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A Heart on Fire
Rev. James Kubicki, S.J., national director of the Apostleship of Prayer, offers a lively introduction to one of the greatest Catholic devotions--the Sacred Heart of Jesus--showing clearly how the Heart of Christ can be a source of joyful transformation for contemporary Catholics.
The Sacred Heart of Jesus, an age-old and often misunderstood devotion, is presented in this persuasive and engaging guide by Rev. James Kubicki, S.J. He delves into the devotion's rich theological and spiritual roots and demonstrates how the faithful may encounter the Heart of Jesus in one another, scripture, the sacraments, and especially in the Eucharist. Kubicki brings to life the rich imagery associated with the devotion's history and provides a contemporary look at traditional devotions like the Twelve Promises, family consecration and enthronement, the Sacred Heart Badge, the Litany of the Sacred Heart, holy hours, and devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
The Sacred Heart of Jesus, an age-old and often misunderstood devotion, is presented in this persuasive and engaging guide by Rev. James Kubicki, S.J. He delves into the devotion's rich theological and spiritual roots and demonstrates how the faithful may encounter the Heart of Jesus in one another, scripture, the sacraments, and especially in the Eucharist. Kubicki brings to life the rich imagery associated with the devotion's history and provides a contemporary look at traditional devotions like the Twelve Promises, family consecration and enthronement, the Sacred Heart Badge, the Litany of the Sacred Heart, holy hours, and devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
198 pages, Paperback
First published May 14, 2012
35 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 15, 2015
‘Many people think that Sacred Heart devotion began in the seventeenth century with a Visitation nun named St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. The reality is that it began much earlier. In fact, it began before time began, in the eternal Heart of God. Sacred Heart devotion isn’t our devotion. It’s God’s. It’s God’s devotion to us. Our devotion is only a response to God’s devoted love, because God loved us first. The Apostle John, who often refers to himself as the disciple “whom Jesus loved,” wrote, “God is love” (1 Jn 4: 8, 16).’
Fr. James Kubicki has written the best book on devotion to the Sacred Heart I’ve ever read, well actually it’s more than that. It’s the best book I’ve read about the Love of God. His primary focus is on the Sacred Heart of Jesus, so in doing justice to this beautiful subject, Kubicki includes relevant information about Divine Love.
In A Heart on Fire Kubicki first explains the centrality of the heart to everything else in human life and love. Kubicki reveals the Love of God as both agape, total self-giving and eros, passionate, in the best sense of the word. Hence we speak of the ‘Passion of Christ’.
He also describes, instructs and sets straight misconceptions—from minor ones about tastes in art to more important ones, such as that original sin involved the separation of head from heart. When we sin we say, in so many words, “I want love, because that’s what I’m made for, but I don’t want your love or your way of love God. I’ll find it on my own. I’ll do it my way.”
This is a love story, the greatest love story ever told—the love of God for humanity which allows us to love Him in return. It would be worth reading A Heart on Fire just for the treasury of quotes and beautiful meditations. Fortunately there is also: scriptural basis, historical background, inspirational material and individual and family devotionals.
If you ever wondered how much God loves you or wanted to grow in love for Him, this is the book to read.
Fr. James Kubicki has written the best book on devotion to the Sacred Heart I’ve ever read, well actually it’s more than that. It’s the best book I’ve read about the Love of God. His primary focus is on the Sacred Heart of Jesus, so in doing justice to this beautiful subject, Kubicki includes relevant information about Divine Love.
In A Heart on Fire Kubicki first explains the centrality of the heart to everything else in human life and love. Kubicki reveals the Love of God as both agape, total self-giving and eros, passionate, in the best sense of the word. Hence we speak of the ‘Passion of Christ’.
He also describes, instructs and sets straight misconceptions—from minor ones about tastes in art to more important ones, such as that original sin involved the separation of head from heart. When we sin we say, in so many words, “I want love, because that’s what I’m made for, but I don’t want your love or your way of love God. I’ll find it on my own. I’ll do it my way.”
This is a love story, the greatest love story ever told—the love of God for humanity which allows us to love Him in return. It would be worth reading A Heart on Fire just for the treasury of quotes and beautiful meditations. Fortunately there is also: scriptural basis, historical background, inspirational material and individual and family devotionals.
If you ever wondered how much God loves you or wanted to grow in love for Him, this is the book to read.
September 13, 2012
By far, this book is the BEST on the subject of the Sacred Heart of Jesus that I have seen in a very long time. So very practical and deep in its spiritual appreciation of this beautifully essential devotion for our lives, Fr. James Kubicki helps all to rediscover the devotion to the Sacred Heart. He presents the history of this timely devotion, with help of the apostles, Church Fathers, the Saints and contemporary Catholics, in an engaging and easily digestible way. And the prayers…the incredibly deep and radiant prayers…Fr. Kubicki breaks them open a new for us all to appreciate, encouraging us not to “say the prayers”, but to “pray the prayers”. Wonderful, simply wonderful! I cannot recommended this work more highly. Pick up more than one copy and become a missionary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus by passing copies on to others
For my interview with Fr. Kubicki
For my interview with Fr. Kubicki
September 22, 2023
Clear, concise history of the Sacred Heart. Beautiful book!
August 25, 2012
At a certain part in my Jesuit life, I needed a simple book that spoke convincingly about the love of God. This came out last March (2012), and I thought would be a quick read—it’s only 182 pages—but in the end I spent months slowly digesting the very basic spirituality it described. There’s something disarmingly deep about this book charged with “rediscovering devotion to the sacred heart of Jesus” in a contemporary way. It was great side reading on our Hearts on Fire tour.
May 12, 2015
As Fr. Kubicki states, we need a conversion of our heart for a true change. Rediscovering this devotion (or discovering for the first time) will surely help our country turn back to God. I highly recommend reading this book and answering Jesus' call to set our hearts afire with love for him. I'm hoping to meet Fr. Kubicki at the Midwest Catholic Family Conference in August. It would be great to hear his message.
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March 1, 2013This book puts one back on tract and jars one's memories to getting back to some of the meditations about the spiritual side of living and back to trying to understand the true devotion some of the saints had for the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This book also helps me to understand how Jesus' love for all humans begins with His burning desire for us to know and love His Father.
November 7, 2023
“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”
This is a really great primer on devotion to the Sacred Heart - I think it did a great job of outlining the history and different forms of devotion while proposing other resources where more depth can be found. There were times where I think Kubicki got a little lost in the weeds of specific devotions, but overall I loved this book and would highly recommend it.
This is a really great primer on devotion to the Sacred Heart - I think it did a great job of outlining the history and different forms of devotion while proposing other resources where more depth can be found. There were times where I think Kubicki got a little lost in the weeds of specific devotions, but overall I loved this book and would highly recommend it.
July 9, 2017
Brilliant - a must read for all Catholics, all Christians and all humans.
June 5, 2019
I found this to be a truly inspiring book. It helped me to return to the root of the devotion of the Sacred Heart of Jesus! I am sure I will be reading it again.
June 30, 2022
Amazing!
This book is great and to the point! I've learned a lot from it, I really recommend it to anyone!
This book is great and to the point! I've learned a lot from it, I really recommend it to anyone!
April 7, 2016
Good solid book that did exactly what it promised to do in the title: helped me rediscover a devotion to the Sacred Heart. The Sacred Heart of Jesus is a devotion I've found attractive for many years, but recently have drifted from. This book not only has inspired me to take up this devotion again, but to delve a bit deeper than before through prayer helps, descriptions of various devotions, etc.
An easy read that can be used as part of your prayer. But isn't finished when you turn the last page.
An easy read that can be used as part of your prayer. But isn't finished when you turn the last page.
August 3, 2014
Book that you need to be Catholic to enjoy. Some inspiring sections but on the whole rather routine stuff. Well written but a lot of redundancy in thought.
July 8, 2015
I found this book at a retreat house last fall. I am so glad that I did. I would recommend it to any Catholic trying to better live their faith.
March 30, 2017
An excellent primer on devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews