Sacred Devotion
A statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is seen at St. Philip the Apostle Parish on June 11. Made in Oberammergau, Germany, the statue will reside in the Adoration oratory that is currently in construction at the church. (NTC/Juan Guajardo)
June brings several opportunities for Catholics in the Diocese of Fort Worth to learn more and better experience the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Although devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus dates to the 11th century, the entire month of June has been dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus since 1856, when Pope Pius IX established the feast for the Church. In the United States, the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is celebrated on the Friday following the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. This year’s solemnity was celebrated June 12.
This year also being the semiquincentennial — 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence — the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops last November voted to consecrate the U.S. to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Along with his brother bishops, Bishop Michael Olson consecrated the diocese to the same purpose on June 21 at Sacred Heart Parish in Comanche, in conjunction both with the U.S.’s 250th anniversary and the national consecration by bishops throughout America.
“Devotion to the Sacred Heart reminds us that the center of our faith is not a set of abstract rules, but the burning, infinite love of a person: Jesus Christ,” Bishop Olson said of the consecration. “By consecrating our diocese to His Sacred Heart, we are publicly entrusting our parishes, our families, our clergy, and our civic communities to His merciful care.”
Bishop Olson urged parishioners throughout the diocese to attend the consecration either in person or through prayer in their homes or parish communities.
He also encouraged priests in the diocese “to echo this consecration in your parishes on that Sunday, so that the message of the Gospel and the charity of Christ may shine brightly before all people.”
A symbol of sacrifice and love
Father Matthew Sanka, SAC, pastor of Sacred Heart in Comanche, echoed Bishop Olson’s invitation to all members of the diocese.
“The Sacred Heart of Jesus is the whole idea of Jesus’ sacrifice for us,” Fr. Sanka said. “So consecrating the diocese to the Sacred Heart is an appreciation of Jesus’ sacrifice of His ransom paid for our sins. It’s also a symbol of God’s love for us.”
Which begs the question, what is the Sacred Heart of Jesus?
A long-standing and profound symbol within the Church, the Sacred Heart of Jesus represents the “immense love and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ,” as per Catholic.com. Devotion to the Sacred Heart focuses on Jesus’ heart, which exemplifies His redemptive suffering for the whole world.
As depicted in art either alone or as the heart within Jesus, Sacred Heart renderings highlight several important symbols. Those include a crown of thorns circling the heart, representing Jesus’ suffering for our sins and love for humanity. Flames emanating from the heart represent Jesus’ loving transformative and purifying power. A cross above the heart represents His redemptive sacrifice for our sins. The wound on the side of the heart represents the wound inflicted on him both by the Roman soldier at the crucifixion and by all humans through their sins.
Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, though historically long-standing, gained increased attention between 1673 to 1675 through Jesus’ private revelations to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a French nun. Through several visitations, Jesus revealed His heart to St. Margaret Mary as a symbol of his love for humanity and emphasized the need for people to return that love through devotion and prayer.
A devotion to the Sacred Heart
In addition to the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart and devotion to the same, First Friday Devotions offer a way to pay devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Catholics do so by receiving Communion on the first Friday of each month for nine months as Jesus requested St. Margaret Mary to do.
The First Friday Devotion makes reparations for sins against Christ while at the same time bringing participants closer to Him.
Jesus promised St. Margaret Mary that He will grant 12 special graces to those who complete the nine first Fridays. Such graces include the grace necessary for their state of life, the establishment of peace within their families, comfort through their trials, Jesus’ presence as secure refuge during their life and death, abundant blessings upon their undertakings, and more.
Since Pope Pius IX extended the Feast of the Sacred Heart to the universal Church in 1856, subsequent popes have weighed in on its “profound significance” and urged fellow Catholics to embrace devotion to it.
Father Bose Jujuvarapu, HGN, of Sacred Heart Parish in Seymour explained the importance of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to his parishioners.
“This is a farming and ranching community,” Fr. Jujuvarapu said. “Originally settled by Czech farming families celebrating Mass out of the public square until land was purchased. Our church was dedicated in 1917 by [Bishop Joseph Patrick Lynch] and named after the Sacred Heart of Jesus.”
The parish’s name joins the month of June and Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in inviting parishioners to practice devotion to the Sacred Heart, Fr. Jujuvarapu said.
“It calls us all to join in with Jesus’ suffering in remembering the sins committed against His heart,” Fr. Jujuvarapu said. “It’s about how that carries over into strengthening our love and care for others in the community. Knowledge of Jesus’ Sacred Heart serves as the source of our parish and should be ever present guiding us in what we do and what we have been given to do.”
The hope and goal, Fr. Jujuvarapu said, is that, through devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, parishioners reflect that same love and mercy.
“Through evangelization,” Fr. Jujuvarapu said. “Through working to bring others, bring souls to Christ.”
For the poor and vulnerable
Pope Francis, through his encyclical “Dilexit Nos,” touched upon the importance of and stressed devotion to the Sacred Heart.
“In contemplating the pierced heart of the Lord, who took our infirmities and bore our diseases, we too are inspired to be more attentive to the sufferings and needs of others and confirmed in our efforts to share in His work of liberation as instruments for the spread of His love,” Pope Francis wrote.
Pope Leo XIV spoke of the Sacred Heart of Jesus’ role in inspiring all to increase awareness of those suffering in the world.
“Particularly in our care for poor and vulnerable people,” Pope Leo XIV said.
A special place
St. Philip the Apostle Parish Communications Director Sarah Fritcher expressed excitement over a custom-made Sacred Heart statue that recently arrived from Germany. The statue, to be placed in the Flower Mound parish’s new Eucharistic Adoration oratory, represents months of planning between Father Raymond McDaniel and the sculptor.
In addition to her hopes, the statue inspires increased devotion among parishioners, Fritcher said the practice holds a special place in her heart.
“My parents practiced the devotion, so I have memories from early on of the Sacred Heart in our home growing up,” Fritcher said.