June: Devotion to the Sacred Heart
Statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Church of the Immaculate Conception, Glenshesk.
The Feast of the Sacred Heart takes place each year on the Friday following Corpus Christi, and is celebrated this year on 27th June 2025. There is a long-standing tradition of dedicating the whole month of June to the Sacred Heart.
Although devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus can found as early as 11th Century, the Feast is most closely associated with the visions of Sister Margaret Mary Alacoque, a French nun of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary (Visitandines) beginning in 1673. The visions continued for 18 months and on 16th June 1675, Jesus told Sister Margaret Mary to promote a feast that honoured his Sacred Heart. He told her to consult Fr. Claude de la Colombière, superior of the small Jesuit house at Paray. He recognised the action of the Spirit of God and consecrated himself to the Sacred Heart, directing Sister Margaret Mary to write down her and circulate her account.
Christ told St. Margaret that He wanted to reveal His wounded Heart because He could not abide watching as countless people turned away from Him. He wanted all to experience His love, mercy, and grace, and to attain salvation. Devotion to the Sacred Heart reminds us of God’s unfailing love and concern for a fallen humanity. In the Image of the Sacred Heart, Jesus shows His burning love for us and His desire that we return that love.
“My Divine Master revealed to me that it was His ardent desire to be known, loved, and honoured by men, and His eager desire to draw them back from the road to perdition, along which Satan is driving them in countless numbers, that induced Him to manifest His Heart to men with all the treasures of love, mercy, grace, sanctification, and salvation that It contains.”
A number of events are taking place in Down & Connor and across Ireland during the month of June. Parishioners are particularly encouraged to participate in the Novena which commences on Thursday 19th June, whether in person in St. Peter’s, at home, or in one of the parish churches.
Thursday 19th June - Friday 27th June: Down & Connor Diocesan Novena. This will be led by Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ and local clergy in St. Peter’s Cathedral Belfast.
Download the Novena booklet here.
Friday 20th June: Veneration of Relics & National Novena Mass. The relics of Saints Margaret Mary Alacoque and Claude la Colombière visit St. Peter’s Cathedral. Led by Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ and local clergy.
Sunday 22nd June: Re-consecration of Ireland to the Sacred Heart. Led by Archbishop Eamon Martin in Knock Shrine.