The Icon of the Divine Heart of God the Father – 24

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The Icon of the Divine Heart of God the Father: Part 4 – The Meaning of the Icon Components

Below is a copy of the original pencil drawing of the Divine Heart of God the Father Encompassing All Hearts, as seen in the exterior vision of May 25th, 2010 (Apostolate of the Divine Heart, 2011). This drawing was achieved after several drafts had been made and discarded. The accuracy of depiction of the Divine Heart Encompassing All Hearts in the pencil drawing was confirmed by the Father, both through His message of January 13th, 2011 and another corporeal theophanic vision (according to Augustine of Hippo [401-415], Aumann [1989], Burtchaell [2003], and Tanquerey [1947/2001]) of His Divine Heart that occurred. Meanwhile, it should be noted that the particular perspective below, of the Divine Heart, is not the only one that was presented by God the Father, in the exterior visions. However, it was both the very first one that He presented and the one that the Father specifically requested be used, in writing the diptych icon of His Divine Heart Encompassing All Hearts.

The large, translucent, grey heart situated in the brilliant-white disc of the sun, symbolically represents the Divine Heart of God the Father Encompassing All Hearts; as both seen in the above-referenced vision of May 25th, 2010 and elucidated further by the Father, in terms of its meaning and representation, in His messages of May 29th and June 13th, 2010 respectively (Apostolate of the Divine Heart, 2011). The largeness of the Divine Heart, in proportion to all the other components, represents the all-encompassing, all-embracing nature of the Father as the Alpha and Omega. Meanwhile, the Divine Heart itself appeared as translucent gray because it was offset by the brilliant, radiant whiteness of the sun.

The form of the Divine Heart symbolically represents, both visually and concretely, the infinite love that God the Father holds in His bosom for all mankind (Apostolate of the Divine Heart, 2011; Bartolo-Abela, 2011b, c). It also both manifests and represents the place where the Father profoundly, and most intensely, desires to mystically embrace and nurture the heart and soul of every individual on earth, in His Paternal and Parental manner: that is, at the very heart of His bosom – the Core of His Divine Heart. Meanwhile, the specific perspective that is presented of the Divine Heart is that of the Father reclining on His left side, while gazing down upon all humanity; making known His Infinite Love in a tangible way.

The small, blood-red heart that is situated in the right-upper region of the Divine Heart of God the Father, surrounded in its middle by wooden thorns and encircled by a light flame-colored orb, symbolically represents the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ (Apostolate of the Divine Heart, 2011; Bartolo-Abela, 2011b, c). The particular location of the Sacred Heart represents the fact that, “the only begotten Son . . . [lives] in the bosom of the Father” (Jn 1:18). Specifically, in the very heart – that is, in the Core – of the Divine Heart of the Father. The location of the Sacred Heart also represents the facts that, “The Father and I are One” (Jn 10:30); “The Father is in Me and I am in the Father” (Jn 10:38, 14:11), and that, “You are in Me and I am in You” (Jn 17:21).

Moreover, the location of the Sacred Heart additionally represents that, “No one can come to the Father except through Me” (Jn 14:6); “Everyone whom the Father gives Me will come to Me” (Jn 6:37), and that, “No one can come to Me unless drawn by the Father who sent Me” (Jn 6:44). For to enter into the Core of the Divine Heart of God the Father – the heart of the Father’s Heart, the Heart of the Holy Trinity – one necessarily has to pass through (thus, both in and with) the Sacred Heart of the Son (Apostolate of the Divine Heart, 2011; Bartolo-Abela, 2011b, c). Meanwhile, the flame-colored orb that encircles the Sacred Heart represents the intense love that the Son also has for all mankind. A love so profound in its intensity that it radiates forth, as it cannot be contained.

The brilliant-white disc and rays of the sun, tinged with gold, symbolically represent both the life, light and purity of the Holy Spirit; as well as the nature of God the Father as the Divine Light: that is, the Life and Light of the universe (Apostolate of the Divine Heart, 2011; Bartolo-Abela, 2011d). The quantity of rays of the sun symbolically represents the infinity of both the love of the Holy Spirit and the Father’s Love for mankind. Meanwhile, the thick flame-colored orb surrounding the disc of the sun represents both the fire of the Holy Spirit, as well as the intensity and irrepressibility of the Father’s Love for humankind.

The four large, diametrically-opposed rays of the sun symbolically represent (1) the Light, Life and Love of God the Father penetrating into the heart of the individual soul, through the Holy Spirit. The said rays also represent the symbolic ‘arms’ of the Father gathering into His bosom (2) every willing individual heart and soul – specifically, into the Core of His Divine Heart, in Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit; and (3) the collective hearts and souls of all mankind.

References

  • Apostolate of the Divine Heart. (2011). Devotion to the Divine Heart of God the Father (2nd ed.). MA: Author.
  • Augustine of Hippo. (401-415). Corporeal vision. De genesi ad litteram, 12.
  • Aumann, J. (1989). Corporeal vision. In Spiritual theology. Manila: University of Santo Tomas.
  • Bartolo-Abela, M. (2011b). The Core of the Divine Heart of God the Father. In The Divine Heart of God the Father. MA: Apostolate of the Divine Heart.
  • Bartolo-Abela, M. (2011c). The unity of the Divine and Sacred Hearts. In The Divine Heart of God the Father. MA: Apostolate of the Divine Heart.
  • Bartolo-Abela, M. (2011d). The Divine Heart of God the Father encompassing all hearts. In The Divine Heart of God the Father. MA: Apostolate of the Divine Heart.
  • Burtchaell, J. T. (2003). Theophany. New Catholic Encyclopedia (2nd ed.), 13:929.
  • Tanquerey, A. (1947/2001). Corporeal vision. In The spiritual life: A treatise on ascetical and mystical theology (2nd ed.). NC: Tan Books.