What is Love?
Today, Catholics around the world celebrate the solemnity of The Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi),and begin a month-long dedication to the Sacred Heart of Jesus - a tradition stemming from centuries of devotion.
Historically, the devotion to the Sacred Heart was popularized by St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a French nun of the 17th century who reported visions of Jesus, who expressed a desire for increased devotion to His Sacred Heart.
After a lengthy vetting process, the visions were acknowledged by the Vatican, culminating with Pope Pius IX extending the Feast of the Sacred Heart to the universal Church in 1856 and will be celebrated this year on June 7th. For those of us who were coming of age in the 90s and early 2000s, we may also remember that St. John Paul II particularly emphasized the need to the Sacred Heart in the gospels.
In the Gospel of John, the piercing of Jesus' side by a soldier's lance (19:34) is seen as a powerful symbol of this love. The outflow of blood and water from His heart is interpreted as the sacramental life of the Church being poured out upon the world. Matthew’s Gospel (11:29), illustrates how Jesus invites us to "learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart," further solidifying the connection between Christ's heart and His loving, sacrificial nature.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church beautifully draws upon these scriptures revealing the intimate nature and significance of the Sacred Heart:
"Jesus knew and loved us each and all during his life, his agony and his Passion, and gave himself up for each one of us: 'The Son of God... loved me and gave himself for me.' He has loved us all with a human heart. For this reason, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, pierced by our sins and for our salvation, 'is quite rightly considered the chief sign and symbol of that... love with which the divine Redeemer continually loves the eternal Father and all human beings' without exception."
This theological foundation underscores the personal and all-encompassing love that Christ holds for every individual as a treasured child of God.
So what does this mean for us today?
In a culture stained by political division, seemingly endless war, selfishness, and suffering, the message of the Sacred Heart offers the penultimate countercultural reminder to continue to pursue humility and self-sacrifice. By dedicating time to honor the Sacred Heart this month, whether through scriptural study and meditation, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, attendance of daily mass, or dedication of prayer for the intentions of the world in accordance with God’s will, we are invited to reject the glorification of the self and renew our commitment to the service of others.
