Hosea 11:1, 3-4, 8-9 / Ephesians 3:8-12, 14-19 / John 19:31-37
The feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus began as a devotion in the late 17th century, but in 1889 it was raised to a solemnity.
The most significant source for the devotion to the Sacred Heart in the form it is known today was St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647–1690).
St. Margaret Mary claimed that Jesus requested to be honored under the figure of His heart, also claiming that, when He appeared radiant with love, he asked for a devotion of expiatory or atoning love, with the Sacrament of Reconciliation and frequent reception of Holy Communion, especially Communion on the First Friday of the month, and the observance of the Holy Hour.
In one the the apparitions, Jesus reportedly said to her : "Behold the Heart that has so loved men ... instead of gratitude I receive from the greater part of mankind only ingratitude ...".
The Sacred Heart is often depicted in religious art as a flaming heart shining with divine light, pierced by the lance and wounded, surrounded by a crown of thorns, surmounted by a cross and bleeding.
Sometimes the image is shown shining within the bosom of Jesus with his wounded hands pointing at the heart. The wounds and crown of thorns are symbols of the sufferings of Jesus, while the fire represents the power of divine love.
Pope Pius XI stated that "the spirit of expiation or reparation has always had the first and foremost place in the worship given to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus".
In other words, when we are able to grasp the length and breath, the height and depth of the love of Jesus as shown in His Sacred Heart, we will also want to offer Him all our love and all our heart, and do penance and offer love sacrifices for our sins and the sins of humanity.
May we worship and adore the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and may He make our hearts like His, so that we too will offer our prayers, our love and our lives for the salvation of mankind.