Spiritual Thoughts for the week

June 27 - Sacred Heart

The Sacred Heart of Jesus is traditionally venerated throughout the month of June. This popular devotion began in the Middle Ages, and became very important after the three visions of St. Margaret Mary, a French Visitation nun, in the 1600's. In these visions, Jesus told her of how much he loves humankind, and especially desires sinners to turn to him for comfort, forgiveness and love. Jesus said to both St. Margaret Mary and St. Faustina, a 20th century Polish nun who received visions of the Sacred Heart and revelations about Jesus' overwhelming mercy for repentant sinners, that this devotion would be the last effort and outpouring of His generous mercy for the sake of conversions, before the end times of this age and His coming again in justice. This mercy will be offered to all who reach for it and accept it in trust. One way to sanctify your home is to place an image of the Sacred Heart (as well as the Immaculate Heart of Mary) in a place of honor. Jesus said to St. Margaret Mary, "I will bless the homes in which the image of my Sacred Heart shall be exposed and honored." "Enter with your whole being through the door of his side into Jesus' heart itself."

SAINT OF THE WEEK

The First Holy Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church (June 30) In the first persecution against the Church, begun by the Emperor Nero after the burning of Rome in 64, many Christians were tortured and killed, framed unjustly for the fire which was possible started by Nero himself. The pagan writer Tacitus testifies to these events in his Annales, as does Clement, Bishop of Rome, in his letter to the Corinthians. Many were killed in the Roman Colliseum, as well as in grisly "entertainments" held in the gardens of Nero's palace.