Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus dates back to the time of the Apostles. This devotion honors Jesus’ burning love for each of us and also makes reparation for the rejection, persecution, and disdain His Sacred Heart receives from the world.
The Sacred Heart is frequently depicted in Catholic art. Some depictions present the Sacred Heart alone, while others show Jesus with His Sacred Heart radiant in His chest.
In this image, we can see various small emblems, each representing an aspect of Christ’s sacrificial love.
The first thing we notice is that Jesus’ heart is exposed, for He has poured Himself out for us and desires that we enter into His Most Loving Heart.
The crown surrounding the Sacred Heart recalls Jesus being crowned with thorns, and reminds us that He endured persecution and ridicule for us.
The fire represents the burning flame of divine love and the essence of divinity. (Remember Moses and His encounter with the bush that burned but was never consumed?). The Sacred Heart is on fire with love for mankind.
A crown rests on top of the Sacred Heart because the crown is a symbol of Jesus’ kingship. The lance-wound references John 19:33-37, when the Roman soldiers pierced Jesus’ side and blood and water flowed from the wound, which, according to the Gospel of John, “took place that the scripture might be fulfilled, ‘Not a bone of him shall be broken’” (John 19:36). This image of blood and water is highly symbolic. It represents the Passover Lamb sacrificed for our sins to save us from death and reminds us that Jesus shed every last drop of His blood for our sake.
Now, when you honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus today, you can meditate on its profound symbolism and on Christ’s burning love for you.