Today is the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on this Friday after 
the second Sunday after Pentecost. The Sacred Heart devotion has enriched and 
strengthened Catholic living. This devotion, using the traditional symbol of 
love, focuses on the self-sacrificing love of Jesus Christ for us humans. 
This devotion reminds us of the love we should return to the Lord, and calls 
on us to apologize for all human indifference and sinning. This devotion, 
since the 17th Century, has brought to Catholic living the act of reparation 
on this day, the monthly First Friday, the Holy Hour, nocturnal adoration, 
enthronement of the Sacred Heart in the home, etc. With its solid theology, 
this devotion has a continuing lesson and warm appeal for Catholic Christians.
    The theology underlying the Sacred Heart devotion is biblical. The first 
reading expresses the tender loving kindness and mercy of God towards the 
Chosen People of the Old Testament. That same love of God for unworthy humans 
is manifested in the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
    The second reading and the letter in it, describe at length the 
overwhelming love of God for us - a love that must be returned.
    Now we read in the third reading a beautiful expression of the tender 
love of Christ for us His little children. This is a further biblical 
description of the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
    

Today's Prayer

Father, we rejoice in the gifts of love we have received from the heart of Jesus your Son. Open our hearts to share his life and continue to bless us with his love. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Spiritual Communion Prayer

Please join us with this prayer in asking the Lord Jesus to be with you.

Act of Spiritual Communion My Jesus, I believe that You are in the Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I long for you in my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I know You have already come. I embrace You and unite myself entirely to You; never permit me to be separated from You.

Today's Petition & Prayer Requests
Today's Homily

Saint Ann's Media * Box 111 * Scranton, PA 18504-0111
E-mail: frpeter@themass.org * Ph: 570-941-0100 * Fax: 570-941-0185

Return to Top of Page
Return to The Mass Home Page

Copyright © 1999. St Ann's Media. All Rights Reserved.

Web Pages Designed and Edited By Terry Marcheona