Jesuits give up on the Sacred Heart

The procession of the Sacred Heart of Malaga, suspended by the Jesuits

The Worship and Procession Commission that promotes devotion to this image has released a statement in which it indicates that it does not share the reasons that have led the superior of the Jesuit Community to make this decision

The image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus should normally tour the streets of the Center of Malaga next Sunday, June 18. However, the Lord who left Adrián Risueño's workshop will have to wait, 'sine die' to return to procession, since, as announced by the Worship and Procession Commission that promotes devotion to this effigy, "the community -in reference to the Jesuits– has decided to suspend the procession as of this year”, the aforementioned commission has spread through its Facebook account.

The statement, made public this Saturday, includes the resolution of the superior of the Jesuit Community in Malaga, Pablo Ruiz Lozano SJ, who explains, in a simple letter, that, "after the death of Fr. Cantero, who took responsibility until his death of the coordination of the procession of the Sacred Heart, and seeing, also, that the Apostleship of Prayer cannot assume what it entails, the community has decided to suspend the procession as of this year. We would like to thank the enthusiasm and generosity that during all these years they have put in collaboration with Fr. Cantero in the organization of the procession”, emphasizes the Cordovan Jesuit, superior of the community in Malaga since August 29 of last year.

Father Pablo.  A thoroughly modern Jesuit

Father Manuel Cantero Pérez passed away on 4 April 2020, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, at the Hospital el Ángel de Málaga, at the age of 85. However, with external worship restored in the diocese, last year the image of the Sacred Heart went in procession through the streets of the Historic Center from the Jesuit temple in San Ignacio Square, which has caused surprise among the members of the commission in charge of the departure of the effigy and its annual cult, although, at that time, Ruiz Lozano had not yet taken the direction of the community established in Malaga. "It is our duty to communicate it, although we do not share the reasons that have led them to make this decision. For our part, we are not going to comment and we hope that this painful issue will be dealt with with the utmost respect and always keeping in mind that the title is the Sacred Heart of Jesus", indicates the commission, while warning that its devotees will continue «glorifying our Sacred Heart of Jesus. When the time comes in your month, we will inform you of the times and dates of the prcoessionand, as always, remembering the images of your procession", the statement concludes.

Although the procession of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Malaga dates back a long time, it was revived in 1915 –it had not been held since 1901, due to fear of street brawls–, promoted by the today blessed Tiburcio Arnáiz after he was appointed director of the Apostolate of the sentence. The procession left, at that time, from the church of San Agustín, since the current temple of the Sacred Heart had not yet been inaugurated.

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Cathcon: The real reason is that the Sacred Heart no longer features in their devotions.