The Sacred Heart of Jesus — A Fountain of Mercy and Peace
Published on 11 June 2026 at 20:46
Tomorrow the Church celebrates the Solemn Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus — a feast that draws us into the very centre of Christ’s love. As Universalis expresses so simply: Devotion to the Sacred Heart is devotion to Jesus in His human nature, to His Heart as the seat of love, compassion, and mercy. It is a devotion shaped by the mystics — St Gertrude, St Margaret Mary Alacoque, St John Eudes — and carried by the faithful through the centuries.
This evening, praying Evening Prayer I, I was struck again by how much the Church places before us in just a few lines. This evening’s intercessions provided a doorway into contemplation, each one revealing a facet of the Heart that loves us.
This is Jesus — whose Heart, when pierced by a lance, poured forth blood and water. Holy temple of God, slain by men and raised up again by the Father. King and centre of all hearts.
Faith teaches that from His pierced Heart flowed blood and water — the signs of the sacraments, the birth of the Church, the cleansing and renewal of all creation. He gave His all for all, that we might be made holy, gathered into His Body, and become His beloved Bride.
The Sacred Heart of Jesus — our peace and reconciliation, our life and resurrection, who loved us with so great a love that He was obedient even unto death on a cross.
And so, the Church prays:
Jesus, make your Church the dwelling place of the Most High. Jesus, love us and lead us to yourself. Jesus, renew your covenant with all men. Jesus, unite all in the peace of the new creation; put enmity to death through the cross. Refresh the burdened, give rest to the weary, draw all sinners to yourself, and raise up again all who sleep in your peace.
These are not merely petitions — they are invitations. Invitations to trust. Invitations to rest. Invitations to allow His Heart to be our refuge.
For the Heart of Jesus is not a symbol only. It is the living sign of His love, the place where divine mercy meets human need, the wellspring from which grace flows without measure.
A Prayer to the Sacred Heart
O God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we recall the wonders of His love for us. May we be made worthy to receive an overflowing measure of grace from that fount of heavenly gifts — the Sacred Heart of your Son. Amen.