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Heart of Jesus
Veneration
of the heart of Jesus
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Pope
Pius XII wrote in
his encyclical on
the heart of Jesus
(Haurietis Aquas):
Veneration
of the heart of Jesus is »the
most successful
school of divine
love« (Nr.
72). This veneration
»has naturally
blossomed by way
of a lively faith
and fervent veneration
of the divine Redeemer
and his glorified
wounds which is
a symbol of his
infinite love that
greatly influences
souls.« (Nr.
52).
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Heart of Jesus
The heart of Jesus »presents
and clearly puts all the love
that Christ has loved us with
before our eyes. That is why
such meaning should be attributed
to the veneration of the Sacred
Heart and should be considered
the most perfect practical confession
of Christian piety. Veneration of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
is in its core veneration of
the love with which God loves
us through Jesus, and at the
same time it is an actual expression
of our love for God and our
neighbour. Its goal is to take
us to the most perfect and accomplished
love towards God and our neighbour,
to that love which fulfills
the new commandment more generously
each day« (Nr. 60).
Pope
John Paul II has set his heart
upon veneration of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In his address
on the occasion of 300th anniversary
of the death of St. Margaret
Mary Alacoque our Holy Father
said: »As a pilgrim at
the tomb of St. Margaret Mary
in 1986 I asked in the spirit
of the tradition of the Church
that veneration of the heart of Jesus would experience an
authentic renewal. It is namely
in the heart of Jesus where
a human heart recognizes the
true and sole purpose of its
life and mission. Only in the
heart of Jesus does man receive
the ability to love.«
In
another of his addresses he
said: »Essential elements
of this devotion have constantly
been included in the spirituality
of the Church throughout her
history. The Church from the
very beginning contemplated
the pierced heart of the crucified
Christ from which flowed blood
and water, the symbols of sacraments
that constitute the Church.«
The
Catechism of the Catholic Church
teaches: »Jesus loved
everyone and each of us during
his earthly life, during the
throes of his suffering and
death, and he sacrificed himself
for each of us: 'the Son of
God loved me and sacrificed
himself for my sake' (Ga 2:20).
He loved all of us with a human
heart; therefore, the sacred heart of Jesus pierced because
of our sins and for our salvation,
is a special sign and symbol
of the love the divine Redeemer
has for his Father and for every
one of us.« (Nr. 478).
The
Instructions for popular devotions
says: »Devotion to the
heart of the Saviour has undoubtedly
been one of the most widely
spread and popular forms of
devotion. In the light of the
Bible the expression 'the heart
of Christ' indicates the mystery
of Christ himself, the wholeness
of his existence, his person
in the most personal and essential
core. It indicates the Son of
God, uncreated wisdom; infinite
love, beginning of redemption
and sanctification of all mankind.
'The heart of Christ' is Christ
himself, the incarnate and saving
Word that in the Holy Spirit
embraces the Father and all
people, with divine-human infinite
love« (Nr. 166).
Devotion in honor of the heart of Jesus »demands of the faithful
a basic attitude springing out
of conversion and a spirit of
reparation, love and gratitude,
apostolic endeavor and sanctification
in relation to Christ and his
salvific work. The Apostolic
See and the bishops, therefore,
recommend it and promote its
renewal« (Nr. 172).
Veneration
of the heart of Mary
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The
same Instructions
also speak about
the Immaculate Heart
of Mary:
»The
Church observes
the feast of the
Immaculate Heart
of Mary on the day
after the feast
of the Sacred Heart
of Jesus.
Proximity
of the two feasts
is a liturgical
sign of their close
bond: the mystery
of the heart of
the Redeemer is
transferred to and
reflected in the
heart of Mary, a
travel companion
and disciple of
Christ.
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As
the feast of the Sacred Heart
unites the salvific mysteries
of Christ and directs them towards
their source, that is, to the
heart, so too, in a similar
way the feast of the Immaculate
Heart of Mary is an all-embracing
celebration of the 'hearty'
uniting of Mother to the salvific
work of her Son: from incarnation
to death and resurrection, to
the gift of the Holy Spirit«
(Nr. 174).
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