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Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
Family Activities | Feast of the Sacred Heart | catholic family life
Sister Margaret Kerry offers ideas for families preparing to celebrate our nation's upcoming Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. We are witnesses to a remarkable moment in United States history: On June 11, 2026, as part of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. bishops will consecrate the United States of America to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The founder of my Pauline Religious Family, Blessed James Alberione, recognized that devotion to the heart of Christ was found in the church as early as the first century. To illustrate this, Alberione designed the communion rail at the Temple of St. Paul in Alba, Italy, with two unique gates opening to the sanctuary. The design on one gate is the heart of Paul, and on the other is the heart of Christ. The words, written in Latin, are entwined within an image of the vine and branches: “The heart of Paul is the heart of Christ.” In his letters, Paul reminds us we are called to have a heart that pulses with the heart of Christ (Galatians 2:20).
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Feast of the Sacred Heart | Sacred Heart enthronement | devotion to the Sacred Heart
This year, the Feast of the Sacred Heart falls on June 12, but on June 11, the United States of America will be Consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus by the American Catholic Bishops. This great act is a powerful way to seek the Lord anew, as all the Bishops in the United States will pray this Consecration prayer in unity at their annual spring gathering in Orlando, FL. June 11 also marks 127 years since the world was consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1899 by Pope Leo XIII. The world was struggling with the rise of secularism, political unrest, and attacks on the faith when the Holy Father decided to consecrate the world. Now, in honor of America 250, the United States being Consecrated is a reminder that every generation always needs Jesus and an invitation to return to the love, mercy, and kingship of Jesus.
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Feast of the Sacred Heart | Learn more about our faith
Last week, I had the joy of accompanying a wonderful group on a pilgrimage to Montreal and Quebec, Canada and one of our stops was the Shrine of St. Anne de Beaupré in Quebec. Nestled along the St. Lawrence River, this shrine has welcomed pilgrims for over 350 years. Miracles have unfolded there, crutches left behind, burdens laid down, faith renewed. But for me, the most unexpected grace came not in the grand basilica, but in the crypt church, in front of a statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. At first glance, it was like any other statue until I noticed something peculiar. A kneeler was placed not directly in front of the statue but awkwardly off to the side, toward Jesus’ right. Our guide encouraged us to kneel there and look at the face of Jesus. I did, and some of us did, too. And what I saw caught me off guard.
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Catholic Faith | Feast of the Sacred Heart
The Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 27. The feast day is essentially a celebration of God’s Tenderness, His Mercy, His Love for each one of us, and for our world. The Heart in almost every human tradition is considered the symbol and the habitat for Love, for Tenderness, and for Mercy. The Prophet Ezekiel shares how the Lord unveils His tender heart when he says, “I myself will look after and tend my sheep. The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, the sick I will heal.” Through this reading, we look inside the tender heart of God, who personally and deeply cares about each one of us and is willing to do anything it takes to care for each one of us. He does not want to delegate but wants to personally take care of us. His is a Love that is gentle, that seeks, that cares, and that is merciful.
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