The
devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus was revealed by Jesus Himself when he
appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a Visitation nun, between 1673 and
1675. Jesus requested a special devotion to His Sacred Heart, a symbol of Jesus
Himself and His love for humanity.
The purpose of the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is to focus our hearts on receiving and returning Jesus’ love with gratitude that He may be glorified and worshipped.
The devotion which is Eucharist centered aims to promote an authentic Catholic devotion and worship of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. In return, Jesus promises great rewards in this life and eternal life in heaven. There are notably twelve promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to St. Mary Alacoque.
The center of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is the Enthronement of an image of the Sacred Heart in the home. By the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart, we link the tabernacle of our parish church to our home, inviting Our Lord to be our constant and most intimate Companion.
I remember growing up that we had the Most Sacred Heart enthroned in our home. The devotion involved every member of the household in which we live. We would gather together every Friday to consecrate the Family to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
So, imagine the joy I felt when on my third year of mission assignment I was initiated into the Sacred Heart of Jesus Confraternity on 07 June 2024 at the St. Anne’s Cathedral. Such occasion was memorable because it was also the day that the Diocese of Damongo reconsecrated the Diocese to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The timing was providential as I would be able to join fellow Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the celebration of the 10th National Sacred Heart of Jesus Congress and the Golden Jubilee of the National Sacred Heart of Jesus of the National Sacred Heart of Jesus Enthronement Centre Ghana to be held in Tamale on the 5th to the 8th of September.
This is timely as we have in the United States just successfully concluded the historic 10th National Eucharistic Congress, the first in 83 years, in Indianapolis.
