As we approach the middle of February, we don’t have to look too far to see images of Valentine’s Day in homes, shops and supermarkets. Candy, cupids and flowers are also on display, but it is the heart that has become the primary symbol of romance and love. Many histories of Valentine’s Day propose that the stylized image of a human heart became so popular because it appeals to our senses. Most of us understand the importance of the heart for our health and well-being and this has been translated into seeing love as central to our life.
In Catholic culture, the Sacred Heart of Jesus has become an icon of God’s love and mercy. It is a centuries-old tradition that focuses on Christ’s physical heart as a symbol of His love for humanity. The devotion has roots in the Middle Ages but it was in the late 17th century that Jesus appeared to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, a Visitation nun in France. The Salesian tradition has always emphasized the love of God and the significance of speaking to one another “heart to heart.” So, it was fitting that Christ chose to communicate His love for all humanity to a spiritual daughter of Saint Francis de Sales and Saint Jane de Chantal.
In many ways, this devotion may have become popular for the same reasons the heart symbol gained prominence among romantics. The Sacred Heart is a very tangible reminder of the love and mercy God has for His children.
The Church encourages us to remember the Heart of Jesus throughout the year. On the first Friday of each month, special prayers, litanies and holy hours are offered as Catholics recall the love of Jesus. The actual feast of the Sacred Heart is celebrated each year a few weeks after Easter and Pentecost.
In popular culture, the month of February is filled with heart shapes, love songs and romantic cards and decorations. As we walk down the aisles of our drugstores and supermarkets, maybe we can walk with Saint Valentine. As a Christian bishop, he often preached the words of Jesus, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29).
My hope is that the Heart of Jesus will inspire us all year round. Like Saint Margaret Mary, my prayer is that the Kingdom of Christ will be established in our own hearts. And may we be able to say, along with the disciples walking to Emmaus, “Were not our hearts burning within us when he talked to us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32).
Reverend Jack Kolodziej, OSFS
Provincial
Wilmington-Philadelphia Province
