June 24 Vigil at St. Gregory Parish includes Mass, Rosary and Adoration
By Joyce Coronel, The Catholic Sun
Yvette Reynoso-Barnes recalls the day she went to her car and googled images of the Sacred Heart. She was 40 and pregnant with her seventh child. A day earlier, she, her husband and children had crowded into the doctor’s office to see the baby’s long-awaited ultrasound image.
“All eight of us were in the room together, and it took forever,” Reynoso-Barnes recalls. After a long wait, the nurse asked them to return to the lobby but stopped the husband and wife for a word in private.
“Something is going on with the baby’s heart. It’s not right – it’s pumping in the opposite direction of what it should be pumping,” the nurse told them, explaining that they needed to come back the next day for another checkup and speak with the doctor.
Reynoso-Barnes returned alone – her husband had the children on another date – and received the devastating confirmation that her unborn child had a genetic condition incompatible with life. The doctor advised her to have an abortion.
A woman of deep faith, Reynoso-Barnes still had hope. She was sitting in her car, praying and looking at the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, wounded with love for men. She decided to make the image her profile picture on Facebook.
Six years later, he is still there.
“Knowing that God loves us so much with his burning heart, I just knew I had to call on him to be able to live through and deal with the news I had just received,” Reynoso-Barnes said. “Just looking at the picture, knowing what he went through – I needed him because I was in pain.”
At 37 weeks, Reynoso-Barnes gave birth. Mariam only lived 15 hours, and during that short time she was much loved. The family takes refuge in the Sacred Heart.
On the sixth anniversary of the ultrasound that revealed her daughter would not survive, Reynoso-Barnes posted, “Today is the day six years ago! The day I found out that Mariam had heart problems and wouldn’t live long. The day I realized how much I needed the consolation of His Sacred Heart! Without faith in God, I could not live.
Prof. Irudayaraj John Britto, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Prescott and originally from India, can relate to the powerful devotion. Parishioners call him “P. Raj,” a shortening of his first name. What they may not know is that his full first name means Sacred Heart in his mother tongue.
“I grew up in a very Catholic area,” the father said. says Britto. “I entered seminary when I was 14. I went to church every day.”
It was his great-aunt, a religious sister, who found his name. “She said my name should be Sacred Heart,” the father said. says Britto.
From the time he first arrived at Sacred Heart Parish in Prescott four years ago, Fr. Britto has wanted to emphasize the Feast of the Sacred Heart, which this year takes place on June 24. It is a movable feast because it falls on the Friday ending the octave of Corpus Christi.
The celebration has its origins in private revelations given to Saint Marguerite Marie Alacoque, a Visitation nun living at 17e France of the century.
“This feast comes from Heaven. Jesus himself said to Saint Margaret Mary as he spoke with her to promote this devotion,” the father said. says Britto.
“Jesus calls us to experience his heart and find comfort in his heart and soul.”
During the weekend masses preceding the feast, Fr. Britto preaches on devotion to the Sacred Heart, which consists of two elements: consecration and reparation. Attending Mass and receiving Communion in a state of grace on the first Friday of the month is also essential.
Sr. Esther Pilar, a nun who belongs to the community of Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary, said that it is important to consecrate oneself to the Sacred Heart because God wants to have an intimate relationship with us.
“He is looking for us because we have strayed very, very far from him,” said Sr. Esther Pilar. “We must know that God is love. We must go to this fountain of mercy – no matter how busy we are. The first that must be in our life is the Lord. Everything will work out accordingly after that if we put the Lord first.
Ashley Kaschl of St. Bernadette Parish said she has been devoted to the Sacred Heart since she was a teenager. His grandmother was one of 15 children.
“My great-grandparents dedicated the whole family to the Sacred Heart for protection during World War II. They were from Hungary,” Kaschl said.
“I find a great refuge in the Sacred Heart. Everything I have done in my past, the ways in which I have failed the Lord, there is great mercy in the Sacred Heart and through repentance and perseverance.
The faithful of the Diocese of Phoenix will have the opportunity to celebrate the feast of the Sacred Heart during a bilingual vigil in honor of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary on June 24 at St. Gregory Parish, 3424 N. 18e Avenue, Phoenix. Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted will celebrate a 7:30 p.m. mass followed by adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with music and the rosary until midnight. A Midnight Mass for the Immaculate Heart of Mary follows.
Sacred Heart Parish of Prescott, 150 Fleury, will hold a mass and celebration of the Sacred Heart at 5:30 p.m. on June 24.
In his revelations to Saint Margaret Mary, Jesus made twelve promises to those who would consecrate themselves and make reparation to his Sacred Heart for the sins and indifference of mankind.
- He will grant them all the graces necessary for their state of life.
- He will bring peace to their homes.
- He will comfort them in all their afflictions.
- He will be their safe haven in life, and especially in death.
- He will bestow abundant blessings upon all their endeavours.
- Sinners will find in His Heart the source and the infinite ocean of mercy.
- Tepid souls will become fervent.
- Fervent souls will rise rapidly to high perfection.
- He will bless every place where an image of His Heart is displayed and honoured.
- He will give priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.
- Those who promote this devotion will have their names written in His Heart.
- In the excessive mercy of His Heart which His almighty love will grant to all who receive Holy Communion on First Fridays of nine consecutive months the grace of final perseverance; they will not die in his disgrace, nor without having received their sacraments. His divine Heart will be their safe refuge in this last moment.
The devotions attached to these promises are:
- Communion frequently
- First Fridays: go to confession and receive the Eucharist on the first Friday of each month for nine consecutive months. Many parishes will offer public First Friday devotions; if they do, you must perform First Fridays in public. If this is not the case in your parish, you can do so in private, by going to confession, receiving the Eucharist and offering your prayers for the intention of the Holy Father.
- Holy Hour: Eucharistic adoration for one hour on Thursday (“Couldn’t you watch for an hour with me?”). The Holy Hour can be done alone or in a group with formal prayers.
- Celebration of the Feast of the Sacred Heart
Vigil in honor of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary
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