resist Thee. Imprint Thy pure love so deeply in my heart that I may never forget Thee or be separated from Thee.
I beseech Thee, through Thine infinite Goodness, grant that my name be engraved upon Thy Heart, for in this I place all my happiness and all my glory, to live and to die as one of Thy devoted servants.
Amen.
Reveal your love for the Sacred Heart and be reminded of His infinite love for you by wearing a Sacred Heart of Jesus Dog Tag over your heart. Once blessed, the Sacred Heart of Jesus Dog Tag fulfills the requirements of a scapular medal as it bears the image of Our Redeemer Jesus Christ showing His Sacred Heart on the front and the Blessed Virgin Mary on the back.
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