Called to Love Without Limits - Devotion to the Sacred Heart
Devotion to the Sacred Heart
Catholics are invited to have a deeply personal devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, especially during the month of June, which is dedicated to the Sacred Heart. The devotion is so much more than simply a pious tradition but an invitation to have a more intimate connection to the love of Christ—a love that is relentless, merciful, and deeply human. When I imagine the Heart of Christ, it is not only an image I see before my eyes; I experience a love that endlessly pursues me, even when I feel unworthy of His love. I see a Heart that has been wounded for my sake yet remains open, flowing forth grace upon grace.
There have been times in my life when I felt alone, especially when I was in the convent and received daily condemnation from my directress who reminded me daily of my infinite worthlessness, and her deep-seated hatred of my desire to unite totally and completely to God as His bride. But it was in those dark moments that I could feel the Sacred Heart of Christ reminding me “You are loved beyond measure.” Jesus’s Heart is not simply a symbol, it is a reality. It beats for me, for you, for every soul in need of mercy. It is a safe haven for the weary, the broken, and the forgotten.
June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart because the Church, in Her wisdom, wants to remind us of this love at a time when we might otherwise forget. After Easter and Pentecost, as the liturgical calendar moves forward, we can be tempted to return to the distractions of everyday life. But the Sacred Heart stands before us, calling us back to the very essence of our faith, God’s infinite love made flesh.
The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, celebrated on the Friday after Corpus Christi, is not yet another feast. It is a reminder of Christ’s longing for our love. He only desires that we give Him our hearts in return. When St. Margaret Mary Alacoque received the visions of Jesus, He lamented how little His love was returned. That truth still echoes today. In a world that often pushes God aside, devotion to the Sacred Heart is my way of responding to His call—to love Him in return, to console Him, and to trust in the depths of His mercy.
When I reflect on this beautiful devotion, I am reminded how the Sacred Heart is a call to love in imitation of Christ, to forgive, to be patient, to place others before myself in humility. It challenges me to live in a way that is different from those who give themselves to the world instead of God, to share His love in a world that so desperately needs it.
I want to renew my devotion, not out of obligation, but out of love for the Beloved Lord. I desire to rest in His Heart, to place my joys and burdens there, and to remember that no matter what happens, I am held by a love that will never let go; one that will never forsake me.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in You.