June – Devotion to the Sacred Heart

By TOM DENNEHY

The great Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is celebrated on the Friday following the feast of Corpus Christi which falls this year on June 27th. This feast day began as a result of the apparitions of Margaret Mary Alacoque, a French nun, which revealed to the world the great love of Jesus for us. She had a series of apparitions between 1673 and 1675 when Jesus appeared to her from the Blessed Sacrament and said, “Behold this Heart which loves so much and yet, is so little loved in return.” He explained that the thorns around His Heart are symbolic of the pain that He suffers because of the ingratitude and indifference of His priests and people towards His love in the Blessed Sacrament. Jesus then said that He suffers more now because of this indifference and ingratitude that He did during His entire passion.

He appealed to her to make up for all their ingratitude by spending time with Him in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and told her, “I thirst with such a terrible thirst to be loved by you in this most Blessed Sacrament.

The Sacred Heart of Jesus is a significant image in our Catholic faith which symbolizes God’s love, mercy and compassion. Symbol of God’s Love and Divine Mercy.

The Sacred Heart is a visual representation of God’s love for humanity, expressed through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. It reminds believers that the love of God is infinite and merciful, even in the face of human suffering. The pierced heart is a symbol of the willingness of Jesus to suffer and die for the forgiveness of sins. It is an invitation to embrace the virtues of Divine Mercy, compassion and forgiveness. It encourages believers to reflect on the love of Jesus and to extend that love to others, especially those who are marginalized or suffering. The image reminds us that the love of God is not conditional and that He welcomes all who come to him. Reminder of the Human Nature of Jesus.

The Sacred Heart acknowledges the full humanity of Jesus and His ability to experience joy, sorrow and compassion. It reminds us that Jesus understands our struggles and can empathize with our needs because He too experienced human suffering. By honouring the human heart of Jesus, we acknowledge His ability to connect with us on a human level. Symbol of Devotion and Adoration.

The Sacred Heart is a powerful symbol of devotion and adoration for Jesus. It inspires believers to deepen their relationship with Christ and to seek His guidance in their lives. The image encourages personal reflection and prayer, fostering a spirit of intimacy with Jesus. The flame signifies the intensity and transformative power of God’s love, capable of purifying and enkindling our hearts.

During this month of the Sacred Heart, let us contemplate the loving heart of Jesus which suffered so much for us as we spend time in Adoration and attending Holy Mass and receiving the Holy Eucharist. It is the living Heart of Jesus that we receive. We have so many Eucharistic Miracles which have taken place all over the world. These have been scientifically tested and have been proven to be the living Heart of Jesus. See website on Eucharistic miracles created by Blessed Carlo Acutis who will be canonized a saint on September 7th

When we contemplate His incredible love, when we reflect on the mercy, compassion and love that God has bestowed upon us, we come to know the love of Christ which surpasses all knowledge. When we allow Christ to live in our hearts, when we know His love deeply, in our minds and hearts, we are moved by the Holy Spirit to live the great commandments of Love of God and neighbour.

Our Church born from the pierced Heart of Jesus has a great mission in the world to proclaim the redeeming love of God in Christ.

The Sacred Heart of Jesus is precisely the image that expresses our mission. It is the image of the infinite and merciful love which the Heavenly Father has poured out upon the world through His son, Jesus. Only this love, the love of the Heart of Jesus, can transform the human heart and bring true peace to our world.

“Nowhere on earth are you more welcomed, nowhere on earth are you more loved, than by Jesus living and truly present in the most Blessed Sacrament. The time you spent with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the best time that you will spend on earth.” (Mother Teresa)

Sacred Heart of Jesus we place all our trust in You.