How the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus began

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque is depicted witnessing visions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in a painting at the Church of St. Martin de Montchamp in Valdallière, France. (OSV News photo)

CONROE — Above the narthex of Sacred Heart Parish in Conroe, visitors can look up and see a massive painting of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in prayer, receiving visions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, an inspiring depiction of one of the most famous devotions of the Church.

In fact, seven Catholic communities in the Archdiocese, from Pattison to Galveston, carry the name of the Sacred Heart, including the Co-Cathedral in downtown Houston. The image Sacred Heart is also found in many Catholic households shrines, seen on car visors and in the traditional Mexican milagros religious art icons.

Every liturgical year, on the third Friday following the great feast of Pentecost, this year, June 27, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The heart has always represented the whole person, and the Heart of Jesus is the symbol of His eternal love for us. The solemnity is our opportunity to acknowledge His love and offer repentance for the times when we have ignored His affection.

It was a young nun named Margaret Mary Alacoque of the Visitation order at Paray-le-Monial, France, who would become Jesus’ conduit to spread devotion to the Sacred Heart throughout the Church.

This is an ancient devotion that began when the Roman soldier stuck his spear into the side of our crucified Savior, and God’s grace, in the form of water and blood, flowed from His side, from His heart. Saints, theologians, writers and individuals have long recognized the Sacred Heart as the source of endless blessings, mercy and love.

But for centuries, it was mostly a personal devotion. In the 17th century, Catholicism was under attack from the spread of Protestantism and the heretical beliefs of Jansenism. The Jansenists, who were Catholics, claimed that only a chosen few people would reach heaven and that God was to be feared. They degraded the humanity of Jesus, including His Heart, and wanted the Church to return to the rigorous penances of the past. Both Protestantism and Jansenism impacted the fervor the faithful had for many Church teachings.

Beginning in 1673 and over a period of more than 18 months, Sister Alacoque claimed to have received visions during which our Lord Jesus displayed His Sacred Heart as the symbol of His love for mankind and told her that she was to be his instrument to spread a universal devotion to His Divine Heart.

In one vision, Jesus appeared with His “Divine Heart, enthroned, as it were, in flames, was surrounded by a crown of thorns, and the wound it had received was still open, while a cross more brilliant than the sun, surmounted all,” according to “The Beauties of the Catholic Church” by F.J. Shadler.

Sister Alacoque said Jesus told her that despite loving mankind so much that He gave His life for them, He was being treated with irreverence, coldness and ingratitude. He wanted the world to recognize the love He continually poured out for them symbolized by His Sacred Heart, and for mankind to make amends for their ingratitude.

He urged her to begin a personal devotion to His Divine Heart by receiving Communion every first Friday and spending an hour in prayer the night before; both focused on seeking His pardon and making reparation for mankind’s desertion of His love.

In another vision, Jesus asked her to establish a Church feast day to honor His Sacred Heart. On that day, the faithful would attend Mass, receive Communion, profess their love and offer reparation for the insults He had suffered. These visions are the basis for the First Friday devotions and the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The love and compassion of Jesus’ Heart dispel the heresies of Jansenism.

When Sister Alacoque first shared her visions, many were skeptical. St. Claude de la Colombiere, her Jesuit spiritual adviser, recognized her holiness and sincerity. As a cloistered nun, she had little influence beyond her order, so it was St. Colombiere and St. John Eudes who promoted the feast day to the faithful and the Holy See.

Universal approval eventually came from the Vatican in August 1856 during the reign of Pope Pius IX (r. 1846-78). In 1899, Pope Leo XIII (r. 1878-1903), encouraged by Catholics around the world, consecrated humanity to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Today, the devotion is celebrated at every first Friday Mass, which is found at many parishes, and the solemnity is part of the Church calendar. It is honored through prayers and countless images, including depictions of our Lord holding His flaming, compassionate heart. Many homes are consecrated to the Sacred Heart with home enthronements.

During Eucharistic Adoration, the faithful revere the Sacred Heart in Benediction prayers: “May the heart of Jesus, in the most Blessed Sacrament, be praised, adored and loved with grateful affection, at every moment in all the tabernacles of the world, even until the end of time.”

Sister Alacoque died in 1690 and was canonized alongside St. Joan of Arc in 1920 by Pope Benedict XV. Some argue that, like in the 17th century, our fervor for the Sacred Heart is again waning today. Turning to the visions and words of Margaret Mary, once again we can rally to this symbol, this source of Christ’s love.

D.D. Emmons writes for OSV News from Pennsylvania.