By Fr. Joe Laramie, SJ
Put your hand over your heart and pause. Feel that steady beat?
Ba-bum. Ba-bum. That rhythm is your heart doing its quiet work—keeping you alive, minute after minute. It’s easy to forget this miracle happening inside you every day.
But our physical hearts are more than biological organs—they are a powerful symbol of Christ’s love for each one of us. His Sacred Heart beats with love, mercy, and deep desire for our salvation.
The Sacred Heart of Jesus: A Love That Never Stops Beating
The devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is one of the most beloved Catholic devotions, and for good reason. When we honor His heart, we honor His divine love made human—a heart that was pierced for our sins and still burns with love for every soul.
Jesus’ Sacred Heart isn’t just a pious image—it’s a real, living heart.
The same heart that beat in the womb of the Virgin Mary.
The same heart that ached with sorrow in Gethsemane.
The same heart that burst with love on the Cross and now beats gloriously in His resurrected body.
What Does It Mean to Love with Your Whole Heart?
Think about when you notice your own heartbeat—before a big presentation, during a run, after seeing someone you love. It speeds up with joy, anxiety, fear, or excitement.
But how often do we notice the spiritual heartbeat of our lives? How often do we pause to recognize the Sacred Heart of Jesus reaching out to us, pulsing with love?
In today’s world, we throw around the heart symbol freely—
“I ❤️ NY.”
“I ❤️ coffee.”
Clicking “❤️” on a funny cat video.
But the Sacred Heart isn’t about sentiment. It’s about commitment. Sacrifice. Mercy. It’s about a God who says, “I love you enough to give you everything—including My very heart.”
Made in His Image: Your Heart Matters
The prophet Ezekiel shares God’s promise:
“I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ez 36:26)
And in Jeremiah:
“I will write my law upon their hearts.” (Jer 31:33)
From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture reminds us: our hearts are created to beat in sync with God’s.
St. Ignatius of Loyola writes,
“God dwells in me, giving me existence, life, sensation, intelligence—making me His temple.”
This means your heart is sacred ground. And Jesus wants to dwell there.
The Sacred Heart Feast: What It Is and Why It Matters
Each year, the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus falls on the Friday after Corpus Christi—just a few weeks after Pentecost. This solemnity is a reminder of how deeply Christ loves humanity.
“Behold this Heart which has loved humanity so much.”
– Jesus to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
In her visions, Jesus asked that we honor His Heart especially on the First Friday of each month, by attending Mass or spending time in prayer. This devotion is a powerful way to draw closer to His mercy, especially through Eucharistic adoration, confession, and daily prayer.
Your Identity Is Rooted in God’s Heart
The world often tells us we’re not enough: Not rich enough. Not strong enough. Not beautiful enough.
But God sees you differently.
He looks at you and says, “You are very good.” He sees your heart and smiles.
You are not just a name or a number. You are a beloved son or daughter of the Father. You are made in the image of the Sacred Heart.
A Prayerful Call
As we celebrate this feast, let us echo the words of St. Ignatius:
“Take, Lord, and receive… my heart.”
Let’s unite our hearts to Jesus’ Sacred Heart—not just for ourselves, but for the salvation of all hearts. Because when we give Him our hearts, He transforms them into something new, something holy, something whole.
Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make our hearts like unto Thine. ❤️
Additional Resources
For those searching to deepen their devotion or share this with others, here are some resources to explore:
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