Dilexit Nos: On the Human and Divine Love of the Heart of Jesus Christ

Margaret Rash reviews the encyclical letter of the Holy Father, Pope Francis, published by Pauline Books & Media. 

Dilexit Nos: On the Human and Divine Love of the Heart of Jesus Christ 

Encyclical Letter by Pope Francis 

Publisher: Pauline Books & Media 

Dilexit Nos (translated to English as “He loved us”) is an encyclical letter by the Holy Father, Pope Francis, that examines devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in all of its many facets and throughout history. However, I must say that it is also so much more than this summation.   

This book, published by Pauline Books & Media and currently available for purchase on their website, is at once a theological treatise, a history of devotion, a call for devotion to Jesus, a reflection on the love God has for us, and a deeply moving love letter from Jesus to us via the words of Pope Francis. I cannot recommend this book enough. 

As a Work of History and Theology 

The Holy Father unpacks the history of the symbolism of the heart, going back through time and discussing the Old Testament, the early Church Fathers and coming to the present day. He discusses how we use the image of the heart in so many ways beyond the technical and medical meaning and how, as both spiritual and physical creatures, the heart is where these things meet for us.  

The reader is systematically walked through the history of the symbolic nature of the heart itself and the sound theology of devotion to the Sacred Heart.  

If we fail to appreciate the specificity of the heart, we miss the messages that the mind alone cannot communicate; we miss out on the richness of our encounters with others; we miss out on poetry.” (section 11, pp. 8-9) 

As a Personal Devotional and Prayer Companion  

Steeped in Scripture and overflowing with the wisdom of the Saints, you can sit and meditate with these pages for hours. The language of Pope Francis is so deeply personal and moving, there were certain passages that actually brought me to tears knowing the love of God for me, for you, reader, and for us all.  

At the same time, the short sections of the document and size of the book put out by Pauline Books & Media make it functional to pray with and carry with you wherever you go.  

Christ showed the depth of his love for us not by lengthy explanations but by concrete actions. (section 33, p. 23) 

Who Is this Book for? How to Use It?  

I can easily see a busy mom or dad packing this slim book into a purse, tote or briefcase and bringing it to work to read and pray with on a lunch break, or a stay-at-home mom (like me!) carrying it around the house in an oversized pocket and reading it at every opportunity.  

This book could be brought to Adoration, for personal prayer time at home, as a devotional for reading, reflection and journaling, or read and discussed for a book study with your parish. You could use this as preparation for Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, or for academic purposes and research.  

This leads me to propose to the whole Church renewed reflection on the love of Christ represented in his Sacred Heart. For there we find the whole Gospel, a synthesis of the truths of our faith, all that we adore and seek in faith, all that responds to our deepest needs. (section 89, p. 55) 

I'm sold! How do I get one? 

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Copyright 2025 Margaret Rash
Images: Canva