Sagrado Corazon

Caban group, active second quarter of 19th century-first half of 20th century · ca. mid-19th-early 20th century

The Sacred Heart of Jesus is an important devotional image in the Roman Catholic Church, symbolizing Christ's all-consuming love for mankind. This special symbolism probably began with a vision experienced by a nun, Margaret Mary Alacoque, at her French convent in 1673. She claimed that during the blessing of the Sacrament on the altar, she saw an apparition of Christ with five wounds shining like five suns. His breast opened, revealing his heart as the source of the light. (Yvonne Lange, "Santos: The Household Wooden Saints of Puerto Rico," PhD diss., 1975)