But the plan of the Lord stands forever, the designs of his heart through all generations.
(Psalm 33:11)
June 3, 2025
Hello Everyone –
As you may recall, June is known as the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus most simply because the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart is celebrated during this month. This year, the solemnity falls on June 27. The date changes each year because it is celebrated on the Friday after the Feast of Corpus Christi (The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ).
However, other reasons exist as to why June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart. The actual feast dates back to 1673, when a French nun by the name of Sr. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a member of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary in eastern France, began to receive visions of Jesus.
Jesus appeared to Sr. Margaret Mary and revealed ways to venerate his Sacred Heart and explained the immense love he has for humanity, appearing as he did with his heart visible outside his chest, on fire, and surrounded by a crown of thorns. [Ways of veneration include partaking in a holy hour on Thursdays and the reception of the Eucharist on the first Friday of every month.]
In their initial encounter, Jesus told Sr. Margaret Mary: “My Divine Heart is so intense in its love for people, and for you in particular, that not being able to contain within it the flames of its ardent charity, it must spread them abroad by your means….” These visions continued for 18 months.
On June 16, 1675, Jesus told Sr. Margaret Mary to promote a feast that honored his Sacred Heart. He also gave her 12 promises made to all who venerate and promote the devotion of the Sacred Heart.
He said: “I ask of you that the Friday after the octave of Corpus Christi be set apart for a special feast to honor my heart, by communicating on that day, and making reparation to it by a solemn act, in order to make amends for the indignities which it has received during the time it has been exposed on the altars. I promise you that my heart shall expand itself to shed in abundance the influence of its divine love upon those who shall thus honor it and cause it to be honored.”
These are the promises the Sacred Heart of Jesus made to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque:
- I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.
- I will give peace in their families.
- I will console them in all their troubles.
- I will be their refuge in life and especially in death.
- I will abundantly bless all their undertakings.
- Sinners shall find in my heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.
- Tepid souls shall become fervent.
- Fervent souls shall rise speedily to great perfection.
- I will bless those places wherein the image of my Sacred Heart shall be exposed and venerated.
- I will give to priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts.
- People who propagate this devotion shall have their names eternally written in my heart.
- In the excess of the mercy of my heart, I promise you that my all-powerful love will grant to all those who will receive Communion on the first Fridays, for nine consecutive months, the grace of final repentance: They will not die in my displeasure, nor without receiving the sacraments; and my heart will be their secure refuge in that last hour.
Sr. Margaret Mary died in 1690 and was canonized by Pope Benedict XV on May 13, 1920. In 1856, Pope Pius IX designated the Friday following the feast of Corpus Christi as the feast of the Sacred Heart for the universal Church. Ever since, the month of June has been devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and his immense love for all of humanity.
As I do for you, please pray for me,
Most Reverend Jeffrey S. Grob
Archbishop of Milwaukee
P.S. On October 24, 2024, Pope Francis released the encyclical Dilexit Nos (He Loved Us) focusing on the heart of the Lord Jesus. Stay tuned for some of its content.
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