Watch One Hour With Me

For Catholics, a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus offers profound spiritual benefits, drawing us closer to the very core of divine love and mercy. This devotion isn't just about a physical organ, but rather a symbolic representation of Christ's boundless love for humanity, a love so immense it led Him to suffer and die for our salvation. Through it, we contemplate the depths of His compassion, His patience, and His willingness to embrace our suffering. It provides a powerful antidote to a world often lacking in authentic love, helping us to understand God as infinitely good and merciful, rather than solely a judging authority. Embracing this devotion can lead to a deepening of our own charity, a greater capacity for forgiveness, and a renewed sense of hope and peace in our daily lives.

To practically deepen your devotion to the Sacred Heart, consider the practice of making a "Holy Hour" of prayer. Inspired by Jesus' request to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque to "watch one hour with Me" during His agony in the Garden, a Holy Hour is a dedicated period of time spent in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, or even simply in quiet reflection on the Sacred Heart at home. During this time, you can offer acts of reparation for sins, implore mercy for yourself and others, and simply sit in loving presence with Christ, allowing His Sacred Heart to console and transform your own. This intentional time of communion fosters a more intimate relationship with Jesus and allows His love to truly permeate your being.

Becoming An Instrument of God's Grace

On Pentecost Sunday, we celebrate the powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, marking the birth of the Church. Fifty days after Easter, and ten days after the Ascension, this pivotal event transformed a fearful group of disciples into bold evangelists, ready to proclaim the Good News to all nations. The sound of a mighty rushing wind and tongues of fire descending upon each of them signified a profound spiritual awakening, empowering them with divine grace and courage. This momentous occasion, recounted in the Acts of the Apostles, is a reminder that the Holy Spirit continues to be an active and transformative presence in the lives of believers today.

The Holy Spirit bestowed upon the Apostles a wealth of spiritual gifts, not for their personal benefit, but for the building up of the Church and the salvation of souls. These gifts, often categorized as charismatic and sanctifying, include wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord, as well as more extraordinary gifts like prophecy, healing, and speaking in tongues. Each gift serves a unique purpose, enabling us to better understand God's will, to live virtuous lives, to share the Gospel effectively, and to serve our communities with love and compassion. While some gifts may seem more outwardly spectacular, all are equally important and divinely purposed to help us grow in holiness and draw closer to God.

For all Catholics, the gifts of the Holy Spirit are not merely historical relics but a living reality to be embraced and utilized in our daily lives. A practical application involves discerning and developing the gifts we have received through prayer, study, and active participation in the life of the Church. For example, if you find yourself with a gift of hospitality, use it to welcome newcomers to your parish or to offer comfort to those in need. If you possess a gift of discernment, apply it to guide others in moral decision-making or to identify areas where the Church can better serve its community. By actively living out the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we become instruments of God's grace in the world, contributing to the ongoing mission of Christ and strengthening the body of Christ for the glory of God. 

Finding St Anthony Among the Lost Items

Saint Anthony of Padua, though often associated with finding lost articles, was primarily known in his lifetime as a powerful and eloquent preacher. Originally a Canon Regular of St. Augustine, he was inspired to join the newly formed Franciscan order after witnessing the martyrdom of the first Franciscan missionaries in Morocco. His conversion to the mendicant life under St. Francis of Assisi transformed him, deepening his commitment to poverty, humility, and evangelical preaching. Gifted with profound theological knowledge and a captivating speaking style, he traveled across Italy and France, drawing immense crowds with his clear and passionate sermons, converting many and combating heresy with his unwavering faith and intellectual rigor.

Beyond his public ministry, St. Anthony was a mystic who enjoyed profound spiritual experiences, most notably a vision of the Infant Jesus. This intimate connection with the Christ Child is a hallmark of his iconography, often depicting him cradling the Holy Babe. This vision underscores his deep personal relationship with God, a closeness that fueled his preaching and his compassion for the poor and marginalized. It was a private testament to the living presence of Christ in his life, offering him solace and strength amidst the arduous demands of his public apostolate.

For Catholics today, St. Anthony's life offers several pertinent lessons. His Franciscan spirit calls us to embrace simplicity and detachment from material possessions, finding true richness in spiritual communion and service. His dedication to preaching reminds us of the importance of speaking truth with charity, whether in grand sermons or daily conversations. Moreover, his intimate bond with theInfant Jesus encourages us to cultivate a childlike trust in God, to seek personal encounters with Christ, and to carry His presence into every aspect of our daily lives, transforming ordinary moments into opportunities for grace and evangelization.

Sacred Heart Provides a Wellspring of Spiritual Growth

The devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus has been a wellspring of spiritual growth and a powerful source of grace for countless Catholics throughout history, championed by numerous saints and popes. One of the most influential figures in its promotion was St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a Visitation nun to whom Jesus appeared in the 17th century, revealing His burning love for humanity and His desire for this devotion to be spread. Through her obedience and humility, the Church received the twelve promises associated with the Sacred Heart, including peace in families, aid in necessities, and blessings upon undertakings. Popes like Leo XIII, who consecrated the entire human race to the Sacred Heart in 1899, and Pius XII, who issued the encyclical Haurietis Aquas in 1956, further solidified the devotion's place within the Church, emphasizing its profound theological roots in Christ's incarnate love and redemptive sacrifice.

Beyond these foundational figures, countless other saints have embraced and lived out the devotion to the Sacred Heart in their own unique ways. St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the "Little Flower," found in the Sacred Heart a model of merciful love and a call to childlike trust in God's immense goodness. St. John Paul II, a tireless advocate for divine mercy, frequently linked this devotion to God's compassionate love, encouraging the faithful to open their hearts to Christ's boundless mercy. These holy men and women understood that the Sacred Heart is not merely a symbolic representation, but a tangible expression of Jesus' personal love for each individual, a love that suffered, died, and rose again for our salvation. Their lives serve as powerful testimonies to the transformative power of allowing one's heart to be drawn into the very Heart of Christ.

For all Catholics today, growing closer to Jesus through devotion to His Sacred Heart offers a profound path to spiritual renewal. This can be achieved through simple yet profound practices. Regularly spending time in prayer before an image of the Sacred Heart, reflecting on Jesus' immense love and sacrifice, can deepen one's personal relationship with Him. Participating in First Friday devotions, receiving Holy Communion with the intention of reparation for sins against the Sacred Heart, and performing acts of consecration to the Sacred Heart within families or individually, are concrete ways to honor this devotion. Ultimately, the application is to open our hearts to Jesus' boundless love, allowing His Sacred Heart to inflame our own with charity, humility, and a fervent desire to serve Him and our neighbor.

Leading a Life of Love

Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus offers a profound path to spiritual transformation, deeply rooted in the revelations to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and championed by modern pontiffs like Pope Saint John Paul II. At its core, this devotion invites us to contemplate the immense love of God, symbolized by the pierced heart of Christ – a heart "aglow with love" as St. Margaret Mary described it. Embracing this devotion means recognizing the personal and infinite love Jesus has for each of us, a love that suffered and sacrificed for our salvation. It calls us to respond to this love with our own, fostering a deeper intimacy with Christ and a desire to make amends for the indifference and ingratitude shown to Him.

The promises made to St. Margaret Mary for those who practice this devotion are extraordinary, including peace in their families, blessings in their undertakings, consolation in their troubles, and even the grace of final perseverance. Pope Saint John Paul II frequently emphasized the Sacred Heart as a source of mercy and hope, urging the faithful to draw from this fount of divine love. He saw the devotion as a response to the spiritual needs of our time, a way to rediscover the centrality of Christ's love in a world often marked by cynicism and despair. Through this devotion, we are called to a greater commitment to charity, justice, and peace, mirroring the selfless love of Christ in our own lives.

Ultimately, a life devoted to the Sacred Heart is a life transformed by love. It shifts our focus from self to Christ, inspiring us to live in conformity with His will and to spread His message of love and mercy to others. As Pope Saint John Paul II taught, "The Heart of Christ is the answer to all human questions, especially to those which are most fundamental and profound." By opening our hearts to the Sacred Heart, we allow divine grace to purify, strengthen, and guide us, leading to a life filled with purpose, peace, and an enduring connection to the boundless love of God.

 

 

June is Devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

The Catholic Church dedicates the entire month of June to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a devotion that invites believers into the depths of Christ's boundless love. This profound devotion emphasizes the physical heart of Jesus as a symbol of His divine and human love for humanity. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, "The Sacred Heart of Jesus, pierced by our sins and for our salvation, is quite simply the image of God's infinite love" (CCC 478). This devotion is not merely sentimental but draws us into the very core of Christ's being, a love so immense it led Him to suffer and die for our redemption.

The roots of this devotion are significantly tied to the revelations received by Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 17th century. Through a series of visions, Christ revealed to her His Sacred Heart, deeply wounded by the indifference and ingratitude of humanity, yet overflowing with mercy and a desire for reparation. Saint Margaret Mary often recounted Jesus's words, such as "Behold the Heart which has loved men so much, that it has spared nothing, even to exhausting and consuming Itself, in order to testify¹ to them its love." These revelations spurred the formal development and spread of the devotion, emphasizing acts of love, reparation, and consecration to the Sacred Heart.

Practicing devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in June and throughout the year calls Catholics to respond to Christ's immense love with love in return. This can be expressed through frequent reception of the Eucharist, acts of penance and reparation for sins, and consecration of oneself and one's family to the Sacred Heart. The Catechism further clarifies that "the devotion to the Sacred Heart represents 'the sum of all our religion and, for this reason, the most perfect way of entering into the most intimate relations with God'" (CCC 2669, quoting Pius XII). By embracing this devotion, the faithful are drawn into a deeper union with Christ, fostering a heart more aligned with His own, filled with compassion, forgiveness, and an ardent desire to serve Him and our neighbor.

Refocusing Our Hearts: Back to Christ, Beyond Politics

In an age saturated with political discourse and ideological divides, it's easy for Catholic Christians, particularly in the U.S., to find ourselves entangled in debates that threaten to schism our communities. We witness a pervasive tendency to categorize even papal pronouncements along a left-right political spectrum, as if issues like climate change or immigration are new litmus tests for orthodoxy. This fixation on political punditry, however, is a shortsighted distraction from our core mission. Historically, the Church’s most profound and enduring political achievements have stemmed not from overt political commentary, but from unwavering adherence to foundational credal affirmations and the communal practices centered on Christ.

The early Church offers a powerful example of this focus. While not explicitly apolitical by modern standards, the early Christians demonstrated a remarkable detachment from the prevailing political currents of their time. Their corporate life, centered on the sacrificial “un-sacrifice” of the Eucharist, transcended ethnic borders and fostered a unity unlike any seen before. This deep "political allegiance" to Christ, forged at the Lord's table, was a transcendent vision that even the most expansive empires could not compete with. Martyrs, made at this very table, boldly defied Rome's imperial pretenses, participating in the ultimate Witness, Jesus Christ. This underscores a timeless truth: "Where your sacrifices are, there will your heart be also." Our sacrifice, our focus, must be on Christ, not the shifting sands of political ideology.

The Church's understanding of herself emerged from a typological reading of Scripture, seeing ancient Israel come to maturity in the Church as promise and fulfillment within God's imperium. God's people, like exilic Israel, are meant to be a distinct polity within worldly polities. While emperors were eventually described as Davids and Solomons, the ultimate antitype of David is Jesus alone. For any earthly ruler to be considered "David-like," they first had to become members of the body of King Jesus. This perspective highlights that our ultimate allegiance is to Christ and His Kingdom, not to any earthly political system or leader, no matter how appealing they may seem.

For us as Catholic Christians today, the application is clear: we must revive a "metapolitical outlook" that prioritizes Jesus Christ, His Eucharistic table, and His Bride, the Church, above all else. Christianity will not transform the political world by obsessing over politics, but by obsessing over Jesus. Our unity and strength as a Church come from our shared faith in Him, our participation in His sacraments, and our commitment to His Gospel, which aims at the redemption and reorientation of the world towards God’s Kingdom. By focusing our hearts and minds on Christ, we can transcend the divisive political ideologies of our time and truly embody the transformative power of His message.

 

Biological Sex is Intrinsic to Human Identity

The discourse surrounding gender ideology has seen a notable shift, particularly in Western societies. While a few years ago, "gender theory" was heavily promoted in various spheres, including educational programs, there's now growing resistance and a questioning of its widespread implementation. This change in sentiment, as observed by Cardinal Eijk, provides a crucial opening for the Catholic Church to articulate its consistent teaching on the relationship between sex and gender. The Pontifical Academy for Life, now under the presidency of Monsignor Renzo Pegoraro, is uniquely positioned to engage with these discussions, offering clarity and guidance rooted in a Catholic understanding of the human person.

At the heart of Catholic teaching is the belief that biological sex is an intrinsic and fundamental aspect of human identity, divinely willed and designed. This perspective stands in contrast to "dualistic philosophies" that often separate the mind and body, viewing the latter as a malleable object to be adapted to individual preferences. For Catholics, recognizing and respecting biological sex is not merely a scientific observation but an acknowledgment of God's creation. As Cardinal Eijk emphasizes, transmitting this truth about the inherent connection between biological sex and gender is an act of upholding the dignity of the human person and affirming the wisdom of creation.

The Church's unified and unambiguous proclamation of this truth is vital in a world often marked by confusion regarding human identity. When the Church speaks clearly about the intrinsic value of the human person as God's creation, it offers a stable point of reference for individuals grappling with complex questions. This firm teaching serves not to restrict but to liberate, guiding the faithful toward a deeper understanding of themselves in relation to God and the moral principles that flow from this understanding. It helps to dispel confusion and encourages a rethinking of fundamental truths about life, Christian morality, and ultimately, Christ Himself.

For Catholics seeking to integrate this teaching into their daily lives, the call is to embrace and affirm their biological sex as a gift from God. This means living in harmony with the body, understanding its inherent purpose and dignity, and rejecting the notion that one's biological reality can be arbitrarily altered or ignored. Practically, this translates into fostering a respect for the body as a temple of the Holy Spirit, engaging in relationships that honor the complementarity of the sexes, and advocating for educational and societal programs that reflect a truthful understanding of human anthropology. By living out these truths authentically and charitably, Catholics can offer a compelling witness to the beauty and wisdom of God's design for humanity.

 

Christ Returns to His Father

The Ascension of our Lord, as described in Mark 16:19-20, Luke 24:50-53, and Acts 1:6-11, is a pivotal moment not just for Christ, but for all humanity. As St. Cyril of Alexandria so profoundly explains, what happened to Christ affects the entire human race. When Christ was raised to heaven, he didn't just go alone; he brought us with him into paradise. He secured a path, smoothed an impassable way, and opened heaven, which was once closed to mortal man. This act was a first for flesh to enter that pure and holy realm, presenting himself to the Father as the "first fruits" of humanity in heaven.

The angels themselves were astonished, questioning who this was coming from "Edom"—from the earth. Yet, the Spirit revealed the marvelous wisdom of God, commanding them to open the heavenly gates for the King of Glory. Christ, our Lord Jesus the Messiah, created a "new and living way" for us, entering not into a man-made sanctuary, but into heaven itself to appear before God on our behalf. This was not because Christ needed to present himself to the Father, for he is eternally one with Him. Rather, it was for us, so that in his human form, he might still obey the command to "Sit at my right hand" and transfer the glory of adoption to all humanity.

Because Christ was born as man, he is still one of us even as he sits at the right hand of God, far above all creation, yet consubstantial with the Father. He presented himself as man to the Father on our behalf, to restore us, who had been removed from the Father's presence by ancient sin, to again behold His face. He sits there as Son so that through him, we too may be called sons and children of God. Paul, through whom Christ speaks, emphasizes this profound truth: "God raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places, in Christ." While sitting at the Father's side is Christ's unique prerogative as Son, his shared humanity confers on us the privilege of this dignity. Though we may not sit at the Father's side in the same way, Christ promised his holy disciples that they would sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Today, Christ has paved the way to the perfect joy of heaven for us, and one day we will join him. For Catholics, this profound reality should inspire a renewed sense of hope and purpose. The Ascension is not merely a historical event; it is a promise and a calling. Let us, therefore, live each day with the awareness of our heavenly destiny, striving to embody Christ's love and truth in the world, and actively participating in the sacraments and community life of the Church, which is a foretaste of the heavenly banquet.

The Divine Dance of Freedom: Understanding the Catholic View of Free Will

The Catholic Church profoundly affirms the reality and importance of free will, seeing it not as a limitation on God's power, but as a testament to His immense love and respect for His creation. As St. Augustine of Hippo wisely observed, "God preferred not to use His own power, but to leave success or failure to the creature’s choice." This preference highlights a divine purpose: to allow rational creatures, both angelic and human, to experience the profound consequences of their choices and to demonstrate the "immense evil that flows from the creature's pride" alongside the "even greater good that comes from His grace." God's decision to grant us freedom is a loving invitation to participate in our own salvation, not an imposition.

This gift of free will is intrinsically linked to our creation in God's image and likeness. St. Catherine of Siena beautifully articulates that God "moved Him to draw us out of Himself and give us, us, His own image and likeness – just so we might experience and enjoy Him, and share in His eternal beauty." He endowed us with memory, understanding, and crucially, a will, "to love that will of His." This emphasizes that our freedom is not for arbitrary self-gratification, but for the profound purpose of aligning our will with God's, which "seeks nothing else but that we be made holy." Even in the face of suffering, as St. Teresa of Avila laments, God's tears are for those who "were not going to want to rise, even though His Majesty call them," underscoring that our refusal to choose Him is a source of divine sorrow.

The interaction between God's grace and human freedom is a delicate and powerful synergy. St. Francis de Sales explains that "grace is powerful – not to compel the heart, but to allure it; grace is vehement – not to outrage our liberty, but to fill it full of love." God's grace acts with incredible gentleness, influencing without overriding, preserving our freedom even as it inspires us towards good. This is a divine "cooperation," as Ven. Fulton Sheen put it, where God "comes to man not to devour him, but to consult him." He could indeed destroy evil, but only "at the cost of human freedom," a price too high to pay for a God who desires our free and loving consent.

Ultimately, our will is the most precious and uniquely personal possession we have. As Ven. Fulton Sheen reminds us, "There is only one thing in the world that is definitely and absolutely your own, and that is your will." This profound truth means that "nothing really matters in life, except what you do with your will." It is through our free assent that we become "Eucharistic souls," allowing God to work wonders within us, as St. Carlo Acutis observed. The Catechism of the Catholic Church reiterates that "God respects our freedom and does not force us to believe in him." Our free will, therefore, is not merely a philosophical concept, but the very arena in which our relationship with God unfolds, a testament to His unwavering love and profound respect for our personhood.