Cristy Li

Devotion to The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus -Image Courtesy: Jesus Loves TLM

(Franciscan Media) Devotion to the heart pierced on Calvary is nearly as old as Christianity but it has undergone many changes over the centuries. Patristic writers saw in the blood and water issuing from the Crucified Lord’s side (John 19:34) the fulfillment of His promise to give living water (John 4:13-14; 7:37) the fountain from which the Spirit flows upon the Church. Medieval piety placed less emphasis on Jesus’ heart as the source of grace and moved toward more personal and sentimental devotion.

The public observance celebrated today began in the 17th century when St. John Eudes (Feast Day: 19 August) pressed for a liturgy of the Sacred Heart. Toward the end of that century St. Mary Margaret Alacoque (Feast Day: 16 October) received visions of the Lord exposing His heart and urging public devotion – Her apparitions gave impetus to the devotion and shape to its purpose: To promote greater use of the sacrament of penance to offset indifference to the Blessed Sacrament.

Pope Pius VI saw the devotion as a means of refuting Jansenism which rejected the doctrine that Jesus Christ died for all people. Pope Clement XIII first granted the petition for a liturgical observance to the Polish Bishops and the Roman Archconfraternity of the Sacred Heart in 1765 – Pope Pius IX extended the observance to the Universal Church in 1856 and late in the 19th century, Pope Leo XIII raised its rank to a Feast.

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God Love Us and Sent His Son to Be the Atoning Sacrifice for Our Sins  1 John 4:10
Image Courtesy: Archbishop Jose Gomez

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Sing to the Lord a new song for He has done marvelous things – All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God. Psalm 98:1A, 3B  Image Courtesy: Respect Life Los Angeles

How can young people keep their way pure? By guarding it according to Your word. With my whole heart I seek You, do not let me stray from Your Commandments.

I treasure Your word in my heart, so that I may not sin against You.

Blessed are You O Lord, teach me Your statues. With my lips I declare all the Ordinances of Your mouth. I delight in the way of your decrees as much as in all riches. I will mediate on Your precepts and fix my eyes on Your ways. I will delight in Your statutes, I will not forget Your Word.

Deal bountifully with Your servant so that I may live and observe Your Word. Open my eyes, so that I may behold wondrous things out of Your Law. Psalm 119:9-18

• Your hands have made and fashioned me, give me understanding that I may learn Your Commandments. Psalm 119:73

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Do all things without murmuring and arguing so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world. –Philippians 2:14-15  Image Courtesy: Sister Athens and One Life Los Angeles

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