The Sacred Heart of Jesus
Feast Day: Friday, Nineteen Days After Pentecost
You have probably seen the image.
Jesus pointing to His heart.
The heart is on fire, wrapped in thorns, with a cross on top and a wound in its side.
It hangs in kitchens, living rooms, and grandmothers’ bedrooms all over the world.
And it says one thing very clearly: this is how much I love you.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
The Heart That Was Pierced
After Jesus died on the Cross, a soldier made sure He was dead.
“But one of the soldiers with a spear opened his side, and immediately there came out blood and water.”
— John 19:34, Douay-Rheims
The Church Fathers saw the Sacraments flowing from that wound.
Water for Baptism.
Blood for the Eucharist.
The Heart of Jesus was opened so that we could enter in.
“Learn of Me”
Jesus only described His own heart once in the Gospels.
“Come to me, all you that labour, and are burdened, and I will refresh you.”
— Matthew 11:28, Douay-Rheims
“Take up my yoke upon you, and learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart: and you shall find rest to your souls.”
— Matthew 11:29, Douay-Rheims
Not a heart that is harsh.
A heart that is gentle.
A heart that welcomes the tired.
St. Margaret Mary
Devotion to the Heart of Jesus is very old, but it spread around the world because of a French nun.
Between 1673 and 1675, Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the convent of Paray-le-Monial.
He showed her His Heart and said that it had loved people so much, yet received so little love in return.
He asked for a feast in honor of His Heart, for Communion of reparation, and for a holy hour of prayer.
Her confessor, St. Claude de la Colombière, helped spread the devotion.
(See St. Margaret Mary Alacoque.)
The First Fridays
One of the best-known practices from these apparitions is the First Friday devotion.
Catholics receive Holy Communion on the first Friday of nine months in a row, in reparation for sin and in love for the Heart of Jesus.
From One Convent to the Whole World
In 1856, Pope Blessed Pius IX extended the Feast of the Sacred Heart to the whole Church.
In 1899, Pope Leo XIII consecrated the whole human race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Many families still consecrate their homes to the Sacred Heart and give His image a place of honor.
When Is It Celebrated?
The Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is celebrated on the Friday after the Second Sunday after Pentecost.
That is nineteen days after Pentecost, so it usually lands in June.
The very next day, the Church celebrates the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
(See Immaculate Heart of Mary.)
In 2027, it falls on June 4.
In 2028, it falls on June 23.
What the Sacred Heart Teaches Us
The Sacred Heart teaches us that God is not distant or cold.
He has a human heart that loves us.
It teaches us to make reparation, to love Him back for all who ignore Him.
And it teaches us to make our own hearts more like His: meek, humble, and full of love.
When Is the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart?
The Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on the Friday after the Second Sunday after Pentecost.
Prayer Inspired by the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Lord Jesus Christ,
Your Heart was pierced for love of us
and still burns with love for every soul.
Make our hearts meek and humble like Yours.
Forgive our coldness,
receive our love in reparation,
and keep us always close to Your Heart.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us. Amen.
