To have come from his Heart

Each religious order has its own founding stories - the events and dates, people and places which led to its birth. The Society of the Sacred Heart is no different: any RSCJ will tell you that it was founded in Paris, in November 1800, and that St Madeleine Sophie Barat was both founder and foundation stone. Sophie, however, saw things differently, and in June 1807 she wrote: Jesus gave life to the Society on the cross when, from his open Heart came forth his blood, the ultimate proof of his love for us. How happy is our life, and what a priceless advantage to have come from his Heart.

Crucifix in our motherhouse chapel

To have come from his Heart... This year the Society is engaged in a spiritual journey of preparation for our General Chapter this summer. The first of seven themes in this itinerary - entitled Born of the open side of Christ - takes us back to this intuition of Sophie, and to the Heart which is our source and our centre, inviting us to contemplate it, and our spiritual origins, anew. Or, in my case, for almost the first time. I had read Sophie's words many times, but had never really stopped, and wondered: what does it mean, to be born of the open side of Christ; to have come from his Heart...? What does it mean - what can it mean - not only for the Society, but for me, and indeed, for every RSCJ?

When we speak of birth, of 'coming from', we also speak of DNA and family likeness; of inherited gifts and characteristics, and recognisable traits. So, what can it mean to have the DNA and family likeness of an ever-open Heart; of a wound caused by hate and gratuitous violence, inflicted on a vulnerable, defenceless body, but which released an unending flow of unlimited, unconditional love? For me, it has long meant believing that it is in this pierced and wounded Heart, container of all of my and the world's pain and woundedness, that I will find the seeds and hope of redemption and new life. Fundamentally, it means to believe in the enduring, sin-conquering power of love; and, of course, to be that abundant, all-encompassing love in whatever way is possible.

And union and conformity with this Heart is the underlying call of each RSCJ; her privilege and her challenge. 

But to be born also means to 'come from'; to emerge - not to stay put! Following Jesus' invitation we often speak of his Heart as a place of welcome, of refuge and rest. Julian of Norwich saw in his Heart a space wide and large enough for everyone - and indeed it is. But to 'come from' his Heart means to be impelled out, in order to draw others in - especially those who believe themselves to be furthest from his love. That is our vocation - to discover and make Love known.

And so today, Good Friday, the day when we recall Jesus' passion and death, and the piercing of his Heart, I ponder all this, and pray for the Society; for all my RSCJ sisters, and for myself. May we truly live the 'priceless advantage' of our origins in Jesus' open, welcoming, wounded Heart, drawing others into the radiance and joy and tenderness of his love.