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The Story behind the
GARCIA MORENO SACRED HEART
PICTURE
 History:
This
painting was commissioned by the zealous Ecuadorean Catholic
statesman, President Gabriel Garcia Moreno, (1821-1875) and was used
during Ecuador’s consecration to the Sacred Heart in 1873. After the
president was assassinated, people opposed to the Church twice tried
to destroy the painting that was placed in the House of Parliament.
For safe keeping, it was given to a Chilean priest of the
Congregation of the Sacred Hearts ( SS.CC.)
Years
later, in Valparaiso, Chile, Fr. Mateo Crawley-Boevey, ss.cc.,
unexpectedly came upon the painting; many people believe that the
discovery helped inspire Fr. Mateo to begin his crusade for the
Social Reign of the Sacred Heart. The original is now enshrined
in Quito, Ecuador. This is a facsimile of the original oil-painting.
(12x16 framed copies available).
Symbolism:
The
scepter and the globe convey Christ’s kingship: “Behold the Lord,
the Ruler is come; and a Kingdom is in his hand and power and
dominion.”(Introit of Epiphany). His heart, as shown to St. Margaret
Mary in her apparition, with the symbols of love (the flames and the
cross), and the symbols of sorrow (the wound and the crown of
thorns), tell us that Christ desires to rule over families and
societies through love.
Our
Lord is drawing the world to His Sacred Heart – “burning furnace of
charity” – in order for the world to share in the graces of
salvation.
The
majestic yet tender expression of the Savior, his eyes filled with
sadness and mercy, appeals to families:
- To
recognize and love this kingship of Our Lord, who in the mercy
of his heart wishes to befriend the home through a life of
intimacy and confidence.
- To
repair in the family itself, the social injuries committed
against the authority and love of this divine heart, whose
rights are everywhere denied.
- To
make the home in which the Sacred Heart is enthroned, a
sanctuary of powerful family prayer and a center of
apostolate-outreach to spread the Reign of the King of Love,
“the way, the truth, and the life.”
Congregation of the Sacred
Hearts of Jesus and Mary (SS.CC.)
Box 111, Fairhaven, MA
02719-0111
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