The Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

People who aren't from a Catholic background may wonder why we honor a part of Jesus' anatomy. There is a perfect logic behind it.

Think about it, What does the heart symbolize? If you are still puzzled, think about St. Valentine's Day. The heart is the symbol of love. & thus what we are doing is not merely honoring a piece of anatomy, we are remembering in a special way the love & mercy that God showed us.

For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son, so that whoever believed in HIm might not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs, but one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out. An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true; he knows that he is speaking the truth, so that you also may (come to) believe. For this happened so that the scripture passage might be fulfilled: "Not a bone of it will be broken." And again another passage says: "They will look upon him whom they have pierced." John 19:33-37

This devotion has been arround throughout the centuries. But in the 17th Century there was a special impetus to spread this devotion. It came about because of what happenned to the saint who is most associated with this devotion, Margaret Mary Alacoque. In 1675 Jesus appeared to her & asked her to spread devotion to His Sacred Heart. He included 12 promises for those who followed this devotion. (Note: This revelation is considered a private revelation by the Catholic Church. As such, no person is required to believe in it. After careful discernement the Church will give the OK to a private revelation. All this means is that there is nothing contrary to the faith in the message. Each Catholic is free to act on it however he or she chooses.)

In the middle of the 20th Century, St. Faustina after another private revelation, promoted a new devotion to the Divine Mercy. But, in a way what it was is a deeper understanding of the meaning of what The Sacred Heart devotion symbolized. Everything points to the love & mercy that God extends to everyone.

But, each of us still has the option to accept or reject that love, that mercy, that forgiveness won by Jesus on the Cross. God doesn't want a single person to go to hell because of his/her sins. The penalty has to be paid by someone. But, there is not a single human being who can save himself. That is why Jesus came, that is why he died & rose from the dead, He paid the price so that God could extend His mercy towards each of us. Yet, we have a choice as I said. If we choose His mercy, God will show His mercy & extend to us that forgiveness won by Jesus on the cross. If we reject what Jesus did, then God has no choice but to allow us to bear the consequences of that choice. His justice requires us to pay the price of our sins. His mercy offers us the alternative, Jesus. The choice is ours. Do I choose God's mercy or do I choose God's justice. Mercy brings healing, forgiveness, salvation. If a person chooses to reject Jesus, then he or she chooses God's justice. THe result, eternal seperation from God in hell.