Ruminations of an Irascible Hermit.: Sacred Heart of Jesus, synthesis of the Gospel

Friday, October 25, 2024

Sacred Heart of Jesus, synthesis of the Gospel

After receiving some negative tragic news last night in my family with my mum being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer - I decided today to lift my spirits and read Pope Francis’ new encyclical on the Sacred Heart, called “Delixit nos”. I am so very glad I did!

It is an impressive systematic summary of the meaning, symbolism and spiritual development of devotion to the Sacred Heart. I have not finished it all yet, but I cannot recommend it highly enough.

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/20241024-enciclica-dilexit-nos.html

I have spent time all afternoon today making these picture quotes of the encyclical, to help highlight the parts I found especially touching or beautiful. I am only up to section 156 out of a total of 220 sections. I hope they help reinvigorate and inspire your devotion to and understanding of the Sacred Heart of Jesus 🙏

Pope Francis reiterates throughout that devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in based in scripture, it is Trinitarian, historical, spiritually transformative and as much relevant today than ever because it is a synthesis of the Gospel. The Sacred Heart of Christ burning with love for us and the Father, seeks us out and offers us a personal encounter with Himself - Love incarnate, so that our hearts will be made whole and transformed with Jesus in the furnace of His Divine Love.

This is the best Encyclical that Pope Francis has published so far in his Pontificate

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Disclaimer

Please note. I am a Catholic layman, not a qualified theologian or philosopher. What I say and write here are my own personal thoughts and ideas, although I always try to conform my writings to the Magisterium of the Church.

I- with firm faith believe and profess everything that is contained in the symbol of faith: namely,

I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven: By the power of the Holy Spirit, he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. I believe in the one holy catholic and apostolic church. I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

With firm faith I believe as well everything contained in God's word, written or handed down in tradition and proposed by the church--whether in solemn judgment or in the ordinary and universal Magisterium--as divinely revealed and called for faith.

I also firmly accept and hold each and every thing that is proposed by that same church definitively with regard to teaching concerning faith or morals.

What is more, I adhere with religious submission of will and intellect to the teachings which either the Roman pontiff or the college of bishops enunciate when they exercise the authentic Magisterium even if they proclaim those teachings in an act that is not definitive.