In this revised, updated edition of Heart of the Redeemer, Timothy O'Donnell synthesizes years of research to provide a thorough presentation of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He examines the doctrinal roots of the devotion in Scripture and in documents from the Apostolic and Patristic Ages; charts its growth and development through the Middle Ages; explains the enormous contribution of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque; and presents magisterial teaching on the subject, including statements from Vatican Council II, recent popes, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The book also includes images illustrating the development of the devotion.

Devotion to the Sacred Heart is a response to the tremendous love of Christ as symbolized by his human heart pierced on Calvary. At the core of Catholic spiritual life, the devotion is a key to effective renewal of the Church and the world. Those who have not yet embraced this devotion—or who want to understand it more deeply and practice it more fully—will discover its profound richness and beauty in Heart of the Redeemer.