Spiritual Biology – The Sacred Heart

The human body is an amazing and very fascinating creation. Each organ has its purpose. Every fiber works toward a succinct system, or group of systems, that compose “life.” There is an anonymous quote that states, “No one can whistle a symphony; it takes an orchestra to play it.” In a way, our bodies are a beautiful symphony composed by our Creator. The various instruments and parts of the body work together to function as a single unit.

St. Paul makes reference to the Church as Christ’s body several times in the New Testament. A very learned priest spoke of this during a recent homily and explained that each part of the body has a role. Even the appendix and tonsils, once thought of as useless because of the body’s ability to function without them, play a role in bodily function. For instance, the priest explained, the tonsils play a role in protecting the body from bacteria from entering the throat. The appendix plays a vital role in both a fetus and younger adults producing hormones and assisting the immune system. Of course, the appendix is not as important to an individual’s survival as the heart – the center of life.

Other than an organ, the heart has become a symbol for love. People get hearts tattooed on themselves with the name of a loved one inscribed on it. Others will carve their initials into the trunk of a tree surrounded by a heart. There is also the ever-popular I “heart” NY t-shirts. The heart also, anyone would argue, plays a central role in the health of a human being. In a way, the heart gives life to the rest of the body, pumping blood cells through the arteries and veins and the various parts of the circular system. It is from this very real example that the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is depicted to Christians.

Last year, Pope Francis explained that “the Heart of Jesus is the ultimate symbol of God’s mercy – but it is not an imaginary symbol, it is a real symbol, which represents the center, the source from which salvation for all humanity gushed forth.”

The Sacred Heart serves as a real reminder of God’s love for His people. It calls to mind Christ’s humanity; it reminds us that God loved the world so much that His love took on flesh, suffered, and died to show that love.

Pope Benedict XVI exclaimed during a homily on the feast of the Sacred Heart “God’s heart calls to our hearts, inviting us to come out of ourselves, to forsake our human certainties, to trust in him and, by following his example, to make ourselves a gift of unbounded love.” In a way, God’s heart, the Most Sacred Heart gives life to Christians, calling them to act out of love.

The Sacred Heart is depicted as a human heart, burning with love poured out on the cross as a flame and cross sit on top of the heart. This love is exhibited to the world through bodily suffering as is shown with the crown of thorns surrounding the pierced heart. The central act of history, the central act of God’s redeeming, merciful love is illustrated in such a beautiful way.

Devotion to the Sacred Heart has been widespread throughout the Church and has proven to be beloved by popes and saints. In fact, Pope Leo XIII consecrated the entire world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1899—a practice that is renewed each year. Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus has become an important part of Catholic spirituality. St. John Paul II, on the 100th anniversary of the consecration of the world to the Sacred Heart said, “Since in the Sacred Heart the believer encounters the symbol and the living image of the infinite love of Christ, which in itself spurs us to love one another, he cannot fail to recognize the need to participate personally in the work of salvation.”

Simply meditating upon the image of the Sacred Heart can help us learn about our spiritual biology. In the image, Jesus is pointing to His heart, calling to our hearts to love with a love like His. By taking time to be with our Lord and reflecting upon his compassion, love, and mercy, perhaps we can learn to become better disciples.

Matthew Higgins

Matthew Higgins

Matthew Higgins serves as Assistant to the Vocation Director for the Archdiocese of Newark and adjunct professor of Catholic Studies at Seton Hall University. He holds a Master's degree in Systematic Theology from Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall University. His 10 year ministerial experience ranges from Junior High faith formation to Youth, Young Adult, and Campus Ministry. He lives with his wife, Olivia and 2 children in Northern NJ.

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