Reflecting Heaven Part 19: Sacred Heart of Jesus & Immaculate Heart of Mary

09-01-2021Reflecting HeavenFr. Don Kline, V.F.

The references to the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts of Jesus and Mary can be found in Sacred Scripture which point to the love and compassion of Jesus and Mary. The image of the heart can be found throughout Sacred Scripture and can offer us powerful insights into the mercy, compassion, and love of God.

Learn from Me for I am meek and humble of heart.” Matthew 11:25

Our Lord and Our Lady invite each of us to imitate the desires and virtues of their Hearts. This quote from Matthew, points to the Word made Flesh who became like us in all things but sin. In His humble beginnings, Our Lord and Our Lady find themselves in cave meant for animals. Their humility continues in their very hidden live for ar»years. We So gee Our Lords compassion and love through His preaching, teaching, working miracles, healing the bodies and all of believers and unbelievers. Lastly, Our Lords Sacred Heart reveals the perfect obedience to the Father as He gave His life for our salvation.

Mary kept in mind all these things, pondering them in Her Heart.” Luke 2:19

The shepherds haste to find Mary and Joseph, and the Infant lying in the manger. Once the shepherd find the Holy Far , they made known the message that had been told them about this Child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them the shepherds. Having heard their message, Our reflects on the Child four!in His crib at Bethlehem and ponders in Her Heart what the birth of the Messiah would mean for all humanity.

His Mother kept all these things carefully in Her Heart.” Luke 2:51b

As Mother Mary often goes to the room of Her Immaculate heart and closes the door, She experiences the loss of Jesus for three days during a visit to Jerusalem. One can sense the ache of the Heart of Mother Mary; as She and Joseph desperately search for the Child, only find Him teaching (and astonishing) the Scribes and Pharisees in the Temple.

Your own soul a sword shall pierce, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” Luke 2:35

The old man Simeon speaks these powerful words to Mary and Joseph as they present Jesus in the Temple in Jerusalem. The offering of Our Lord to God was part of the custom of the Mosaic Law. In this moment, we hear Simeon’ difficult prophesy as he speaks of the pierced heart, the suffering heart of Mary as She would experience Our Suffering Savior upon the Cross.

One of the soldiers opened His side with a lance, and immediately there came out blood and water.” John 19:34

This Most Sacred Heart is now pierced by a soldiers lance as He hung in death upon the Cross. As Catholics, we understand that the Most Sacred Blood and water symbolize the origin and the Sacraments of the Church particularly the Eucharist and Baptism. In this moment where Christ's Heart was pierced in death so too, Mary's Heart was pierced in spirit, thus fulfilling Luke 2:35. Together in this moment of extreme suffering, we can see the union of a Mother and Her Son, the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

“This union began when by the power of the Holy Spirit Mary conceived the Heart of Jesus beneath Her own Heart... the Heart of Jesus, which suffered to the point of being pierced so as to pour forth upon all who believe in Him, the grace of the Holy Spirit, which makes them partakers of the Holy Eucharist in the communion of fellowship in the Catholic Church; and the Heart of Mary, a focused on Her Divine Son, which was destined by God to suffer with Him for the salvation of mankind” (Devotion to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Its Origin and History by George Pollard)

Only the Heart of Christ who knows the depths of his Father's love could reveal to us the abyss of his mercy so simple and beautiful a way. - From the Catechism, 1439

From the depth of my nothingness, I prostrate myself before Thee, O Most Sacred, Divine and Adorable Heart of Jesus, to pay Thee all the homage of love, praise and adoration in my power. Amen.- St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

The prayer of the Church venerates and honors the Heart of Jesus just as it invokes his most holy name. It adores the incarnate Word and his Heart which, out of love for men, he allowed to be pierced by our sins. Christian prayer loves to follow the way of the cross in the Savior’s steps. - From the Catechism, 2669

An Offering of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Author: St. John Eudes

O Jesus, only Son of God, only Son of Mary, I offer Thee the most loving Heart of Thy divine Mother which is more precious and pleasing to Thee than all hearts. O Mary, Mother of Jesus, I offer Thee the most adorable Heart of Thy well-beloved Son, who is the life and love and joy of Thy Heart. Blessed be the Most Loving Heart and Sweet Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ and the most glorious Virgin Mary, His Mother,in eternity and forever. Amen.

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