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.

Daily Prayer

The Introit for this day has not yet been generated.

Weekly Prayer

Weekly prayer content will appear here once it is scheduled.

Weekly Formation

Commandment 6

The Ten Commandments

Be faithful in marriage and respect God’s gift of the body.
The Sixth Commandment guards fidelity in marriage and the holiness of God’s gift of the body. It requires purity appropriate to each state of life, respect for personal boundaries, and faithful conduct in thought, word, and action.

Saint & Feast

Principal celebrationCalendar title

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

A biography or feast reflection has not yet been prepared.

Commemoration

Francis Caracciolo

St. Francis Caracciolo, Confessor

Italian Catholic priest

Born: 1563-10-13 · Villa Santa Maria
Died: 1608-06-04 · Agnone

Francis Caracciolo, born Ascanio dei Caracciolo Pisquizi, was an Italian Catholic priest who co-founded the Order of the Clerics Regular Minor with John Augustine Adorno and Fabrizio Caracciolo. He decided to adopt a religious life at the age of 22.

Learn more about Francis Caracciolo

Customs & Fasting

No traditional fast · Complete abstinence

Traditional Friday complete abstinence.

Today in Church History

No Church history reflection has been prepared for this date yet.

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.

The liturgy proclaims, celebrates, and lives the mystery of Christ within many cultures, not abolishing them but redeeming and fulfilling them in Christ. It includes an unchanging part instituted by God and entrusted to the Church, as well as elements the Church may adapt to cultures when appropriate. Different recognized rites express and communicate the same mystery of Christ and show the catholicity of the Church. For family reflection, cultural expressions in worship are a gift when they remain faithful to the common faith, the sacramental signs received from Christ, and communion with the Church. The liturgy both finds expression in culture and helps shape it, while calling for conversion wherever customs are incompatible with the Catholic faith.

Today's Mass Readings

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