Jézus Szíve oltalma alatt

Glässerné Nagyillés, Anikó (2018) Jézus Szíve oltalma alatt. VERITATIS IMAGO: TUDOMÁNYOS, MUZEOLÓGIAI, KULTURÁLIS FOLYÓIRAT, 2018 (2). pp. 33-41. ISSN 2559-9836

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Abstract

Under the Protection of the Sacred Heart Glässerné Nagyillés Anikó The Sacred Heart promises to protect and bless those who venerate it. In the Middle Ages and the Early Modern Age people imagined their own world to be part of God’s world, while God and the supernatural were seen as active agents in that world. It is in this frame that we can interpret the phenomenon where people in France from the 1700s wore images of the Sacred Heart sewn on their clothing, believing that they provided protection from evil, sicknesses and harm. In addition, following the vision of Sister Margaret Alacoque they believed that (the heart of) Jesus had chosen France among all nations and through the king wished to make a covenant with the French people; one of the conditions for this (met only later) was the dedication of the country. According to Raymond Jonas, it was because of the anti-clericalism of the French Revolution that the Sacred Heart became the dominant symbol of the royalist and catholic counter-revolution. The “motif ” of being chosen and the covenant, and the dedication could be found also in other European countries. Wearing the Sacred Heart on clothing was a custom in later centuries too. This can be seen in 19th and 20th century “patches” with the inscription: “Cease! The Heart of Jesus is with me. Thy Kingdom come!” These show a resemblance to the scapulars worn by the members of orders as part of the habit and by laypersons as a piece of clothing around the shoulders. It was a custom to place an image of the Sacred Heart on the lintel of the door to protect the family and home. Images of the Sacred Heart could also be worn as medals, scapulars or badges. This custom can be found not only in connection with the Sacred Heart. Similar objects were also found (and still exist) in connection with the veneration of Jesus, Mary and the saints. The phenomenon was in line with religious thinking of the period, at times linked to elements of vernacular religion, while in the case of membership of the Society of the Sacred Heart it was also a means of expressing togetherness and group awareness.

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