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Living in the Sacred Heart of Jesus – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff

Msgr. John Esseff and Kris McGregor discuss the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a spiritual tradition stemming from revelations to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in Paray-le-Monial, France. Jesus revealed His Sacred Heart to St. Margaret Mary, describing it as a symbol of His immense love for humanity, a heart aflame with love yet surrounded by thorns, symbolizing human sin and ingratitude. He instructed her to spread devotion to His Sacred Heart and introduced practices like the First Fridays and the Holy Hour, promising blessings for those who honor His Sacred Heart.

Tthe “enthronement” of the Sacred Heart as an invitation for individuals and families to welcome Jesus as the king of their hearts. By enthroning Jesus in our hearts, we allow Him to dethrone ego and sin, creating a space for His love, peace, and truth to reign. This devotion encourages Christians to emulate the first-century apostles who recognized Jesus as the Messiah, not in earthly terms but as a king of hearts, leading through love and sacrifice.

This kingship is not limited by geography; it’s a universal calling to every individual, regardless of faith or nationality, to invite Jesus into their hearts and experience His transformative love. He shares that this enthronement reflects an interior act of faith, symbolized by displaying an image of the Sacred Heart at home. Through this devotion, families are encouraged to embody and spread Christ’s love, establishing His kingdom in their homes and communities.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

Encounter with the Sacred Heart: How do I personally experience and understand the love that Jesus expresses through His Sacred Heart?
Embracing Enthronement: Am I willing to invite Jesus to reign as the king of my heart, dethroning my own ego and desires?
Living the Promises: In what ways can I incorporate the Sacred Heart devotions, such as First Fridays and Holy Hours, into my spiritual life?
Spreading the Devotion: How can I encourage my family and community to honor the Sacred Heart, creating a space for His love and peace?
Recognizing True Kingship: Do I fully grasp Jesus’ kingship as a spiritual reality rather than an earthly one, and how does this impact my faith?
Witnessing in the World: How am I called to share the love of the Sacred Heart with others, extending its influence beyond my personal devotion?
Responding to the Call: How can I deepen my relationship with Jesus by inviting Him into my heart daily, and what changes might this bring to my life?

In 2011, Paray le Monial, France, I had the chance to speak with Msgr. John Esseff at the First Sacred Heart World Congress. Msgr. Esseff is one of the founders of the Sacred Heart Apostolate, sponsor of this event which brought laity, religious, and priests from around the world. Talks were given by Cardinal Raymond Burke, Bishop Robert Herman, Christendom College President Timothy O’Donnell, and EWTN show host and author Fr. Mitch Pacwa, as well as many others Why did they come to this small French community nestled in Eastern France? Because our Lord choice this place and two very remarkably humble saints to communicate the message of his Sacred Heart.

He said to St. Margaret Mary:

“My Divine Heart is so inflamed with love for mankind … that it can no longer contain within itself the flames of its burning charity and must spread them abroad by your means.” She described that His Heart was on fire and surrounded by a crown of thorns. Our Lord told her that the flames represented His love for humanity, and the thorns represented man’s sinfulness and ingratitude. Jesus informed her that her mission was to establish the devotion to His Most Sacred Heart, and He revealed twelve promises that He would bestow upon all those who practice the devotion.

She had three more visions over the next year and a half in which Jesus instructed her in a devotion that was to become known as the Nine Fridays. Christ also inspired Margaret Mary to establish the Holy Hour and to receive Holy Communion on the first Friday of every month. In the final revelation, the Lord asked that a feast of reparation be instituted for the Friday after the octave of Corpus Christi.

Blessed Claude de la Colombiere, a holy and experienced Jesuit, arrived as confessor to the nuns, and in him Margaret Mary recognized the understanding guide that had been promised to her in the visions. He became convinced that her experiences were genuine and adopted the teaching of the Sacred Heart that the visions had communicated to her.”

Msgr. Esseff talks about that message, what it means for us today, and how we can live it out.

Msgr. John A. Esseff is a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Scranton. He was ordained on May 30th 1953, by the late Bishop William J. Hafey, D.D. at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Scranton, PA. Msgr. Esseff served a retreat director and confessor to Blessed Mother Teresa. He continues to offer direction and retreats for the sisters of the missionaries of charity around the world. Msgr. Esseff encountered St. Padre Pio, who would become a spiritual father to him. He has lived in areas around the world, serving in the Pontifical missions, a Catholic organization established by Bl. Pope John Paul II to bring the Good News to the world especially to the poor. Msgr. Esseff assisted the founders of the Institute for Priestly Formation and continues to serve as a spiritual director for the Institute. He continues to serve as a retreat leader and director to bishops, priests and sisters and seminarians and other religious leaders around the world.