www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West The Sacred Heart, a naturalist devotion?

Latin Christians, specialy those of the French tradition, have a lot of devotion toward the Sacred Heart of Jesus, it's said that it's very miraculous.

I myself understand that the Sacred Heart represents the love of Jesus, how he loved manking, and his soul, in a certain way (this would be the Orthodox understanding). In fact I have seen images of the Sacred Heart in Orthodox homes (and the Ethiopiean Orthodox, use it frequently in processions, if 'm not mistaken)

However, I have also found criticisms by Orthodox who express that the Sacred Heart is a naturalist devotion. In fact, the Western Orthodox have not fully adopted the Sacred Heart as part of their identity (eventhough it would be very healthy for them to be fully Western) and I think this has to do with these critical attitudes.

In what sense is the Sacred Heart naturalistic? I think this has something to do with the French obsession with the human body but I am not sure.

Thanks a lot.

Dear Mexican,

When the Devotion is used as you have stated, it seems to me there is no problem.

When it starts to become an obsession about individual body parts, it's very odd and cultish when taken to the extreme.

LETTER OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI
ON OCCASION OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF
THE ENCYCLICAL "HAURIETIS AQUAS'

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/b..._let_20060515_50-haurietis-aquas_en.html

My priest says that no one is going to hell for participating the SHJ devotion and some are probably going to heaven because of it. He believes people argue about it but its a waste of time to do so.

Indeed!! Distasteful indeed.

What if those from western traditions did a similar kind of cruel twist to the Fools for Christ?

This whole discussion is just rife with thoughts that should NEVER even be considered.

And to find it among reasonably intelligent people is depressing.

Mary

I don't have much experience with the sacred heart devotion. Since the RC cathedral in town is named for it, of course I have heard of it. Interestingly, an iconographer told me that portraying it violates some rule of iconography forbidding displaying internal organs. Has anyone heard of this?

Might I recommend Pope Benedict's "Behold the Pierced One" as a marvellous reflection on the "heart of Christ" very much in the spirit of the Fathers. It was the first book by then Cardinal Ratzinger that I read and it had a profound effect on my spiritual life.

Part of the problem with Sacred Heart devotions and religious art (I will not call them icons) is that they are naturalistic and awash with sentimentality...dripping even at times...and even, apparently, gender-bending. The Eastern and patristic theology of the heart and its authentic view of iconography is an appropriate corrective.

Another good read on this devotion in the Latin Church is Timothy O'Donnel's "Heart of the Redeemer".

http://www.ignatius.com/ViewProduct.aspx?SID=1&Product_ID=807&AFID=12&

ALL REVELATION HAS ENDED AT PENTECOST ,,THE HOLY APOSTLES RECIEVED IT ALL ,,AT THAT TIME..THEY WERE SENT INTO THE WORLD TO SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS,,THE SACRED HEART IS A NOTHER GOSPEL WITH THE TWELVE PROMISES ATTACHED TO IT ,,,UNKNOWN TO THE HOLY FATHERS...THE SCRIPTURES WARNS ABOUT THINGS LIKE THIS ..THIS IS A ORTHODOX ANSWER...WHY DIDNT JESUS TELL HIS APOSTLES THAT HE WOULD APPEAR IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND GIVE US SOMETHING NEW,,HE DIDNT,,GOD DOES TELL US IN SCRIPTURES HE WOULD DO NOTHING TO US UNTIL HE FORWARNS TELLS US FIRST....I FEEL A SPIRITUAL SONG RISING UP.....GIVE ME THAT OLD TIME RELIGION IT WAS GOOD FOR OUR HOLY FATHERS AND ITS GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME ....STANISLAV

Stanislav,

That would eliminate certain things like the Feast of the Holy Protection of the Theotokos. It was an appartion of the Mother of God, after all.

And why are you shouting?

God bless,

Gordo

Dear Mary,

I apologize for offending your sensibilities, that wasn't my intent. I was simply trying to articulate where some sincerely faithful have gone too overboard, especially in the medieval era. Of course God, the Father of Mercies, will read the genuineness of each heart and judge accordingly - I was, of course, looking with human eyes. I hope you will forgive me.

Michael

Of course I do forgive you, and I'll tell you why I must, even if the Christ had not commanded me to do so.

I too cringe at the imagery of both sacred hearts and the divine mercy. I shudder...more accurately.

But I do not confuse the kitsch with the substance of the devotion.

The theology and spirituality of the heart is ancient and had, for a time, been lost in the west. And then it was restored. For that I rejoice, no matter what I think of the images that go with it these days.

Sorry that I spoke sharply in return. I was disappointed to see the source, but that's behind us now.

Mary

Michael Toma your post describes my view of the Sacred Heart devotion.

Interestingly, there is a Byzantine Catholic parish in the Detroit area named Sacred Heart.

I too agree with the abridged version. Apparently the original post to which I reacted has been edited, which then makes my response look extreme. I assure you, my response was not extreme in the original context.

Mary

the feast of the holy Mantel...holy Mother Mary didnt preach any thing to any body...i wasnt shouting i see the bigger letters better...the talking apparitions are the ones people should truly run from,,,most if not all could be deceptive spirits..did not Satan quote scriptures to our blessed lord and saviour Jesus Christ the lover of mankind..if it could happen to the holy saviour and him being God...how easyier it would be to deceive fallen mankind...stick to what the holy apostles gave to our holy fathers the custodian guardians of the holy orthodox way...most of the religions that seperated was due to talking apparition ,,,господе спаси народ твој....lord save thy people...stanislav