Dilexit nos: Pope Francis’s Encyclical on the Sacred Heart and a World in Need
On 24 October 2024, Pope Francis published his fourth encyclical, “Dilexit nos” (Latin for “He loved us”). This encyclical focuses on the theme of human and divine love as embodied in the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Released amidst a world troubled by war, socio-economic inequalities, unchecked consumerism, and technologies that threaten to undermine human nature, the encyclical calls for a renewed focus on Christ's heart as a symbol of compassion and spiritual healing.
The release of Dilexit nos coincides with the 350th anniversary of the first apparition of the Sacred Heart to St Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1673. Our Lord revealed to the French nun His heart, surrounded by flames and encircled by thorns, symbolizing His love for humanity despite the wounds inflicted by sin. The apparitions took place at the convent of Paray-le-Monial in Burgundy, France.
The apparitions are deeply linked to the Society of Jesus, as St Claude La Colombière, a French Jesuit, served as spiritual director to St Margaret Mary and played a special role in developing the understanding of devotion to the Sacred Heart and its meaning in the light of the Gospel through his writings.
In the encyclical, Pope Francis highlights the place of the Sacred Heart in the history of the Society. He notes that “the spirituality of the Society of Jesus has always proposed an ‘interior knowledge of the Lord in order to love and follow him more fully’” (Dilexit nos 144), and St Ignatius suggests to retreatants to “enter into the heart of Christ” when they contemplate the wounded side of the crucified Lord in the Spiritual Exercises.
Pope Francis goes on to trace the great succession of Jesuits who have spoken explicitly of the Heart of Jesus: Saints Francis Borgia, Peter Faber, Alphonsus Rodriguez, Father Álvarez de Paz, Father Vincent Carafa, Father Kasper Drużbicki, among others.
The Society of Jesus has embraced this mission of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, declaring during its 33rd General Congregation that it “accepts and receives with a spirit overflowing with joy and gratitude, the gentle burden that our Lord Jesus Christ has entrusted to it, to practice, promote, and propagate devotion to His most divine Heart”.
Affirming this devotion, Father Pieter Jan Beckx consecrated the Society to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in September 1871. Father Pedro Arrupe renewed that consecration in 1972, and more recently, Father Arturo Sosa again renewed that consecration in September 2024 at Paray-le Monial, during his visit to the French-speaking Western European Province.
Before Dilexit nos, Pope Francis had issued three other encyclicals: Lumen fidei (29 June 2013), Laudato si’ (24 May 2015) on the environment, and Fratelli tutti (3 October 2020) calling for global solidarity and fraternity in a fragmented world. Dilexit nos builds on this trajectory, urging the world to rediscover love as the core of spiritual and societal renewal.
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