While you probably are familiar with the term “Sacred Heart,” you might not know the history of the devotion which we celebrate as a feast this upcoming Friday.

Devotion to the wounded heart of Jesus had its origins in the eleventh century, when Christians meditated on the Five Wounds of Christ. There grew among the faithful prayers to the Sacred Heart, as people grew in love for our Savior who had suffered and died for us.

It was not until 1670, however, that a French priest, Fr. Jean Eudes, celebrated the first Feast of the Sacred Heart.

Around the same time, a sister by the name of Margaret Mary Alacoque began to report visions of Jesus. He appeared to her frequently, and as she experienced the comfort of his presence, Jesus told her of his great love and explained that he had chosen her to make his love and his goodness known to all. The devotion became popular after St. Margaret Mary’s death in 1690. On May 8, 1873, the devotion to the Sacred Heart was formally approved by Pope Pius IX.

The Sacred Heart of Jesus made several promises to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque for those who practice this devotion faithfully:

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.

So how then does one practice a devotion to the Sacred Heart? I’d suggest a few things:

1. Remember that humanity is good! Love much inspire humanity; this is why God never gives up on us and showed us how much we are loved. We must never give up on one another.

2. In what Jesus does for us, He shows us a better way – the way of love. We must do the same for one another.

3. We must resist getting down on ourselves but be a people of hope. We all have setbacks, even after we think we’ve overcome something. We should make use of confession and Mass, do a daily act of contrition, and always remember how much God loves us by welcoming His mercy into our hearts and souls. I think it’s good to link this feast to Divine Mercy, remembering God is always seeking us out.

4. Find time to meditate on the love of Jesus; use what works for you. Maybe get a prayer card of the image of the Sacred Heart or Divine Mercy. Find time for silence. Consider coming to the church for quiet prayer time. Or light a candle in your home and pray in your own way.

5. Challenge ourselves: If Jesus loves us this deeply, how can we love one another?

6. Bring that hope into the world by being person of mercy and love.

Our faith emphasizes God’s mercy and love so strongly because through Jesus, we are redeemed. We must never lose sight of the fact that on the one hand we are a people in need of redemption, while on the other hand we should never get so down on ourselves that we think that somehow we aren’t worthy of that mercy.Remember that His Mercy is God’s free gift to us. The Sacred Heart of Jesus is a reminder of that important truth.

Have a blessed week!

Fr. Paul

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June 7, 2026