Jesus, Mercy Incarnate

Let us look at each aspect of the Sacred Heart devotion in particular, and show how it naturally blossoms into the Mercy devotion as well. (a) Veneration of the Images The Lord Jesus specifically requested of St. Margaret Mary that the image of His Sacred Heart should be honored and venerated by all the faithful. In His first apparition to her of 1673, for example, our Lord said: My Divine Heart is so passionately in love with men that it can no longer withhold the flames of that burning love; it must needs let them spread abroad by means of you, and reveal itself to men to enrich them with its pro- found treasures .... 28 Then in His second apparition to her (1674), Jesus pictured His Sacred Heart for her, and made His designs more explicit: After that I saw this divine Heart as on a throne of flames, more brilliant than the sun and transparent as crystal. It has its adorable wound and was encircled with a crown of thorns, which signified the pricks our sins caused Him. It was sur- mounted by a cross.... He made me understand that the ardent desire He had of being loved by men and of drawing them from the path of perdition into which Satan was hurrying them in great num- bers, had caused Him to fix upon this plan of manifesting His Heart to men, together with all Its treasures of love, mercy, grace, sanctification and salvation .... It must be honored under the symbol of this Heart of flesh, whose image He wished to be publicly exposed. He wanted me to carry it on my person, over my heart, that He might imprint His love there, fill my heart with all the gifts with which his own is filled, and destroy all inordinate affection. Wherever this sacred image would be exposed for veneration He would pour forth His graces and blessings. 29 114 The Sacred Heart and The Divine Mercy