The History of the Devotion
The Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is the adoration of the opened Heart of Jesus which was opened for our salvation and from where the Holy Mother Church was brought forth. The devotion became popular around the 11th and 12th Century
It became even more popularized when St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690), a Visitation nun, had a vision of Christ as she prayed before the Blessed Sacrament. She wrote, “He disclosed to me the marvels of his Love and the inexplicable secrets of his Sacred Heart.” Christ emphasized to her His love and His woundedness caused by Man’s indifference to this love. Christ requested for the atonement of these offences by establishing the Feast of the Sacred Heart, and receiving Holy Communion for 9 consecutive First Fridays offered I reparation to the sins committed against the Sacred Heart.
The Twelve Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
1.I will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life.
2.I will establish peace in their homes.
3.I will comfort them in all their afflictions.
4.I will be their secure refuge during life, and above all, in death.
5.I will bestow abundant blessings upon all their undertakings.
6.Sinners will find in His Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.
7.Lukewarm souls shall become fervent.
8.Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection.
9. I will bless every place in which an image of His Heart is exposed and honored.
10. I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.
11. Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart.
12. In the excessive mercy of My Heart, my all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Fridays in 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 Sacred Heart of Jesus and the IVE
The IVE Chapter Fathers of 2016 unanimously decided to consecrate the whole Institute to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus; the enthronement was done on the same year at the closing Mass of the said chapter. It was advised that whenever a new community is established, the enthronement of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus has to solemnly take place. The Chapter Fathers firmly believed that it is most effective way to preserve the primitive fervor of the institute, to achieve its end, to foster unity among members and to be preserved from division and external attacks all these as promised to the great saint of the Sacred Heart, Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque.