Dear friends in Christ, June is the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Pope Clement XIII originally approved this feast by specified dioceses in 1765. Later, in 1856, Pope Pius IX extended this feast to the Catholic Church and designated the Friday following the feast of Corpus Christi as the Feast of the Sacred Heart. Later, Pope Leo XIII dedicated the entire Catholic Church to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in one of his Papal Encyclicals (letters). One reason for this feast goes back to 1673 when Jesus appeared to a French Nun, Sr. Margaret Mary Alacoque. During His apparitions, Jesus told Sr. Margaret Mary about His immense love for all people and ways that we could honor His Sacred Heart. Jesus, who appeared with his heart visible outside his chest, on fire, and surrounded by a crown of thorns, continued to appear to Sr. Margaret Mary for 18 months. Jesus asked Sr. Margaret Mary that the Friday after the feast of Corpus Christi be dedicated to His Sacred Heart. The Sacred Heart of Jesus made twelve promises to St. Margaret Mary for those who devoted themselves to His Sacred Heart. Some of them are to bring peace to their families, console them during their troubles, bless all their affairs, and be their refuge in life, especially in death. And for those who receive Communion on the first Fridays for nine consecutive months, Jesus promised a Holy Death with the grace of final repentance. I invite you to pray to Jesus’s Sacred Heart and receive Holy Communion on His feast, June 7. Thank Jesus for His great love and blessings and ask Him to convert our hearts and the hearts of those who don’t believe. Let us ask for His grace to bring the good news to those around us through our good works and words. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You! Veronica