The Power of the Sacred Heart

A blessed Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a feast which has its origins in the early Middle Ages, when a renewed emphasis upon Christ’s humanity dawned upon the world, led by saints such as Bernard of Clairvaux and Francis of Assisi, on into the visions devotio moderna of Saint Mechtilde (+1298), Saint Gertrude (+1302) and, most of all, Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque (+1690). A Mass for the feast was instituted by Pope Innocent VI in 1353, and, prompted by the visionary nun Sister Mary of the Divine Heart, Pope Leo XIII consecrated the world to the Sacred Heart on June 9, 1889, one day after her death. Pope Pius IX made the feastt universal in the Church in 1856; Pius X asked that the consecration of the world be repeated each year; and, Pius XII promulgated his encyclical, Haurietis aquas, on the Heart of Christ, on the hundredth anniversary of the feast, in 1956. We may see in the devotion to the Divine Mercy an extension of the Sacred Heart, that Christ’s mercy is real, and prompted by both His infinite divine and human love for each individual human person.

When we worship the ‘heart’ of Christ we are adoring Him, as He now exists in both a divine and human nature, united by His divine and eternal Person. As Catherine of Siena put it, the humanity of Christ is the bridge between heaven and earth, the access, if you will, to the Father and eternal beatitude with the Trinity.

One of the titles of Christ in the Eastern tradition is Pantocrator, literally, ‘He who has power over all things’, for nothing escapes the providential care of God. It is in this light that we should see the election results yesterday here in Ontario: The Conservatives under Doug Ford have won a majority, while Kathleen Wynne and the Liberals, beyond her own prediction of losing, received a trouncing, left with only seven seats, losing official party status. God will give politicians and all those with earthly power just enough slack to do His will (even if that be a punishment), and will yank it back when they have gone far enough. You would have now authority over me were it not give you from above. Ms. Wynne has done untold damage, from pornographic sex-ed to the hydro debacle, her tears and maudlin farewell (so much that is evil is done in the name of compassion) notwithstanding. Like other who have misused their authority, I hope this time out of power will give her time to reflect and prepare for eternity (although she did win her own seat back by the skin of her teeth).

In the meantime, we will see what Mr. Ford can do with the can of worms he has inherited. Make Ontario great again? Not for a while, and not without a lot of pain.

And while on authority the ‘G7’ (or G6 + 1, for various political reasons), the ‘Group of Seven’ largest economies (why Canada is included I know not), are meeting as I write in Lamalbaie, Quebec. Ah, the great ones of the world, at whom the Lord smiles knowingly. President Trump is leaving early, to meet with Kim Jong Un, and try to help solve the North Korean crisis. Who knows what might transpire, for behind the veil of all this pomp and circumstance, spiritual powers are at work, jostling for position, and for souls.

Meanwhile, hot molten rock and thick clouds of ash continue to cover the paradise of Hawaii, a fitting metaphor that what we see is not all that is there, and that under, and even the source of, the lush vegetation of the Pacific islands are prehistoric, antediluvian forces, of which we know all too little. And the great ones think they can control all of this, when even a simple rain shower is beyond them.

Rather, dear reader, trust in God, and in His Christ, and praise Him still.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

Carney’s Amoral Majority

After five defections – euphemistically described as ‘crossing the floor’ – and three by-elections, Mark Carney and his Liberals how have their coveted majority. One wonders what bowls of pottage were offered in back-room deals. In the archaic monarchical system that is the Dominion of Canada, this majority allows the newly-minted Prime Minister to rule[…]Continue reading→

Saint Kateri , Canada’s Protectress

This was the title given to Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, by Pope Benedict XVI, when he canonized her on October 28th, 2012, along with six others, in Saint Peter’ Square (she had been beatified by Pope John Paul II back in 1980). With Saint Joseph as our protector, along with the Canadian martyrs, we seem to[…]Continue reading→

A Closed, Unsustainable, Descending Loop

As a follow-up to my thoughts on Payette’s payout, here be a stark image of where are here in Canada. As the graph shows in, well, graphic terms, since 2025, the public sector has contributed to 95.5% of economic growth. The private sector – which funds the public sector, or is supposed to – has[…]Continue reading→

A Tale of Two Benedicts

A grace-filled Holy Week to all our readers! As we await and prepare for the Resurrection about to dawn upon us, we might keep in mind two Benedicts: Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, requiescat in pace, elected on this day in 2005; and today’s commemoration of the mystic pilgrim, Benedict Joseph Labre, who died on this[…]Continue reading→

My Name is Bernadette

April 16th is a propitious day, for besides the anniversary of Father de Valk’s death, who founded Catholic Insight in its print form decades ago, and the commemoration of the ‘two Benedicts’, mentioned in accompanying posts, today we also recall Saint Bernadette Soubirous, the young visionary to whom the Virgin Mary appeared numerous times at[…]Continue reading→

Presidential Pardon of Weronika Krawczyk

As a good news, follow-up to our story from Poland, of the persecution of Weronika Krawczyk for her pro-life views, we heard that she has been granted a presidential pardon. One might still wonder why one needs a presidential pardon for simply holding the long-held belief that the child within the womb is a child,[…]Continue reading→

Saint Lydwina of Schiedam and Suffering Joyfully

Saint Lydwina of Schiedam (1380 – 1433) was one of the countless and glorious ‘victim souls’ in the history of the Church, those whose lives are filled with suffering, often of an unimaginable intensity, but who suffer joyfully. She was a fifteen-year old Dutch girl, out skating one day, when she fell and broke one[…]Continue reading→

The Glorious Martyrdoms of Martin and Maximus

As we enter into Eastertide, we recall on this 13th of April Pope Saint Martin I (+655), one of the noblest, if most tragic, of the successors of Saint Peter. Born in Umbria, Italy, he was of noble lineage, with great intelligence combined with charity and love of the poor and the Church. While still[…]Continue reading→

Pope Leo and a Rosary for Peace

Pope Leo XIV has asked Catholics across the world to join him in a Rosary for peace today, at 18:00 Rome time (6 pm), which would be noon from where I write (EST). If you are able, whether at that time or another, and in whatever way you pray, to join in intercession with the[…]Continue reading→

Payette’s Payout

I was glancing through some headlines, and noticed a mention of Julie Payette – engineer and astronaut and sometime the Queen’s representative in Canada – which brought back vague memories. She was appointed Governor-General by Justin Trudeau in 2017. Ms. Payette resigned in 2021, amidst claims that she created a ‘toxic work environment’, with allegations[…]Continue reading→