Why do Catholics reverence and adore the Sacred Heart? On June 16, 1675, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque was praying before the Blessed Sacrament in her convent in Paray-leMonial, France, when Our Lord appeared to her. After some discussion, He pointed to His Sacred Heart and said, "Behold the Heart that has so loved men that it spared nothing to bear witness to this love; and which, in exchange, receives from most people only ingratitude, irreverence, sacrileges, indifference and scorn against Me in the Sacrament of Love." He went on to ask St. Margaret Mary to help Him draw His people closer to Himself by working to have the Feast of the Sacred Heart established. He also asked that people be encouraged to honor His Sacred image in their homes a to carry His small "shields" with them.
Thus we celebrate the feast of the Sacred Heart on the Friday following the second Sunday after Pentecost. In return, Jesus said that for those who worthily receive Communion on that day and make and act of reparation to the Sacred Heart "in satisfaction for the offenses received during the time I have been exposed on the altars," His heart would "dilate to distribute abundantly the influences of its divine love upon those who revere it and endeavor to have others do the same."
How might families honor His Sacred image in their homes? There is a special enthronement ceremony where--in the presence of a priest--the family acknowledges publicly and solemnly that Christ is the King and loving Master of their home and family and the head of the family installs a picture or statue of the Sacred Heart in a prominent place in the home. The family members then pledge to live as though the Sacred Heart was actually dwelling with them in their home.
What about the "shield" or badge? It is meant to express our love of the Sacred Heart and to be a sign of our confidence in His protection against the snares of the devil and other dangers. St. Margaret Mary herself made many of these badges herself, and she and her fellow sisters carried them with them wherever they were. Over the years thousands of the faithful, including many Popes, have worn or carried the badges. Thousands, too, have been distributed among our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. Blessed Pope Pius IX declared, "I will bless this Heart and wish that all those made according to this model receive the same blessing without need for a priest to renew it. Futhermore, I want Satan to be prevented in every way from harming those who carry this badge, a symbol of the adorabe Heart of Jesus." Several Sacred Heart parishioners have had the opportunity to pick up these badges in our church and, hopefully, they carry them.In return, for our efforts to repent of our sins, to honor His Sacred Heart, and to live as if Jesus, the Sacred Heart, is actually living with us in our homes, Jesus gave us twelve promises.
1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.
2. I will give peace in their families.
3. I will console them in all their troubles.
4. They shall find in My Heart an assured refuge during life and especially at the hour of death.
5. I will pour abundant blessings on all their undertakings.
6. Sinners shall find in My Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.
7. Tepid souls shall become fervent.
8. Fervent souls shall speedily rise to great perfection.
9. I will bless the homes in which the image of My Sacred Heart shall be exposed and honored.
10. I will give to priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts.
11. Those who propagate this devotion shall have their name written in My Heart, and it shall never be effaced.
12. I promise thee in the excess of the mercy of My Heart, that its all-powerful Love will grant to all those who shall receive Communion on the First Friday of Nine consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they shall not die under My displeasure, nor without receiving the Sacraments; My Heart shall be their assured refuge at that last hour.
Let us take a close look at this image in our windows. It is rich in symbolism. Notice the cross above the heart? It reminds us of His death and our call to take up our crosses. The flame represents the fire of His love that burns for us. He longs to show us this love and His mercy if we would only repent, go to confession, and follow Him. See the crous on thorns? It reminds us of His suffering for us, but also calls us to ask Him to be the King of our hearts and lives. If we look carefully, we will see that there are drops of blood near the bottom of His heart. He gave even the last drops of His blood for us. He asks only that we love and follow Him in return.Why do our windows contain three images of the Sacred Heart and why is the statue of the Sacred Heart enthroned on our main altar? Now we know. Perhaps they will inspire us to carry a Sacred Heart badge with us and find an image of Him in a place of honor in our homes.
