Fr. Scott Haynes
The devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, particularly the practice of attending Mass and receiving Communion on the First Friday of each month, has been an integral part of Catholic spirituality for centuries. Rooted in Christ’s love and mercy, this devotion is based on His divine heart, representing the profound love He has for humanity. It became widespread due to the private revelations of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 17th century, but its theological foundation stretches back to the early Church.
Origins and Historical Background
The devotion to the Sacred Heart has its roots in Scripture and the Church Fathers. In the Gospel of John, Jesus’ side is pierced by a lance while He is on the cross:
“But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water” (John 19:34).
The Church has long interpreted this moment as symbolizing the outpouring of God’s love and mercy through Jesus’ Heart, which gave birth to the Sacraments of the Eucharist and Baptism.
St. Augustine of Hippo viewed Christ’s pierced Heart as a fountain of grace for the Church. He wrote,
“The soldier pierced His side with a spear, and from it flowed blood and water, which signify the sacraments by which the Church is built up” (St. Augustine, Tractates on the Gospel of John, 120.2).
Thus, early theology linked Christ’s physical heart to the spiritual life of the Church.
The devotion gained its unique form through the visions of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a French Visitation nun. Between 1673 and 1675, she experienced several apparitions of Christ, who revealed His Sacred Heart as a symbol of His immense love for humanity. He requested that she spread devotion to His heart, particularly through the practice of the First Fridays.
In one of her visions, Jesus told St. Margaret Mary:
“Behold this Heart, which has so loved men that it has spared nothing, even exhausting and consuming itself, in order to testify its love. And in return I receive from the greater part only ingratitude, by their irreverence and sacrilege, and by the coldness and contempt they have for Me in this Sacrament of Love.” (Autobiography of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque)
This call to console Christ’s wounded heart became central to the devotion, and the practice of making reparations for the sins committed against His Sacred Heart took on a powerful significance.
The Nine First Fridays
One of the key elements of this devotion is the promise Jesus made to those who attend Mass and receive Communion on nine consecutive First Fridays. He gave St. Margaret Mary twelve promises, the most famous of which is:
“I promise you, in the excessive mercy of My Heart, that My all-powerful love will grant to all those who shall receive Communion on the First Friday of nine consecutive months the grace of final perseverance; they shall not die in My disgrace, nor without receiving their sacraments; My Divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.” (The Letters of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque)
This practice encourages Catholics to attend Mass, receive the Eucharist, and spend time in prayer on the first Friday of each month, offering their devotion in reparation for the sins of the world. It emphasizes the importance of perseverance in the faith and trust in God’s mercy at the moment of death.
Spiritual Theology of the Sacred Heart
The devotion to the Sacred Heart can be understood through its theological connections to the Eucharist and divine mercy. Pope Pius XII, in his encyclical Haurietis Aquas (1956), emphasized that the Sacred Heart devotion draws believers into the mystery of Christ’s love revealed in the Eucharist. He wrote:
“The Heart of Jesus, beloved by all, is the symbol of that boundless love which moved our Redeemer to shed His blood for us and to give Himself to us as our food and drink in the Eucharist.” (Haurietis Aquas, 62)
The Church Fathers often spoke of Christ's heart as the source of spiritual nourishment and sanctification. St. Bonaventure, writing in the 13th century, reflected on the Sacred Heart as the wellspring of grace:
“The wound of the Heart of Christ is a door open to receive us all” (Commentary on the Gospel of John, 19.34).
His reflection invites us to contemplate the heart of Christ as the source of divine love that flows into the hearts of believers.
In the 19th century, Pope Leo XIII, deeply influenced by this devotion, consecrated the entire world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1899, stating:
“There is in the Sacred Heart the symbol and express image of the infinite love of Jesus Christ which moves us to love in return.” (Annum Sacrum, 6)
Miracles and Stories
Over the centuries, countless stories have emerged about miracles and graces received through the Sacred Heart devotion. One notable miracle occurred in 1720, during a plague in Marseilles, France. The local bishop, along with the faithful, prayed fervently to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for protection. He consecrated the city to the Sacred Heart, and miraculously, the plague subsided.
Another miracle is associated with Blessed Maria Deluil-Martiny, who founded the Daughters of the Heart of Jesus. On several occasions, she and her religious community were saved from grave danger after invoking the Sacred Heart. One day, a deranged man threatened to kill the sisters, but after Maria offered her life to the Sacred Heart for the safety of her community, the man was subdued, and the sisters were spared.
In modern times, devotion to the Sacred Heart has been linked to numerous personal testimonies of healing, conversions, and peace. Devotees of the First Friday devotion have shared stories of receiving the sacraments at the moment of death after years of estrangement from the Church, confirming the promise made by Christ to St. Margaret Mary.
The Role of Reparation
A central element of First Friday devotion is making acts of reparation for the sins committed against the Sacred Heart, particularly offenses against the Eucharist. Pope Pius XI, in his encyclical Miserentissimus Redemptor (1928), stressed the importance of offering reparation to Christ’s wounded heart:
“The sins and offenses of mankind have multiplied beyond measure, and this is why Jesus Christ, already outraged so many times, sees Himself rebuffed even in this His last effort of love—the Eucharist. This most august sacrament, the pledge of His charity, is often dishonored and profaned, and He desires that we, His faithful, should make reparation for all these sacrileges.” (Miserentissimus Redemptor, 2)
In line with this teaching, many Catholics adopt prayers and sacrifices, particularly on First Fridays, as a way to make amends for the indifference and offenses directed toward Christ. St. Therese of Lisieux, known for her deep love of the Sacred Heart, saw her own spiritual life as a means of making reparation. She wrote:
“In the heart of the Church, my Mother, I will be love. Thus, I shall be everything, and my dream will be realized, to make the Heart of Jesus loved.” (Story of a Soul 10.7)
Papal Support and Canonical Status
The devotion to the Sacred Heart has consistently received papal approval and encouragement. In addition to Pope Pius XI and Leo XIII, Pope John Paul II had a strong personal devotion to the Sacred Heart, often speaking about its importance for the modern Church. In 2002, he established the Feast of the Sacred Heart as a special day of prayer for the sanctification of priests. He once stated:
“In the Sacred Heart, every treasure of wisdom and knowledge is hidden. In that Divine Heart, beats God's infinite love for everyone, for each one of us individually.” (Pope John Paul II, Address to Sacred Heart Congregation, 1981)
This underscores the universal call to respond to Christ’s love by deepening our personal relationship with Him through devotion to His Sacred Heart.
Practices for the Devotion
Devotion to the Sacred Heart, particularly on First Fridays, involves several specific practices:
1. Attending Mass and Receiving Holy Communion: This is the central act of devotion, in response to Christ’s invitation to draw close to His heart in the Eucharist.
2. Confession: Confession is encouraged to maintain a state of grace, particularly before receiving Communion. Regular confession helps purify the soul and deepen the bond with Christ.
3. Meditation on Christ’s Passion: Reflecting on the suffering and love of Christ, particularly the moments surrounding His crucifixion, helps to foster a spirit of reparation and thanksgiving.
4. Acts of Reparation: Prayers such as the Litany of the Sacred Heart and the Act of Reparation to the Sacred Heart are often recited, along with personal prayers of atonement for sins.
5. The Enthronement of the Sacred Heart: A practice where families consecrate their homes to the Sacred Heart by placing an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in a prominent location, symbolizing their commitment to live under His protection and guidance.
Conclusion
The devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, particularly as practiced on First Fridays, remains a powerful means for Catholics to experience the love of Christ in their lives and make reparation for the sins of the world. Through the intercession of saints, the teachings of the Church, and personal acts of devotion, the faithful are drawn ever closer to the heart of Jesus, which “has loved men so much and received so little love in return.”
This devotion, with its rich theological tradition and deep spiritual benefits, has not only impacted individual lives but has shaped entire communities. By attending Mass, receiving Communion, and offering acts of reparation on First Fridays, the faithful enter into a profound relationship with Christ’s heart, participating in His redemptive love for the world.
As Catholics continue to respond to Christ’s invitation to honor His Sacred Heart, this devotion serves as a reminder that the love of God is never exhausted. The First Friday devotion provides an opportunity to foster a more intimate connection with Jesus, to make reparation for the world’s sins, and to renew our own faith and love for God, who gave everything for humanity.
In the words of St. John Vianney, the Curé of Ars, who had a deep devotion to the Sacred Heart:
“The priesthood is the love of the Heart of Jesus.” (Catechism on the Priesthood).