June 2025
Holy Mother Church has dedicated the month of June to the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus—the fount of mercy, forgiveness, and love. We know, of course, the multiple times that Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque with visions and instructions on how to give honor to the symbol of Jesus’ Sacred Heart, how our faith could make amends for the wrongdoings that we have committed against the Lord’s divine and Sacred Heart. He recommended to St. Margaret Mary the need of observing a Holy Hour in devotion to His Sacred Heart. In one of the Lord’s apparitions to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, the Lord told her: “My Divine Heart is so passionately in love with humanity and with you that it cannot keep back the pent-up flames of its burning charity any longer. They must burst out through you.”
Jesus also graced two Benedictine Nuns during the Middle Ages with revelations regarding his Sacred Heart. One was St. Gertrude, who had a great love for the Heart of Jesus and His divine love for us. Jesus revealed to St. Gertrude: “Behold my most loving Heart, the harmonious instrument whose tones enrapture the Holy Trinity; I give it to thee, and as a faithful and ready servant, it will be at thy command to supply for the weaknesses. Make use of My Heart, and thy works will be pleasing to the sight and the ear of God.”
St Gertrude’s writings showed her immense love for the Lord. He would comment to her: “My Heart is so passionately enamored of thee that, were it necessary in order to save thee, I would again willingly endure, for thee alone, all that I have suffered for the salvation of the whole world.” The desire and love from His Heart are not just for Gertrude but for all people. How open are we and devoted are we to His most Sacred Heart?
The second Benedictine Nun was St. Mechtilde, who was under the direction of St. Gertrude. St. Mechtilde began confiding to St. Gertrude that the Lord often appeared to her and gave her revelations. The Lord would call Mechtilde His “nightingale,” showing how pleasing her songs were to Him. The Blessed Lord appeared to her, holding the book of visions over His Heart, and told her that all her revelations flowed from His Sacred Heart and would return to it. It was the desire of the Lord that the “book of revelations” be published, because through it, souls would be drawn to His Heart.
How graced these holy women were with such a God-given devotion. It is obvious that it was a powerful means to grow in holiness and deepen one’s relationship with Jesus Christ. In 1899, Pope Leo XIII consecrated the world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Pope described this as the “great act” of his papacy. For all the grace available to us, a deep commitment to His Most Sacred Heart is a way to align our lives with Christ’s love and mercy.
Jesus made promises to St. Margaret Mary for those who practice this devotion faithfully. A selected few of these promises were:
I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.
I will give peace to their families.
I will be their refuge in life and especially in death.
I will bless those places wherein the image of My Sacred Heart shall be honored and venerated.
I will give to priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts.
May this month of June draw you into a more intimate union with Our Lord and His Most Sacred Heart.
f. Abbot Sharbel Ewen, O.S.B.
Prince of Peace Abbey
