Pope Francis speaks at the general audience in St. Peter's Square on Oct. 23, 2024. An altar painting of the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Francesco de Rhoden hangs inside the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Rome, Italy. (Daniel Ibáñez/Catholic News Agency [left panel]; CNA file photo [right panel])

ROME/ROCK ISLAND – It was only his fourth encyclical since coming to the Chair of Peter in 2013, and clearly this one was particularly close to Pope Francis’ pastoral heart.

In his encyclical Dilexit Nos (“He Loved Us”), released late last fall, Francis wrote, “The world can change, beginning with the heart.” He called for a renewed understanding of – and devotion to – the Sacred Heart.

The pope outlined how devotion to the Sacred Heart gained significant momentum in the 19th century as a reaction to the legalistic spirituality of Jansenism, which de-emphasized God’s mercy.

Several parishes in the diocese are dedicated to the Sacred Heart. The Catholic Post Online reached out to two of them.

FROM BELGIUM TO ROCK ISLAND

Father Mark DeSutter, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Moline, said the dedication of the parish to the Sacred Heart in 1906 was almost certainly a response against a strict, legalistic view of God.

“The people who came here were coming from Belgium, where Jansenism was really prevalent,” said Father DeSutter, pointing out that Father John Baptist Culemans, the first pastor, was also from Belgium.

“That’s probably why the parish ended up being Sacred Heart, to emphasize the love of God, and the compassion of God and the mercy of God.”

Father John Baptiste Culemans – founder of Sacred Heart Parish in Rock Island in 1906 – was from Belgium, where the legalistic theology of Jansenism was still quite prevalent. Placing his new parish under the merciful protection of the Sacred Heart was very likely a reaction to that, says current pastor Father Mark DeSutter.

GOOSEBUMPS FOR GOD

Pope Francis reiterated the truth in Dilexit Nos that even when it comes to theology, the head must take its lead from the heart. “Philosophy does not begin with a pure concept or certainty but with a shock,” he wrote, adding, “without deep emotion, thought cannot begin. The first mental image would thus be goosebumps.”

Father Bill Miller, pastor of Sacred Heart in Peoria, expected the encyclical “will be a very unifying document for Catholics.”

He echoed Pope Francis in asking, “What does the heart have to say to a world dealing with artificial intelligence and those kind of challenges?”

SACRED HEART SPRINGS UP

Father DeSutter noted the Pope’s concern for a present-day world that displays a “lack of compassion . . . . a lack of sympathy.”

When the environment “veers toward the judgemental . . . devotion to the Sacred Heart springs up,” he commented.

Father Miller added that he encouraged parishioners to read the new encyclical, and suggested they consider using it for prayer groups and Bible studies.