June 27 | The Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
Year of Origin: 17th century (based on devotions dating back to the 13th century and earlier)
Country of Origin: France
Attributes: Christ’s heart surrounded by a crown of thorns and topped with the Cross, on fire
Added to Liturgical Calendar: 1856, by Pope Pius IX
The Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is one of the Catholic Church’s many moveable feast days. It is always celebrated on the third Friday following Pentecost.
Since the feast almost always occurs in June (on very rare occasions, it can fall in late May or early July), the Church has for many centuries dedicated the entire month to the Sacred Heart.
The heart is the organ at the center of our circulatory system. It is responsible for pumping blood and transporting oxygen and nutrients to the rest of the body. The organ’s job is so essential a human being can only live for minutes without either his or her natural heart or an artificial heart temporarily taking its place. Due to its vital role in anatomy and physiology, “heart” has become a stand-in for a person’s core.
In the words of Pope Pius XII’s 1956 encyclical, Haurietis Aquas (On Devotion To The Sacred Heart):
The heart has always been seen as the "center" or essence [of] a person ("the heart of the matter," "you are my heart," "take it to heart," etc.) and the wellspring of our emotional lives and love ("you break my heart," "my heart sings," etc.)
Indeed, the word “core” ultimately derives from the same root word as “heart.” Linguists found that the English words “heart,” “core,” “courage,” “credit,” and “accord,” along with many foreign words for “heart” (such as Spanish “corazón,” French “cœur,” and Greek “kardia”) all came from the word “kerd,” which meant “heart” in the Proto-Indo-European Language spoken over 5,000 years ago. Also coming from this ancient root is “creed,” a person’s innermost beliefs, which lends its name to the profession of faith we say in Mass every Sunday.
Upon knowing the true breath of the meaning of the word “heart” – more than just a part of the body – we can better understand how important it is to have an entire day, let alone a month, devoted to Christ’s heart. As Pius XII continues:
Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is devotion to Jesus Christ Himself, but in the particular ways of meditating on his interior life and on His threefold love – His divine love, His burning love that fed His human will, and His sensible love that affects His interior life.
The devotion to the Sacred Heart originated in medieval Europe and was amplified across several religious orders during the time of the German Benedictine saint, St. Gertrude the Great.
In the late 17th century, Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary, a French nun, and gave her the following 12 promises to people who are consecrated and make reparation to His heart.
1. I will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life.
2. I will establish peace in their homes.
3. I will comfort them in all their afflictions.
4. I will be their secure refuge during life, and above all, in death.
5. I will bestow abundant belssings upon all their undertakings.
6. Sinners will find in my Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.
7. Lukewarm souls shall become fervent.
8. Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection.
9. I will bless every place in which an image of my Heart is exposed and honored.
10. I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.
11. Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in my Heart.
12. I promise you in the excessive mercy of My Heart that My all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Fridays in nine consecutive months the grace of final perseverance; they shall not die in my disgrace, nor without receiving their sacraments. My divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.
