A life in union with the Heart of Christ is not just a devotion; it is the very core of our spirituality.

For us, a life in union with the Heart of Christ is not just a devotion; it is the very core of our spirituality. The 19th century was a great time for devotions: the devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, to the Eucharist, to the Sacred Heart of Jesus... When we think of a devotion, we may think of set practices, like kneeling down in front of a statue of St. Anthony, burning a candle, saying a prayer... and one can have several devotions. But a spirituality is something deeper: it springs from within, from a central vision which determines one's lifestyle and is adaptable to the situation.

Even though Father Jules Chevalier (1824-1907) talked in terms of devotions, from his life and his writings it is clear that the Heart of Christ was the vital core of his spirituality. For him "devotion to the Sacred Heart" was a vision that inspired his whole spirituality, his lifestyle and his mission. Since the time of his studies in the seminary he was concerned about the evils of his time, and he was convinced that the Heart of Christ was the remedy for those evils.

The evils of his time: rationalism, religious indifference and anticlericalism were widespread in 19th century France. What struck Fr. Chevalier about the Heart of Christ was the fire of his love, a compassionate love for all who suffer. He saw the Heart of Christ as the incarnation and revelation of the compassionate love of the Father.

That was his "charism", his gift of the Spirit, his basic vision which inspired him to bear witness to the love and kindness of God our Saviour, to heal the wounded hearts of many.