Author: Sister Laetitia Therese , O.C.D.
When thinking of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the first image that typically comes to mind is the adult Jesus after His resurrection from the dead. This is an image I love praying with as I fathom how Jesus conquered suffering and death through His loving obedience and trust in the Father’s plan, how death could not contain Him, and how even now He retains His sacred wounds in His resurrected body, including that most precious wound in His Sacred Heart. However, there are many other images we can pray with in regard to our Lord’s Sacred Heart.
My favorite title of the Litany of the Sacred Heart is: “Heart of Jesus, formed by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mother.” This is an incredible truth to ponder. When the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity took on human flesh in the incarnation, He began growing as a tiny embryo. There was a moment in time when His heart was formed and began to pulsate blood, the blood that would redeem humanity, throughout His tiny human body. The fullness of the Godhead dwelt in this tiny Heart.
How gentle, how humble is our God! For those times, when we struggle to believe if God could ever really love us or forgive us for our sinfulness, faults, and weaknesses, let us place our confidence in this tiny Heart. The fullness of God’s love is present there. His sole desire is for us to be united to Him, to come to Him.
As we prepare for the commemoration of the birth of Our Lord into this world, let us make our hearts ready for Him. He who did not scorn being born in a stable, will certainly not hesitate to make a home in our hearts. There His tiny Sacred Heart will be united to our hearts.
Heart of Jesus, formed by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mother… Have mercy on us!