The Devotion to the Sacred Head of Our Lord Jesus Christ
as the seat of Divine Wisdom
Testimonies to the holiness of Teresa Higginson
and the devotion to the Sacred Head
Fr. Bertrand Wilberforce O.P. (1839-1904)
This eminent Dominican priest was the grandson of Lord Wilberforce the anti-slavery campaigner. Amongst his writings was a 'Treatise on the Mystical Life'.
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In Cecil Kerr's Teresa Helena Higginson (1926) he wrote a memorandum, considering the devotion worthy of the principles of St Thomas Aquinas. Here are two extracts:
[I] "In the devotion now being considered, when the Sacred Head is being honoured, the Person is honoured and as the Person is divine, the honour due to the Sacred Head is divine (Vid. St. Th. Sum., Pt. iii, Qu. XXV., Art. 2). This being as above stated, in strict analogy to the worship of the Sacred Heart, needs no further proof to show its perfect harmony with the Catholic Faith. We may therefore conclude that the devotion to the Sacred Head as the Shrine of the Divine Wisdom can be defended theologically and is in harmony with the teaching of the Catholic Church".
[II] “From this we may rightly proceed to conclude that a most fitting object of special devotion for man after being redeemed, is that very Wisdom by whom the Redemption has been accomplished. Now the Shrine of that Wisdom, its earthly Tabernacle, is the Sacred Head of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The devotion therefore, in itself, is most congruous and fitting.”
[III] "Moreover, a fervent devotion to the Divine Wisdom and its earthly Shrine will bring down on the faithful, we most confidently hope, a special grace to preserve their faith intact and to spread that 'precious gift' among many still out of the fold. We may then conclude that this devotion is thoroughly theological, in strict harmony with the devotion, already so solemnly and frequently approved, of the Sacred Heart, most congruous in itself, and lastly peculiarly suited to the special needs of the age in which we live."
Fr Vincent McNabb O.P. (1868-1943)
This much-loved saintly Dominican and influential scholar corresponded with Lady Cecil Kerr, Teresa's biographer. Here are two extracts from letters:
St Dominic's Priory, N.W.5. 7th September 1925
"....I return the papers. To me they were most interesting. They confirm all that I have felt about the theology of Mystical Wedlock - as to its nature and mystic rite. I cannot see how an unlettered woman could write these things unless she had experienced them. Even a trained mystical theologian would shirk the task of describing what she describes. Moreover, as no doubt she did not keep any copies of her letters, the agreement between her several accounts is strong proof that like St. John she speaks 'what she has seen'."
23rd May 1927
"What I have read seems to confirm my existing impression that Teresa was an authentic mystic, raised by God to an unusual degree of sanctity. Her Devotion to The Sacred Head is likely to be of great value to the Church in the near future."
Fr Hugh Mackenzie, priest at Westminster Cathedral
"The Crown of Thorns has been pushed into our Lord's Sacred Head more than ever in our age. Our culture's powerful undermining of the Wisdom of God's plan "formed in Christ before the Ages began" corrupts many and threatens to bring down civilisation.
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The wisdom of God's plan must be re-vindicated, starting with this devotion. Let us recommit ourselves to revealing the sagacity and goodness of all His actions."