+ Know Christ + Becomes Disciples + Embrace Mission + Build the Kingdom +
The month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a devotion that began in the 12th century and grew after Jesus appeared to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 1670s, revealing His Sacred Heart to her. This devotion invites us to reflect on the infinite love of God revealed through the human heart of Jesus. As Pope Francis has said, it is often easier to believe in our love for God than in His love for us. June calls us to contemplate the Sacred Heart and be convinced of God’s personal love for each of us.
In her first apparition, Jesus told St. Margaret Mary, “My divine Heart is so passionately fond of the human race… that it cannot keep back the flames of its burning charity any longer.”
The image of the Sacred Heart is filled with symbols of God’s love:
• Flames remind us of the burning love of Jesus, who desires to set our hearts on fire with divine love.
• Rays of light show that Jesus is the light of the world, bringing truth and hope into darkness.
• The crown of thorns represents our sins, which wound His Heart.
• The cross reveals that it was Christ’s love that sustained His sacrifice for our salvation.
• The open wound reminds us that the mercy of Jesus is always available and His Heart is always open to us.
In a world marked by suffering and division, we are called to let the love of the Sacred Heart fill our own hearts so we can share that love with others. This month, let us pray for the grace to trust in God’s love for us and to love others as Jesus loves us.