Sr. Molly Fernandes sfn –
The Soul of Christ, as a child I remember my mother saying in our mother tongue(Konkani) before saying the Sacred Heart rosary every Friday after the five decades of the rosary. Today I understand its essence and importance! The Sacred Heart if you have noticed we come across different images – with flames around it, with a crown, with a dagger through the center and sometimes with a crown of thorns. The Heart of Jesus is a symbol of his divine love for humanity and the various forms of the Sacred Heart of Jesus reveal Jesus’ compassion for humanity.
The heart has always been seen in the ‘center’ and outside. When we reflect on the Sacred Heart of Jesus we meditate on his interior life though interior yet practical manifestation and no wonder the heart of Jesus is seen in the center- outside!!! (kudos to the artist!)Which reveal His threefold love — His divine love, His burning love and His sensible love for humanity!
And his heart was moved with compassion Mk 8: 2 and the episodes related to… find no words to express ‘His gut feeling’:
When Jesus saw the crowd struggling and dejected like sheep without a shepherd, he felt with them in the center of his being (Mt 9:36). When Jesus saw the blind, the paralyzed, and the deaf being brought to him from all directions, he trembled from within and experienced their pains in his own heart (Mt 14:14). When he noticed that the thousands who had followed him for days were tired and hungry, Jesus said, I am moved with compassion (Mk 8:2). When the two blind men called him (Mt 9:27), while the leper who fell on his knees (Mk 1:41) and the widow of Nain who was burying her only son (Lk 7:13). They moved Jesus; they made him feel with all his intimate sensibilities the depth of their sorrow. He became lost with the lost, hungry with the hungry, and sick with the sick. In Jesus, all suffering was sensed with a perfect sensitivity.
The love that flows from the Sacred Heart of Jesus is:
A Human as well as divine love – It is the Heart of One who is really and truly humane. Hence the love of His Heart is that of a heart that beats with pulsations like ours. It has all the characteristics which belong to human love.
A Sensible love – Just as we see through our eyes, hear with our ears, we love through/with our hearts. The heart is the organ of love. It feels affection and is physically influenced by it. It has strong emotions. It rejoices and sorrows. He is touched with the feelings of our poor infirmities. Human joy and sorrow thrilled through His Sacred Heart while He was on earth. His participation at the wedding at Cana!
A love of sympathy – The Sacred Heart has itself experienced all that we suffer. Each misery has its echo there. Jesus not only understands all our troubles, but each has been felt by Him in His own person. “Come to me all you who labour… an open invitation to humanity.
The compassionate love – The name Jesus is refreshing, healing and inspiring. The heart of Jesus is that flame of Fire which comforts, cheers up and relieves pain, agony and soothes grief. It is that burning flame that warms up from the most freezing conditions!!! The woman caught in adultery (Jn 8: 11). Priceless, valuable treasures, yes, his compassionate love.
Such reflection and contemplation lifts our mind and heart to the Lord. Jesus’ heart is always moved as he gazes upon us. Jesus meek and humble of heart make our hearts like unto Thine. Sacred Heart of Jesus have pity on us.
Below are the promises, if you wish you can add it to the article.
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque said that in her apparitions Jesus promised these blessings to those who practice devotion to his Sacred Heart:
I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.
I will give peace in their families.
I will console them in all their troubles.
I will be their refuge in life and especially in death.
I will abundantly bless all their undertakings.
Sinners shall find in my Heart the source and Infinite Ocean of mercy.
Tepid souls shall become fervent.
Fervent souls shall rise speedily to great perfection.
I will bless those places wherein the image of My Sacred Heart shall be exposed and venerated.
I will give to priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts.
Persons who propagate this devotion shall have their names eternally written in my Heart.
In the excess of the mercy of my Heart, I promise you that my all powerful love will grant to all those who will receive Communion on the First Fridays, for nine consecutive months, the grace of final repentance: they will not die in my displeasure, nor without receiving the sacraments; and my Heart will be their secure refuge in that last hour.