Episode 17

Edit episode

Transcript and notes copied from the original Catholic Frequency site. Drag note cards to reorder them before saving in the future admin workflow.

View public page Original site

Episode metadata

Title

Status

Release date and time

Public description

Episode transcript2,898 chars

You know, many Catholics are devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Now this devotion focuses on the immense love and mercy of our lord and savior Jesus Christ. And this devotion invites us to reflect on his divine love for humanity and his desire for our salvation.
So when did this devotion become widespread in the Catholic church? For that, we turn to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, a Visitation nun from seventeenth century France.
She lived in a cloistered convent, and she experienced visions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in which Christ himself called for this devotion to be spread throughout the world.
Now it's important to note that in scripture, the heart represents the very core of a person, the center of their being.
So when we speak of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we're reflecting on his divine mercy, his love, and his will for our salvation.
His Sacred Heart is the wellspring of grace and compassion pouring out his infinite love for us. Now Saint Margaret Mary had a critical partner in her mission, and that was her Jesuit spiritual director.
While many doubted her visions, Saint Claude believed in their authenticity and helped promote the devotion, particularly throughout the Jesuit order.
Though traces of devotion to the Sacred Heart can be found as far back as the eleventh and twelfth centuries in Benedictine and Cistercian monasteries.
It was through Saint Margaret Mary and Saint Claude that this devotion became widespread among the faithful.
In 1899, Pope Leo the thirteenth consecrated the entire world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and he urged Catholics to bring this devotion into their lives and homes.
Many Catholics today display images of the Sacred Heart as a visible reminder of Christ's love and mercy.
If you don't already have an image of the Sacred Heart in your home, consider enshrining one. Jesus promised Saint Margaret Mary that he would bless homes where his Sacred Heart is honored.
Images of the Sacred Heart are powerful tools to focus our hearts and minds on Christ, helping us to grow closer to him in our daily lives. Now some may wonder if if a physical expression of the faith like this is necessary.
Is it being spiritual enough? Well, as Catholics, we understand the unity of body and soul. We're not just spiritual beings, but we're whole persons created in the image of God.
And the Sacred Heart devotion emphasizes the profound mystery of Christ's incarnation, his divinity and humanity joined in one divine person. And religious articles and images help us connect to this reality and draw us closer to god.
As Catholics, we believe, of course, in the resurrection of the body as Mary's glorious assumption reminds us, She is glorified in heaven, body and soul, and we hope to follow her into eternal glory.
The Sacred Heart devotion serves as a reminder of this hope and of the boundless love that Jesus Christ has for all of us.

Individual notes

10 cards

Each original-site note is its own card. Drag and drop to reorder.

Note 1

Note 2

Note 3

Note 4

Note 5

Note 6

Note 7

Note 8

Note 9

Note 10

Cancel