The Sacred Heart of Jesus: Our Light in the Darkness

The Catholic bishops of the United States voted to consecrate the nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, part of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. What does this mean?

Theologian Dr. Robert Stackpole offers a refresher on the devotion, diving deep into the revelations of Jesus to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. Our Lord wished for everyone to welcome His offer of love; to return His love with love; to make reparation to His Heart for our many failures to return His love; to place all our trust in His Heart; to honor Him through the sign and symbol of His Heart; and to grow to love His Heavenly Father more and more — for our Lord's Sacred Heart is the living human reflection of the Father's eternal love for us all.

Jesus also told St. Margaret Mary that He desires to pour out upon humanity all the treasures of grace that flow from His Sacred Heart, and to inspire Catholics to work to establish the social reign of His Heart over families and nations everywhere.

In His Heart, Jesus is fashioning saints on fire with love for Him so that, even if the whole world seems to have forsaken our Lord, and all hope for the earthly triumph of the Catholic Faith seems to have vanished, yet still they will love Him with all their hearts, obey Him to the end, and hope in Him until His return.

The devotion to the Heart of Jesus, therefore, is all about fashioning saints in the Church filled with this heroic love. Walk through these chapters step-by-step, and rediscover the one Radiant Heart whose Light can never be put out, that forever shines amid the world's darkness, and that truly is "more brilliant than the sun."