Sacred Heart of Jesus
by Monica Pugh | June 23, 2025
February is thought to be the month of love but it is June that holds the title. Historically weddings are the reason June is full of love. They were scheduled in late spring when flowers were in peak bloom and peasant brides and grooms were freshly bathed ready to bind their hearts together. Deacon Eric and I chose to be wed on a lovely day in June.
It is in our hearts where we feel love but love is also action like taking vows to be wed. Emotions begin in our brain signaling our heart to feel and the heart returns the signal for the brain to interpret. It is this path where a complex play between the body and mind happens. Jesus, becoming man, experienced this pathway to be closest to us. It is his Sacred Heart that beats for the love of God the Father, his Holy Mother, Mary, and for us. June is the month of many lovely solemnities including the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Let’s turn our focus towards devotional prayers this month.
Pondering the solemnities brings many personal emotions. Our second son was born in June with life-threatening heart defects. Our young hearts shattered and our brains could not see the path. My prayers begged God to heal my son. Surrender for me did not come quickly like Mary’s yes for her. Fortunately, June also holds memories of a miraculous heart surgery. Today, our son is a husband and father. When his birthday arrives my heart swells with thankfulness and love for answered prayers. I remember what it felt like to carry him unaware of what we were to endure. Mary surrendered without explanation. Her action is the reason we have salvation through Jesus’ Sacred Heart that beat near her heart as she carried our Savior. Her yes brings understanding and surrender to my heart today.
Prayers surrounding the Sacred Heart of Jesus come in the form of a litany prayer, a novena, or a chaplet. These prayers began in the 17th century and stem from the private apparitions of Jesus given to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. The apparitions revealed practices now known as First Fridays devotion, Thursday Holy Hour in Eucharistic adoration, and the Feast of the Sacred Heart. This feast in the liturgical calendar always follows eight days after the Feast of Corpus Christi. The Immaculate Heart of Mary follows the next day with the dates changing yearly, like Easter, yet always near our son’s birthday.
Jesus’ Sacred Heart is often displayed with Mary’s Immaculate Heart pierced by a sword. But June also brings Father’s Day to honor our own fathers and the Most Chaste Heart of Joseph. His heart is swathed with lilies highlighting his love for Mary’s purity. These three hearts of our holy family reflect the Holy Trinity solemnity also celebrated in June this year. These hearts bring us hope to understand the immense love of the Trinity and mercy flowing from Jesus. Take action and pray these Sacred Heart chaplet prayers of warm love, “Sweet Heart of Jesus be my love, Sweet Heart of Mary be my salvation, oh Sweetest Heart of Jesus I implore that I may ever love Thee more and more. Amen.”