The heart is the symbolic center of feeling and emotion, and it represents Jesus’ deep love and affection for us. It is red, the color of blood, which Jesus poured out for us. Red signifies fervent love, and Jesus loves us so much that he laid down his life for us. 

The heart typically is encircled horizontally with a crown of thorns. The thorns represent the stings caused by our sins. During Jesus’ passion, the execution squad wove a crown of thorns and placed it on his head and it represents all that Jesus suffered on our account.

There is a gash under the left side of the heart which recalls when the soldier thrust his lance into Jesus’ side.

There is an array of glistening gold beams of light radiating from Jesus’ heart. Jesus is light, and the love of his heart enlightens the world.

Lord Jesus Let my heart never rest until it finds You, who are its center, its love, and its happiness. By the wound in Your heart pardon the sins that I have committed whether out of malice or out of evil desires. Place my weak heart in Your own divine Heart, continually under Your protection and guidance, so that I may persevere in doing good and in fleeing evil until my last breath. Amen. 

– St. Margaret Mary Alacoque