A Heart on Fire: Rediscovering Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Hearts adorn greeting cards and are associated primarily with Cupid, Valentine’s Day, and romantic love. But Kubicki, a Jesuit priest and director of the Apostleship of Prayer, explores the multifaceted religious significance of the heart, specifically, the traditional Catholic devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The author uncovers the complex history of this devotion and the myriad ways religious figures have reinterpreted it over the centuries. The Sacred Heart is most often illustrated as outside of Jesus’ body, wrapped in thorns, burning, and bleeding from a wound. The significance of this is that the love of God for humanity is big enough for all of our suffering, happiness, productive labors, and failures. Human love may be finite, but God’s love is endless. The author includes several helpful prayer suggestions to assist those who wish to prioritize this devotion in their spiritual life. While the Sacred Heart devotion is associated primarily with the Catholic faith, all Christians can find spiritual succor through this practice. (May)