What's the point of devotion?
To understand the important spiritual role of devotions, we need to return to the fundamental question: why are we here on Earth? To praise, love and serve God with all our soul, strength and spirit. But this is no easy task (especially today!), as the infinite dimension of God makes him far from us, who are finite beings.
To facilitate this necessary link with God, there is a "intermediate "body between him and us: the Saints, the Angels, the Blessed Virgin and finally Christ himself, God made man. Thanks to their closeness to our state, they enable us to take a step closer to God.
Devotions are attachments of the heart to the people of this intermediate "body". Through their example, the attachment we feel guides us, facilitates our prayer and helps us to progress towards the love of God. That's why these devotions are so important.
The immense richness of this "intermediary body" means that there are a multitude of devotions... to suit everyone who are spiritually unique. But among all these personal and particular devotions, there is one that is general to all the faithful, superior to all othersdevotion to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
Why devotion to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary is above all others
For the very object of devotion is Christ himself, the Son of God, and the Blessed Virgin his Mother, who has been elevated to the pinnacle of creation (including above the angels).
Then, this devotion was brought to us by Christ and the Blessed Virgin in person and they indicated to us its fundamental importance for modern times (without excluding others, of course). The Popes have widely taught this importance.
" La dévotion au Sacré-Cœur de Jésus-Christ (et celle au Cœur Immaculée de Marie) a pour auteur Jésus-Christ même. C’est lui qui l’a révélée, qui en a commandé l’institution, qui en a expliqué la nature, qui en a enseigné la pratique, qui en a prescrit la forme et la méthode, enfin, qui a promis de répandre ses grâces sur ceux qui s’y dévoueraient. » Father of Gallifet
The Popes have widely emphasized the importance and fundamental nature of the hearts of Jesus and Mary:
« Dans cette forme de la dévotion, n’y a‑t‑il pas la synthesis of all religion et plus encore la norme d’une vie plus parfaite, capable d’acheminer les âmes à connaître plus profondément et plus rapidement le Christ Seigneur, à l’aimer plus ardemment, à l’imiter avec plus d’application et plus d’efficacité ? ».
Pope Pius XI
« Le Christ Notre‑Seigneur, en montrant son Cœur très sacré, a voulu retenir d’une façon extraordinaire et singulière les esprits des hommes pour qu’ils contemplent et honorent le mystère de l’amour miséricordieux de Dieu à l’égard du genre humain. »
Pius XII
