Divine Love

Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

– John 13:1b (NRSVCE)

As Catholics, we are familiar with all types of devotions: devotions to Mary, Joseph, the saints, and Jesus. But sometimes, it can be easy to forget the meaning behind devotions when we become overly familiar with them.

The devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus can be one such devotion. It is one of the most popular devotions in the Catholic Church, and many Catholics keep an image of Jesus’ Sacred Heart in their homes. And yet, I think it’s easy to focus only on the steps for the First Fridays devotion and the promises Jesus made us and forget what’s at the heart of it all: Jesus’ burning love for us.

Jesus loves us so deeply that He gave everything He had, even to the point of death. Even to the end. And He thirsts passionately for us to turn to Him, to love Him in return…He longs to save our souls and all the souls of the world and for us to know just how much we are loved.

So, next time you look at an image of the Sacred Heart, remember that…and let it inspire you.

© Isabelle Wood 2025

Photo copyright Canva