Sacred Heart of Jesus

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Apparently the month of June is dedicated to the “Sacred Heart of Jesus”. I am very drawn to the Catholic church, and am learning much about it, but this has somehow escaped me over the last 2 or so years that I have been learning.

What is the importance of learning of or adoring or venerating, etc of “the Sacred Heart of Jesus”, or “the Precious Blood of Jesus” or “the Immaculate Heart of Mary” as opposed to simply adoring Jesus and venerating Mary? Why focus on parts as if they were different or apart from the whole? Maybe a dumb question, but it hasn’t yet come together for me (although I expect it to, as I expect all Catholic teachings to eventually)
 
The Church presents different devotions for the laity to participate in. The devotion to the Sacred Heart or the Immaculate Heart are symbolic devotions to the person. Which were also private revelations from those same persons. So we can say that they are given from them for our benefit. Recall that the Resurected Jesus offered a doubting Apostle Thomas, to place his fingers in his hand and side and doubt no more. It emphasizes the real physical existence of the people these devotions are too.🙂
 
Welcome. We are offered many devotions because Jeus and Mary want us to love them and spread their love. The Sacred Heart, which was , pierced and blood and water ran out, loved us so much. The Precious Blood which was shed for us, cleansed us from our sins.

We are offered many many devotions I believe because we are all different and with that variety we are sure to find one that truly appeals to us. As the previous poster said, they are all aspects representing Jesus and Mary. They are given to us for our benefit. I personally like the Precious Blood and the Holy Face. Take what works for you.

Great question. God bless you.
 
Stevenrushing said:
Apparently the month of June is dedicated to the “Sacred Heart of Jesus”. I am very drawn to the Catholic church, and am learning much about it, but this has somehow escaped me over the last 2 or so years that I have been learning.

What is the importance of learning of or adoring or venerating, etc of “the Sacred Heart of Jesus”, or “the Precious Blood of Jesus” or “the Immaculate Heart of Mary” as opposed to simply adoring Jesus and venerating Mary? Why focus on parts as if they were different or apart from the whole? Maybe a dumb question, but it hasn’t yet come together for me (although I expect it to, as I expect all Catholic teachings to eventually)
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They are not presented as if they were different or apart from the whole.

Catholic Encyclopedia has:Topics: Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of MaryThe worship, although paid to the Heart of Jesus, extends further than the Heart of flesh, being directed to the love of which this Heart is the living and expressive symbol. On this point the devotion requires no justification, as it is to the Person of Jesus that it is directed; but to the Person as inseparable from His Divinity.
…

Devotion to the Heart of Jesus is especially directed to the Divine Heart as overflowing with love for men, and it presents this love to us as despised and outraged. In the devotion to the Heart of Mary, on the other hand, what seems to attract us above all else is the love of this Heart for Jesus and for God. Its love for men is not overlooked, but it is not so much in evidence nor so dominant. With this difference is linked another. The first, act of the devotion to the Heart of Jesus is the love eager to respond to love, in devotion to the Heart of Mary there is no first act so clearly indicated: in this devotion, perhaps, study and imitation hold as important a place as love.

Topic: Precious Blood

Viewed as a part of the Sacred Humanity hypostatically united to the Word, the Precious Blood deserves latreutical worship or adoration. It may also like the Heart or the Wounds from which it flowed, be singled out for special honour, in a way that special honour was rendered it from the beginning by St. Paul and the Fathers who so eloquently praised its redeeming virtue and rested on it the Christian spirit of self-sacrifice. As Faber remarks, the lives of the saints are replete with devotion to the Precious Blood.
 
Stevenrushing said:
Apparently the month of June is dedicated to the “Sacred Heart of Jesus”. I am very drawn to the Catholic church, and am learning much about it, but this has somehow escaped me over the last 2 or so years that I have been learning.

What is the importance of learning of or adoring or venerating, etc of “the Sacred Heart of Jesus”, or “the Precious Blood of Jesus” or “the Immaculate Heart of Mary” as opposed to simply adoring Jesus and venerating Mary? Why focus on parts as if they were different or apart from the whole? Maybe a dumb question, but it hasn’t yet come together for me (although I expect it to, as I expect all Catholic teachings to eventually)
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12 PROMISES OF
THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS
TO ST. MARGARET MARY
  1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state in life.
  2. I will establish peace in their families.
  3. I will comfort them in their trials.
  4. I will be their secure refuge during life, and, above all, in death.
  5. I will shed abundant blessings on all their undertakings
  6. Sinners will find in My Heart an infinite ocean of mercy.
  7. Lukewarm souls will become fervent.
  8. Fervent souls will rapidly grow in holiness and perfection.
  9. I will bless every place where an image of My Heart shall be exposed and honored.
  10. I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.
  11. The names of those who promote this devotion will be written in My Heart, never to be blotted out.
  12. I promise thee, in the excessive mercy of My Heart, that My all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Friday of nine consecutive months, the grace of final penitence; they shall not die in My disgrace nor without receiving their Sacraments; My Divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.
ourcatholicprayers.com/promises-of-the-sacred-heart-of-jesus.html
 
My pastor just celebrated 50 years in the priesthood. His sermons are excellent, generally simple and straight forward.
In his historical presentation on the development of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, he pointed to both Calvin and Jansen.
Through His cross and resurrection, Our Lord died for the salvation of sinners. The teaching of these two men focused more on the sinfulness of man than on the mercy of God. Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus developed,on the Catholic side, to counteract the harm done by Father Jansen.
Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary followed. The difference is that devotion to Mary always points to her Son, as we are called to emulate her example of devotion and obedience.
 
Stevenrushing said:
Apparently the month of June is dedicated to the “Sacred Heart of Jesus”. I am very drawn to the Catholic church, and am learning much about it, but this has somehow escaped me over the last 2 or so years that I have been learning.

What is the importance of learning of or adoring or venerating, etc of “the Sacred Heart of Jesus”, or “the Precious Blood of Jesus” or “the Immaculate Heart of Mary” as opposed to simply adoring Jesus and venerating Mary? Why focus on parts as if they were different or apart from the whole? Maybe a dumb question, but it hasn’t yet come together for me (although I expect it to, as I expect all Catholic teachings to eventually)
Click to expand...
Why Devotion to the Heart of Our Mother in Her Sorrows?

Because Jesus wants this devotion.

“Jesus Christ Himself revealed to Blessed Veronica of Binasco that, He is more pleased in seeing His Mother compassionated than Himself.” He said to her: ‘My daughter, tears shed for My Passion are dear to Me; but as I loved My Mother Mary with an immense love, the meditation on the torments which She endured at My death is even more agreeable to Me.’“Wherefore the graces promised by Jesus to those who are devoted to the dolors of Mary are very great.”

fatima.org/essentials/requests/devotion_of_seven_sorrows.pdf
 
To the original poster:
I am a convert myself. My understanding of the different devotions, is that each person can choose an aspect of the faith / aspect of Jesus to focus on, that holds particular meaning for that person. The life of Jesus has many different aspects that we can all imitate, such as his holiness, faithfulness to God, charity, poverty, teaching, etc. I understand the Sacred Heart of Jesus to mean that we should emulate Jesus’ openness and vulnerability to people, through always being open to love and caring for others. In the image associated with the Sacred Heart, we can literally see Jesus’ heart. It is open, so there are no barriers between his caring for us, and consequently his heart can be easily wounded as well. In my life, I find that it is easy for me to be very reserved and distant, so this is an aspect of the faith that I find would be good for me to imitate and act on more in my own life.
I also just like the image, since I really embrace some of the “vintage” images and sculptures of Catholicism, and when I meditate on the image of the Sacred Heart, I enjoy how different it is from the stark Lutheranism of my background.
Hope this helps to make more sense of all these different devotions! 🙂
 
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