Explanation of the Welcoming Heart of Jesus image
“No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the
Father’s side, has revealed him.” (Jn 1,18)
Can we represent God whom we never saw? In the scene of Adam’s creation, Michael-Angelo did not hesitate to give a body to the Creator who is a Pure Spirit. In a very intense moment, he represents him extending the index of his hand to the first man, made of clay, in the act of communicating the spark of life to him.
In the book of Daniel, the Eternal appears to the prophet under the aspect of an old man with white hair: “As I watched, thrones were set up and the Ancient One took his throne. His clothing was snow bright and the hair on his head as white as wool; His throne was flames of fire with wheels of burning fire. A surging stream of fire flowed out from where he sat. Thousands upon thousands were ministering to him and myriads upon myriads attended him” (Dn 7, 9-10).
We can notice that the theophanies of the Old Testament have fire as a natural framework, which is the symbol of divine Love.During one of her great seizures, Micheline Boisvert received an inner image, whereof she saw God the Father offering his Son’s Beloved Heart to us. With the precise directions of the seer, the artist Richard Goudreau, who is a painter, was able to realize this representation, now known under the title of the image of the Welcoming Heart of Jesus, Gift of the Father Almighty.
In consideration of our humble opinion, this image bears the value of an icon. Whoever knows how to read with the eyes of his heart, will discover an important message hidden to “the wise and the learned, but revealed to the childlike”(cf. Mt 11, 25).
Three main elements of this image are
God the Father, the Heart of Jesus and the earth.
God the Father: Leaning slightly forward, as if suspended in the sky with his Almighty Light, God the Father shown with his hands stretched out, let’s descend a large brilliant red Heart toward the earth which is covered with darkness. From the hollow of his hands spurt’s out powerful rays that recall the words of the prophet Habakkuk: “His splendor spreads like the light; rays shine forth from beside him, where his power is concealed ” (Hab 3, 4).
The Heart of Jesus: A brilliant Crown of thorns, all in gold, encircles his large Heart and from the thorns spring’s forth intense rays of light that inundate’s the Earth which is inert. These signs tell us, without doubt, about our Savior’s excessive Love for us all and his unspeakable suffering inflicted to his adorable head during his Passion.
We now participate in the Great Priest’s Victory who has entered in the Holy of Holies to receive from the Father the reward: “You crowned Christ with glory and honor ” (Heb 2, 7) ; (Ps 8, 5-7). In the messages concerning the Welcoming Heart of Jesus, the Crown of Thorns is presented as protection for people and also for nations who are about to enter in the trial of the great purification announced by the prophets of our times.
The earth: By itself it cannot be light, because it’s subjected to vanity as per a word from Saint Paul (cf. Rm 8, 20). Therefore, it is with great joy that we welcome the great manifestations of the Heart of Christ, Lord of the universe: “He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Col 1, 13-14).
Why do we need the Welcoming Heart of Jesus? In these times of great tribulation, the very loving Father makes the Heart of his Beloved Son descend to welcome in us and for us the Almighty graces that he reserved for his children who are on earth. Many of his children lost their way and do not have the desire to receive, in their heart, all the Love that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit have for them.
In the messages received, the Welcoming Heart is presented as a “life buoy” used to save all the children of God, whom the Adversary plunges pitifully into the pits of suffering, anguish and despair, in order to lose their souls forever. Would a father stay indifferent to such a fate? “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life ” (Jn 3, 16).
Therefore, Jesus comes with his Heart, because he his the only one that can welcome God the Father’s Pure Love that is particularly manifested in the Almightiness of the Eucharist. Is he not the only Mediator? “By him, with him and in him.” (Eucharistic prayer)
The Heart of Jesus wants to welcome the offering that we make of ourselves and everything concerning us. “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy and my burden light” (Mt 11, 28-30).
We know that Jesus attaches such an importance to the meaning of welcoming that he makes it a condition of identification with himself: “Whoever receives you receives me and whoever receives me receives the One who sent me ” (Mat 10, 40).
With the Heart of Jesus, who offered himself on the Cross, the Father comes to us and he draws us to his Son’s Heart, “for in Him dwells the whole fullness of the deity bodily ” (Col 2, 9). Jesus is King and his Heart is the Center of all hearts (cf. Heb 2, 8).
Many people who welcomed in their prayer life the Welcoming Heart of Jesus, tell us their joy of praying in a new way using the words “Welcome Lord ”, because this makes them turn away from themselves in order to center themselves on Christ. “Come in me Father with the Welcoming Heart of your Beloved Son Jesus. I consent to give you all that is within myself.” Let us give our Love offering to Jesus, who said: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for ne’s friends” (Jn 15, 13).
Father Gratien Lajoie
Frère du Sacré - Coeur
