The MOA Sanctuary has opened its Heart to Heart exhibit to mark the 350th anniversary of the Sacred Heart apparition and the 100th anniversary of the canonization of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus.
The exhibit features images of the Sacred Heart and St. Thérèse, along with relics of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and St. Thérèse. It is a joint project of SM Mall of Asia, the Liturgical Commission of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Manila, the Miraculous Medal Apostolate, the National Shrine of the Sacred Heart, and the Jesuit Music Ministry.
The devotion to the Sacred Heart traces its origin to June 16, 1675, when St. Margaret Mary Alacoque reported that Jesus asked her to promote the First Friday devotion. Pope Francis, in his encyclical Dilexit Nos, described devotion to Christ’s heart as “a synthesis of the Gospel.”
‘Heart to Heart’ exhibit
St. Thérèse, canonized on May 17, 1925, was known for her deep devotion to the Sacred Heart. In one letter, she wrote that she spoke to Christ “in the solitude of this delightful heart to heart” while waiting to see Him “face to face.”
The MOA Sanctuary, located at the mall’s Sky area, opened on May 5. The glass-enclosed oval space offers a view of the Rosary Walk with its globes of light, pocket gardens, and a grass lawn with a central pond.
in Quezon City is featured in the exhibit
The Heart to Heart exhibit, which runs until October, includes a Sacred Heart image made by Talleres de Maximo Vicente, a replica of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart from the Parish of the Most Holy Redeemer in Quezon City, images of St. Thérèse’s parents, Saints Louis and Azélie-Marie Martin, and several first- and third-class relics of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and St. Thérèse.
Luz Medina, and Perkin So attend the launch event
Among those present at the launch were Rev. Fr. Genaro Diwa of the Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission, Darwin Lomentigar of the Jesuit Music Ministry, Luz Medina of the National Shrine of the Sacred Heart, and Perkin So, SM Mall of Asia SAVP for operations.
