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- Francisco De Zurbaran, Allegory of charity, c.1655

The Sacred Heart of Jesus

The sacred heart is one of the most recurrent symbols in Christian iconography. Today, primarily online, it is often found in paintings and digital representations. However, what does it really mean?

Often the heart is represented with: flames, rays of light, arrows, the crown of thorns and the cross. Each of these elements hides a meaning.

The flames: they want to remember the burnt offerings that were considered the highest form of sacrifice in ancient Israel. Moreover, the flames are always related to the presence of God at a precise moment. The Bible shows us some examples, such as the burning bush that spoke to Moses. Finally, the flames in contact with the heart allude to Christ's infinite love for humanity.

Rays of Light: Light like the fire is an element of divinity. In fact, Christ is the light of the world, guiding and illuminating us, revealing us to God.

Arrows: are reminiscent of sin, but they may also be meant to recall Christ's love for us. They may be meant to recall the Roman metaphor for love, in which Cupid pierces the hearts of lovers with an arrow.

Crown of Thorns: wrapped around the heart, it is meant to recall the pain Christ felt at the moment the wounds were inflicted on him. After the resurrection, the crown becomes victory over death; it becomes the crown of life.