From the revelations to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and the witness of her confessor St. Claude de la Colombière, devotion to the Sacred Heart was always understood as inseparably tied to the Eucharist and to the call for reparation.
The Heart of Christ, blazing with love, invited the faithful to console Him for sins and indifference, and to adore Him truly present in the Blessed Sacrament.
For generations, this devotion was a powerful answer to secular disbelief in God’s personal love, centering hearts and minds on Christ’s sacrificial love made present in the Eucharist.
“We’ve
dumbed down the faith for way too long… it’s been a pastoral disaster.” Bishop Robert Barron.
In the decades following Vatican II, Sacred Heart devotion was too often re-interpreted in ways that weakened its Eucharistic and reparative essence. Instead of being taught as a summons to adore the Eucharistic Lord and to make reparation for sin, it was frequently recast in psychological or sociological terms — a general symbol of human solidarity, compassion, or social concern. The supernatural core of the devotion, so clearly centered on Christ in the Eucharist, was obscured by categories drawn from modern cultural thinking.
This shift resulted in a serious minimization: a devotion once recognized as the very heart of Eucharistic piety and a call to reparation for sin was flattened into something merely humanitarian. What had been a burning summons to console Christ in His Eucharistic presence, to adore Him, and to repair for the world’s indifference, was too often reduced to a vague symbol of kindness. In losing its Eucharistic and reparative focus, the devotion lost much of its power to draw souls into the depths of Christ’s love.
While this book is in general quite informative, when it comes to Sacred Heart devotion, it is a perfect example of a dumbing down of the faith and reducing a most critical devotion to trivialization, as the following quote demonstrates:
"The focus on the heart is merely a romantic and metaphorical way of describing the love of Jesus and the love of Mary. It's just like sending hearts to loved ones on Valentine's Day."
I am sorry but reducing what is probably the most important private revelation of all time to the level of cheap candy and platitudinal love declarations is just wrong.
Devotion to the Sacred Heart is not a sentiment! Its a weapon in the battle of life/death, heaven/hell.
In the first Sacred Heart Apparition (Dec 1673) to St Margaret Mary, Jesus revealed His immense love for humanity.
Jesus spoke of His desire to be loved in return. HE THIRSTS! He expressed desire to manifest His Heart more visibly to the world.
“My heart is so full of love being unable to contain within itself”
Jesus complained especially of the injuries He received in Holy Communion and asked for reparation for how He is received.
In the second 1674 apparition, Jesus showed His Divine Heart, surrounded by flames, a crown of thorns, and a wound, symbolizing His love and suffering. He called for a greater love & devotion to the Eucharist. He complained His wonderous love meets with so much ingratitude. He called for acts of reparation for sins.
Jesus warned lack of devotion to the Eucharist is a rejection of His love, which He continuously offers in that Sacrament. “I meet with coldness & ingratitude on every side. Console me.”
True devotion to the Sacred Heart includes adoring and making reparation to Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.
The "Great Apparition" took place in June 1675, on the Octive of Corpus Christi. "Behold my heart so loved men and spares nothing who in return receives from the greater number nothing but ingratitude, contempt, irreverence and coldness. What sorrow I feel from those who treat me such."
Jesus asked for a Holy Hour of reparation on Thursdays, in remembrance of His Agony in the Garden.
Jesus expressed His deep sorrow over the ingratitude of humanity toward His love, particularly in the Eucharist.
“These attack my Heart which has never ceased to love them.”
He asked the Feast of the Sacred Heart be established as reparation, requesting that the First Friday of each month be dedicated to not just honoring His Sacred Heart, but also to make reparation.
To show His love He willingly suffers all the outrages He is exposed to in the Blessed Sacrament.
“I want reparation before the Eucharist.”
The writings of Pope Pius XII on the Eucharist and the Sacred Heart are most enlightening. He writes that the Sacred Heart is not just a private devotion but an invitation to deeper participation in the Eucharist, where Jesus’ love continues to be poured out. The Sacred Heart and the Eucharist Are Inseparable.
Lukewarmness and indifference toward the Eucharist are a grave offense against the love of Christ’s Sacred Heart. "Would thou wert cold or hot. But because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will begin to vomit thee out of my mouth."— Apocalypse (Revelation) 3:15-16
Pope Pius XII calls on adorers of the Sacred Heart to make reparation for these offenses, especially through Eucharistic Adoration.
Christ presents His Sacred Heart as a model of self-sacrificial love and calls Catholics to imitate this love by offering themselves more completely in the Eucharist, by rejecting lukewarmness and cultivating an ever-deepening love for the Eucharist
Those devoted to the Sacred Heart find peace in the Eucharist. Jesus promises graces to those who do not neglect Him and who make reparation, and who spend more time with Him at Mass and Adoration.
Jesus will reward you and you will help save souls!
Call to Action – Commit to a Holy Hour! (Click Here)
Will you answer the call of the Sacred Heart by making a commitment to weekly Adoration?
The Sacred Heart THIRSTS for your love and presence. Your increased, sacrificial commitment will strengthen the Eucharistic mission in your parish, your diocese, your world and will draw souls to Christ!