Various events were held throughout the world last week commemorating the Centenary of the death of Ven. Fr. Leo John Dehon, founder of the Priests of the Sacred Heart. He died on August 12, 1925.
In the Milwaukee area, the Dehon Study Center hosted the last of its three-part series on Pope Francis’ encyclical “Dilexit nos.” Dr. Jeremy Blackwood, associate professor of Systematic Theology at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology, has been the series’ presenter. His focus in the August 12th presentation: how Dilexit nos intersects with Fr. Dehon’s experience of the Sacred Heart.
In his encyclical, Pope Francis emphasized “the idea that all of us need to rediscover the importance of the heart,” said Dr. Blackwood. The pope wrote about the history of Sacred Heart devotion, using terminology familiar to Dehonians with words such as “reparation” and “oblation.”
However, said Dr. Blackwood, it was the Eucharist – mentioned only a few times in the encyclical – that was vital to Fr. Dehon in his understanding of the Sacred Heart.
“We are to care for the world around us as Christ did,” said Dr. Blackwood, reflecting on Dehonian spirituality. “We are to be Him to others. And just as clearly, we are to center around the Eucharist so that we can be fed, so that we can be strengthened…
“Christ’s heart means the will of Christ. The will of Christ means divine life. And our participation in that divine life occurs when our life means Christ. We are His Body. If the heart truly means our center, then our center must become Christ.
“Physical heart, metaphorical heart, oblation, reparation, divinity, humanity and love all come together. And through the Eucharist ‘it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me.’” [Gal 2:20]
The presentation took place in-person at the Provincial Conference Center, and via Zoom. Following Dr. Blackwood’s talk, Fr. Joseph Mukuna, SCJ, director of the Dehon Study Center, unveiled the center’s new sign.
Click here or on the image above to view the presentation.
Click here to view a few photos posted on Facebook.
Click here to view previous sessions.
