13/06/2026
This week the Church celebrated the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, a devotion that has been cherished by Catholics for centuries. Many of us will remember an image of the Sacred Heart hanging in our family home, perhaps in the lounge or hallway, with Jesus pointing to His heart, surrounded by flames and crowned with thorns.
But what does it mean?
The Sacred Heart is not simply a picture or a devotion from another era. It is a symbol of the very heart of the Gospel: the immense love of Jesus Christ for humanity.
In Scripture, the heart represents the centre of a person's being – their love, compassion, desires and will. When we speak of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we are speaking of the love of God made visible in Christ. It is a heart that burns with love, suffers with us, forgives us, and never gives up on us.
The symbols in the image tell the story:
The flames remind us of Christ's passionate love for the world.
The crown of thorns speaks of the suffering He endured for our salvation.
The cross rising from the heart points to His sacrifice on Calvary.
The wound in His hands and side recalls the spear that pierced His heart as He hung on the cross (John 19:34).
The feast invites us not merely to admire the Heart of Jesus, but to imitate it. As Pope Francis wrote, the Heart of Christ reveals "the human and divine love of the Lord" and calls us to become people of mercy, compassion and self-giving love.
For us today, the Sacred Heart is a reminder that Christianity is not primarily about rules or obligations. It begins with a relationship with a God who loves us deeply and personally. Every time we see an image of the Sacred Heart, we are invited to hear Jesus say:
"Come to me... and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:28-29).
Perhaps those old images in our homes were not merely religious decorations after all. They were a daily reminder that at the centre of our faith is a heart that loves without measure.
