Catholic Family Devotions

Understanding the Day

Season

Time After Pentecost

Week

Week 2 of Time After Pentecost

Rank

First-class feast

The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is celebrated in the time after Pentecost as a special feast focused on Jesus’ loving, merciful heart. In the older Divino Afflatu calendar this feast falls in the second week of the season and is ranked as a “Double of the I Class,” which in plain language means it is one of the highest liturgical celebrations of the year and takes precedence over most other observances. There is no octave or vigil noted here, so the celebration is observed on its day without an extended eight-day octave or preparatory vigil attached.

Introit (Daily Prayer)

Ps. 32:11, 19
The thoughts of His Heart are to all generations: to deliver them from death and preserve them in spite of famine.
Ps 32:1
Exult, you just, in the Lord; praise from the upright is fitting.
Glory Be to the Father…

O God, Who in the Heart of Your Son, wounded by our sins, mercifully lavish upon us the infinite riches of love, grant, we beseech You, that as we offer Him the faithful service of our devotion, we may also show forth fitting reparation.
Through the same Christ our Lord…

Weekly Prayer

Prayer to the Holy Family

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,
bless us and grant us the grace
to love and serve God faithfully,
to honor one another with patience and charity,
and to make our home a dwelling place of peace.

Holy Family of Nazareth,
help us to grow in faith, hope, and love.
Guide our work, our rest, our words, and our choices,
so that in all things we may seek the will of God.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,
pray for us and protect our family. Amen.

Weekly Formation

Commandment 7

The Ten Commandments

Thou shalt not steal.
The Seventh Commandment protects another person’s rightful goods and the justice owed in work, trade, promises, and contracts. It forbids taking, keeping, damaging, or using what belongs to another without right and requires restitution when an injustice can be repaired.

Saint & Feast

Principal celebrationCalendar title

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

A biography or feast reflection has not yet been prepared.

Commemoration

John of San Facundo

St. John of St. Facundus, Confessor

Spanish Augustinian friar, priest and saint

Born: 1419-06-24 · Sahagún
Died: 1479-06-11 · Salamanca

John of Sahagún, OESA, was a Spanish Augustinian friar and priest. He was a leading preacher of his day, and was known as a peacemaker and reconciler of enemies among the nobles and factions of Salamanca. He was declared a saint by the Catholic Church in 1690 by Pope Alexander VIII.

Learn more about John of San Facundo

Customs & Fasting

No traditional fast · Complete abstinence

Traditional Friday complete abstinence.

Today in Church History

Death of Saint John of Sahagún
1479Event
Saint John of Sahagún (San Facundo), an Augustinian friar known for his preaching and peacemaking in Salamanca, Spain, died on this date. He was renowned for reconciling feuding families and his devotion to the Eucharist. He was canonized by Pope Alexander VIII in 1690.
Saint John of Sahagún shows us the power of peacemaking rooted in Eucharistic devotion.

Catechism

Catechism of the Catholic Church

The Catechism teaches that, in the Mass, we profess our faith in Christ’s real presence under the appearances of bread and wine through gestures such as genuflecting or bowing deeply in adoration. The Church also worships the Eucharist outside of Mass, carefully reserving the consecrated hosts, exposing them for the faithful’s veneration, and carrying them in procession. The tabernacle is meant to reserve the Eucharist worthily, especially so that it may be brought to the sick and absent, and it should visibly emphasize Christ’s real presence in the Blessed Sacrament. Christ remains mysteriously among us in the Eucharist as the one who loved us and gave himself for us. As a family, we can approach this mystery with faith, make time for silent adoration, and remember that in Holy Communion we receive Christ himself, who draws the faithful into intimate union with him.

The Eucharist is the Lord’s invitation to receive him in the sacrament, for he tells us that unless we eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, we have no life in us. As we prepare for this holy moment, we are called to examine our consciences and, if aware of grave sin, to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation before Communion. With humble and ardent faith, we can echo the Centurion: “Lord, I am not worthy.” We also prepare by observing the required fast and by showing respect, solemnity, and joy in our gestures and clothing as Christ becomes our guest. The Church warmly encourages the faithful who are properly disposed to receive Communion whenever they participate in Mass, especially on Sundays and feast days, and even more often.

Baptism incorporates believers into the Body of Christ and the Church, making them members of the one People of God. The baptized become “living stones” in a spiritual house, sharing in Christ’s priesthood and his prophetic and royal mission, and are called to proclaim the wonderful deeds of God. Baptism brings both gifts and responsibilities: the baptized may receive the sacraments, be nourished by God’s Word, and receive the Church’s spiritual helps; they are also called to serve others in the Church’s communion, profess their faith, and take part in the apostolic and missionary activity of God’s people. Baptism also unites all who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized in a real, though sometimes imperfect, communion. Sealed with an indelible mark of belonging to Christ, Christians are committed to worship, holy lives, and practical charity.

Today's Mass Readings

Open the day's Sancta MissaDivinum Officium · Divino Afflatu - 1954View readings

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Understanding the Day

Introit (Daily Prayer)

Collect

Weekly Prayer

Prayer to the Holy Family

Weekly Formation

Commandment 7

The Ten Commandments

Saint & Feast

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

John of San Facundo

Customs & Fasting

Today in Church History

Death of Saint John of Sahagún

Catechism

Catechism of the Catholic Church

Today's Mass Readings

Basilides

Baltimore Catechism No. 3