June has long been recognized in the Catholic tradition as the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus — a devotion that traces its roots to early Christianity and gained prominence in the 17th century, inspired by the visions of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque. In June 1675, Christ appeared to the nun in Paray-le-Monial, asking her to spread devotion to His Sacred Heart. The Church officially recognized these apparitions in 1765, giving new momentum to this devotion. Later, in 1965, the Second Vatican Council elevated the feast of the Sacred Heart to a solemnity, celebrated each year 19 days after Pentecost—falling this year on Friday, June 27.
A Renewed Call from Pope Francis
Pope Francis’s 2024 encyclical, Dilexit Nos (“He Loved Us”), invites the faithful to rediscover this powerful devotion. Through the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Pope reveals the compassionate and merciful love of God.
“We must rediscover the importance of the heart,” he writes, “as it best expresses the divine love of Christ, united inseparably with His human love.”
The Holy Father believes that devotion to the Sacred Heart can serve as a remedy for many of today’s spiritual and societal ills. In response, Europe is witnessing a spiritual revival this June, centered on the Heart of Christ.
Ireland’s Rededication to the Sacred Heart
As part of the Jubilee Year celebrations, Ireland will be consecrated once again to the Sacred Heart of Jesus—a renewal not seen in over 150 years. Launched by a group of clergy and laity under the banner of the Sacred Heart Crusade, four pilgrim statues blessed by Pope Francis in January have been journeying across Ireland’s ecclesiastical provinces since February.
On June 22, these statues will converge at the Marian shrine in Knock for a solemn Mass of rededication, inviting all of Ireland to embrace the love and mercy of the Sacred Heart anew.
Spain Hosts International Sacred Heart Congress
From June 6 to 8, the city of Valladolid will host the international congress Cor Iesu, Spes Mundi (“Heart of Jesus, Hope of the World”), organized by the Institute of the Heart of Christ in partnership with the local Archdiocese.
This event answers Pope Francis’s call for renewed theological, spiritual, and missionary reflection. Bishops, theologians, and evangelists from across the globe will reflect on the Sacred Heart as a source of hope in a world marked by suffering and confusion.
Valladolid is also deeply symbolic, as it was here that Blessed Bernardo de Hoyos, a key figure in promoting devotion to the Sacred Heart, received the Great Promise from Jesus in 1733: “I will reign in Spain.”
350th Anniversary of the Apparitions in France
In Paray-le-Monial, the Jubilee commemorating the 350th anniversary of the apparitions to Saint Margaret Mary concludes with a grand celebration from June 27 to 29, led by Cardinal François Bustillo, special envoy of Pope Leo XIV.
Throughout the Jubilee, the Civilization of Love association, in collaboration with the Sanctuary of Paray-le-Monial, has promoted personal, familial, and parish consecrations to the Sacred Heart. The platform Se Adorer supports this mission, and a register of consecrations is maintained by the Visitation Monastery.
The devotion to the Sacred Heart is seen not only as a pious tradition, but as a living spirituality—a wellspring of love capable of renewing the Church’s mission in today’s world.
Rome: Solemn Celebration with Pope Leo XIV
In Rome, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart will close the Jubilee of Priests (June 25–27) with a Mass celebrated by Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter’s Square on June 27 at 9 a.m.
The Pope’s recent letter to the Church in France emphasizes the evangelizing power of the Sacred Heart devotion:
“There could be no more beautiful and simple program of evangelization: to help every person encounter the love of tenderness and predilection that Jesus has for them—transforming lives.”
Pope Leo XIV, a spiritual heir of Saint Augustine, continues to champion the Sacred Heart as the very source of God’s mercy and mission in the world.
This June, as the Church across the world turns once more to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we are invited to rediscover a devotion that is both timeless and urgently needed today. Through the pierced Heart of Christ, we encounter love, healing, and hope—a love that can transform not only individuals but entire nations.
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