June is one of my favorite months because it is the month of the Sacred Heart. The actual feast day of the Sacred Heart falls eight days after the feast of Corpus Christi. This year that day is June 27th.
Let’s take a look at the history of the Sacred Heart as well as His promises for us if we honor His Sacred Heart. And then we can decide how we’re going to celebrate this wonderful feast day.
History of the Sacred Heart
I love the way Maria von Trapp gives the story of the Sacred Heart in her book “Around the Year with the von Trapp Family.” I thought you would enjoy it too, so I have it for you here:
“After Jesus had died for us on the Cross, He wanted to do even more – to give His last drop of blood. And so the Roman soldier pierced His heart with a lance.
“One would think that this would have convinced all later generations of their Redeemers love. But the ‘prince of this world’ saw to it that Christians, in the course of time, became forgetful of this love.
“To remind us, Jesus in 1675 appeared to a humble little nun in France, St. Margaret Mary, all aglow and radiant, the Risen Christ of Easter Sunday. On His breast she saw His heart all afire.
“Our Lord pointed to it, saying, ‘Behold, this heart which has loved men so much,’ and He told her to spread the news: everyone who would venerate this symbol of the Divine Heart He would reward with divine generosity.
“I will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life.
“I will establish peace in their houses.
“I will comfort them in all their afflictions.
“I will be their secure refuge during life, and above all in death.
“I will bestow a large blessing upon all their undertakings.
“Sinners shall find my Heart the source and the infinite ocean of mercy.
“Tepid souls shall grow fervent.
“Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection.
“I will bless every place where a picture of my heart shall be set up and honored.
“I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.
“Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in my Heart, never to be blotted out.
“I promise them in the excessive mercy of my heart that my all-powerful love will grant to all those who communicate on the first Friday in nine consecutive months the grace of final penitence; they shall not die in my disgrace nor without receiving the sacraments: my Divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.”
Ways to Celebrate
Now that we know some of the history and the promises of the Sacred Heart, let’s talk about some ways that we can celebrate this great feast.
Decorate an Image or a Statue of the Sacred Heart
Whether your home has an image or a statue of the Sacred Heart, or maybe even both, you can decorate it to give it the special attention it deserves.
We have both and right at the start of June I immediately decorated our image with flowers and ribbons. I also placed some flowers in front of our Sacred Heart statue.
These two simple things now draw much attention to our Lord.
Another way to do this could be by moving the image or statue to a more prominent location in the home. One where the whole family and any guests will always see it.
Plan a Special Meal and/or a Dessert.
A special meal and dessert is a great way to celebrate any feast day.
If you want to, you can make it all very themed to match the Sacred Heart.
For example, you could make a heart shaped cake and decorate it like the Sacred Heart. Or you could make the Sacred Heart on a pizza with your pizza toppings.
There are a lot of different ideas for this, but you don’t have to make the Sacred Heart on things if you don’t want to.
Just taking the time to plan and then make a meal that’s a little bit more special than your everyday meal would be great for celebrating.
You could even plan a French meal or dessert since St. Margaret Mary was from France and that’s where our Lord appeared to her.
Pray the Litany of the Sacred Heart
Praying together as a family is one of the greatest things we could possibly do.
So adding themed prayers into your family prayer routine is a great way to celebrate throughout the Liturgical Year.
One way to do this for the feast of the Sacred Heart is by praying the Litany of the Sacred Heart.
You should be able to find it in your missal and other daily prayer books.
Hymns to the Sacred Heart
Just like themed prayers we can also use appropriate hymns to celebrate.
Some hymns that are great for the Sacred Heart could be “Cor, Arca Legem Continens”, “Cor Dulce, Cor Amabile”, “O Sacred Heart of Christ Aflame”, and “O Sacred Heart of Jesus, Hear”.
If you don’t know any hymns to the Sacred Heart, now is a great time to learn some!
All the ones I suggested can be found on YouTube!
Mass Prayers
If you aren’t able to make it to Mass on this feast day, try to read the Mass prayers together as a family. I have some of them here for you.
Introit
“The thoughts of His Heart are to all generations: to deliver their souls from death and feed them in famine.”
Collect
“O God, who in the Heart of Thy Son, wounded by our transgressions, dost mercifully vouchsafe to bestow upon us the infinite wealth of Thy love; grant, we beseech Thee, that revering it with meet devotion, we may make a worthy reparation for our sins. Through the same Thy Son our Lord.”
Gradual
“The Lord is sweet and righteous: therefore He will give a law to sinners in the way. v. He will guide the mild in judgement: He will teach the meek His ways. Alleluia, alleluia. v. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, because I am meek and humble of heart: and you shall find rest to your souls. Alleluia.
Offertory
“My heart hath expected reproach and misery: and I looked for one that would grieve together with me, but there was none; and for one that would comfort me, and I found none.”
Secret
“Look, we beseech Thee, O Lord, upon the ineffable love of the Heart of Thy beloved Son; that our offering may be acceptable unto Thee and purify us from all our sins. Through the same Lord.”
Communion
“One of the soldiers with a spear opened His side, and immediately there came out blood and water.”
Postcommunion
“May Thy holy mysteries, O Lord Jesus, produce in us a divine fervor, whereby, having tasted the sweetness of Thy most dear Heart, we may learn to despise earthly things and love those of heaven.”
Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
I, N.N., give and consecrate to the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ, my person and my life, my action, troubles, and sufferings, wishing no longer to make use of any part of my being except to honor, love, and glorify Him. This is my irrevocable will, to belong entirely to Him, and to do all for love of Him, renouncing with all my strength all that could displease Him. I take Thee, then, O Sacred Heart, as the sole object of my love, the protector of my life, the assurance of my salvation, the remedy of my frailty and inconstancy, the repairer of all the defects of my life, and my assured refuge at the hour of my death. Be then, O Heart of goodness, my justification with God, Thy Father, and avert from me the darts of His just anger. O Heart of love, I place all my confidence in Thee, for, while I fear everything from my malice and weakness, I hope everything from thy goodness. Consume, then, in me all that could displease or resist Thee; may Thy pure love impress Thee so deeply on my heart that I may be unable ever to forget Thee, ever to be separated from Thee. I conjure Thee by all Thy favors that my name may be inscribed in Thee, for I would make all my happiness and all my glory consist in living and dying as Thy slave. amen.
Let’s Celebrate!
I hope this inspires you and your family into celebrating the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and I hope you will make it a family tradition!
Jesus meek and humble of heart, make our hearts like unto Thine.
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