The Three Hearts of the Holy Family

  Saint John Eudes, whose feast day we celebrated last Monday, once said: “Never separate what God has so perfectly united. So closely are Jesus and Mary bound up with each other that whoever beholds Jesus sees Mary; whoever loves Jesus, loves Mary; whoever has devotion to Jesus, has devotion to Mary.” Ironically, this statement is true even for our non-Catholic brethren who might not understand the Christian authenticity of Marian devotion. As we leave our Summertime dedications to the Three Hearts of the Holy Family, it is good to review what they are and what they represent. Saint Faustina referred to Christ’s Merciful Heart more than 20 times in her Diary. “Your merciful Heart can do all things” (Diary of Saint Faustina Kowalska, 228). When we recognize the profound depths of Christ’s Merciful Heart, we notice that this mercy is also reflected in the Hearts of  Mary and Joseph. Catholic devotion to the Two Hearts -  the Sacred Heart of Jesus (June 7) and the Immaculate Heart of Mary (June 8) are increasingly popular, especially on First Fridays and First Saturdays.               
    The Three Hearts devotion is also easy to understand—it is nothing other than honoring the Three Hearts of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. This is often done by making reparation to:
 
        1.  The Sacred and Merciful Heart of Christ.
        2.  The Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary.
        3.  The Most Pure and Chaste Heart of St. Joseph.
 
    Catholics recognize a hierarchy within the Three Hearts, in that order. The Holy Family shows forth a perfect union of mercy, almost as if the Three Hearts of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph beat as one Heart.
 
     Christ’s Merciful Heart helped to shape and form His Mother’s Heart. “Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart” (Lk 2:19). Christ’s Heart was also shaped and formed by Mary’s Heart. Any scene where Mary appears in Scripture shows her practicing some act of mercy. One prominent act of mercy is when Mary stays with her dying Son at the foot of the Cross. Here, we begin to truly understand Simeon’s prophecy to Mary: “ … and a sword will pierce through your own soul also, that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed” (Lk 2:35). 
     Mary’s Heart was spiritually pierced with a lance when she saw her Son’s Merciful Heart being physically pierced with a lance.  Mary learned about the depths of Christ’s Merciful Heart by witnessing His redemptive love on the Cross. Saint Faustina wrote in her diary: “I am not only the Queen of Heaven, but also the Mother of Mercy and your Mother (Diary, 330).”
    What about St. Joseph? We find St. Joseph’s Heart beating in unison with the Merciful Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Even though there are fewer passages about St. Joseph in Scripture, whenever he appears, he too is practicing acts of mercy. For example, Joseph mercifully led the Holy Family to Bethlehem, and into Egypt to protect the Christ Child. In fact, throughout his few appearances in the Gospels, we find a perfect equilibrium between Joseph’s justice (for instance, his performance of his duties as Jewish man, a fiancé, a spouse, and a father) and mercy.
     These Three Hearts provide a perfect example for every family. The Holy Family was not only present in the October 1917 apparition in Fatima; the Holy Family is present and alive today. The Three Merciful Hearts are beating in unison as the perfect example for every family. Cultivating devotion to the Three Hearts will help every Catholic imitate their virtues and bring their powerful intercession to our world, so badly in need of conversion.
 
Faithfully, Your Friend and Pastor,
Fr. Christopher C. Stainbrook, KHS