The feast of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart was May 25. When our sisters moved to Springfield from Jacksonville in 1893, the new convent was named the Convent of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and we became known as the Dominican Sisters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. So you could say May 25 is our patronal feast day.
This obscure title of Mary has long intrigued me, so I offer this short reflection. Every title of Mary points to some aspect of Divine Truth. In this case, Our Lady points to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a vivid manifestation the Incarnation. Father Jules Chevalier of Issoudun, France, originated the title in 1857, after a period of study and meditation on the then-recent proclamation of the Immaculate Conception in 1854. He soon founded the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. Their motto is, “May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be loved everywhere.” Chevalier also developed an image of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart very similar to the one shown above.
Using the internet, I’ve located about a dozen of these images. Typically, Mary is holding the child Jesus. He appears to be a toddler and she points to his exposed Sacred Heart. Sometimes, she is even holding his heart in her hand. Jesus’ right hand is raised in benediction. Mary’s heart is not exposed. In some images she is looking down toward her son. In others, she looks out to the viewer. Jesus always looks directly ahead.
Some of you may be wondering about the statue of Mary in the Rosary Courtyard, shown here. It doesn’t resemble at all the image of Mary originating in France. We’ve been told since the 1890s that this statue is Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. The discrepancy is a mystery I cannot resolve, at least not for now. Someday, in “retirement” I will comb the archives and historical newspapers to see if I can unravel the story. In the meantime, however, don’t overlook the significance of the congregational patron.
Notice the emphasis on the heart, the seat of emotion, the core of being. The Sacred Heart is a multivalent symbol: the human heart represents the incarnation of the Divine into human concreteness. The cross and crown of thorns remind us of the suffering and death of the Lord. Flames of fire hint at the eternal energy of resurrection. The Sacred Heart is, for me, a powerful symbol of the interconnection we profess in A Prayer for the Life of the World which we approved at the General Chapter in April. The burning heart of Christ is the place of connection to the cosmos; the crown of thorns, to the suffering of the rostros concretos.
Sister Susan Karina Dickey, OP, vice-president for mission integration at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson, Miss., completed her doctoral studies in history before joining the Springfield Dominicans in 1994. Watch for her further musings on all things Sacred Heart. This essay is released in anticipation of the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which annually falls on the Friday after the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. June 28 this year.
Dear Sisters,
Do you have the image of OL of the Sacred Heart shown on your site available for purchase? Thank you in advance for your response!
Anthony
Hi Anthony, I’m sorry we don’t at this time. Glad you like it, though!
Do you have a 10 inches statue of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart? what is the cost?
Father Vijay, I’m sorry but we do not have such a statute.
Dear Sisters,
Do you know anything about the feast (June 4, possibly at the start anyway,) in Cuba around the turn of the 20th century? My father-in-law’s full Christian name was Jose Maria del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus, and his birthday was June 4–I think in 1905. I have found an article online in previous years, but not this morning! (I am noticing generally fewer options while searching for anything.) His father, my husband’s grandfather, was at the time organist/choirmaster and teacher at the Escuelas Pias church and school in Guanabacoa, Cuba (suburb of Havana). Thus everything came together for quite a celebratory feast around Dad’s birthdate! Can you fill in any details? I prefer facts to family legends in leaving genealogical data for the progeny.
God bless you all, and thanks for whatever you can come up with–
Judith Echaniz
Hi, would it be ok with you if I were to make a copy of your picture of Our Lady Of The Sacred Heart? My sister became a nun 25 years ago, and is looking for a picture just like that for her Silver Jubilee commemoration card.
Sister, am 100% certain that the picture of Our Lady in the garden, isn’t of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart! The original statue which Fr Jules Chevalier MSC (1824-1907) ,showed the Child Jesus standing in front of His Mother,with Jesus pointing to his exposed Heart and his other hand pointing towards His Mother.Then Rome ordered that the image of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart be change(around the 1870’s -give or take) to Our Lady holding The Child Jesus etc .Bottom line is that-Our Lady of the Sacred Heart includes Jesus .The statue in the garden seems to be the Immaculate Heart of Mary.So in short Our Lady of the Sacred Heart is never without the image of her Son .Since mid 20th century there’s been a variations, eg, Mary standing under the Cross and so forth.
I do admire your devotion to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart,via the Dominican tradition-most unique!
Thanks for sharing your insghts!