“In the Sacred Heart, every treasure of wisdom and knowledge is hidden. In that divine Heart beats God's infinite love for everyone, for each one
of us individually.”
— St. John Paul II
“This divine Heart is an abyss filled with all blessings ... an abyss of joy ... and abyss of lowliness ... an abyss of mercy ... an abyss of love to meet our every need.”
— St. Margaret Mary
The 12 Promises of Jesus
This upcoming Friday, June 11, we celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, recalling His love and mercy for us. When he appeared to Sister Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 1670s, Jesus offered 12 promises to those who honor the Sacred Heart:
1
I will give them
all the graces necessary for
their state in life.
2
I will establish peace in their families.
3
I will comfort them in their trials.
4
I will be their secure refuge during life and, above all, in death.
5
I will shed abundant blessings on all their undertakings.
6
Sinners will find
in My Heart an
infinite ocean
of mercy.
7
Lukewarm souls will become fervent.
8
Fervent souls will rapidly grow in holiness and perfection.
9
I will bless every place where an image of My Heart shall be exposed
and honored.
10
I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.
11
The names of those who promote this devotion will be written in My Heart, never to be
blotted out.
12
I promise thee, in the excessive mercy of My Heart, that My
all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Friday of nine consecutive months, the grace of final penitence; they shall not die in My disgrace nor without receiving their Sacraments; My Divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.
Statues Sacred to Us
Depictions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus have long welcomed visitors to our buildings and homes. The large statue that greeted visitors at the main entrance of our former Mount Assisi Convent in Pittsburgh, Pa., is still in place today atop its original pedestal. It keeps watch over the residents of Mt. Assisi Place personal care home and is still adorned during the Christmas season (shown above). On the other side of the state, the Sacred Heart offers blessings over all those who visit Monocacy Manor, St. Francis Center for Renewal and Monocacy Farm in Bethlehem, Pa. It’s been there since August 1948, when it was donated to our community by the Holy Name Men of the Lehigh Valley and (shown below) blessed by Msgr. Leo Fink in a special ceremony.
The Sacred Heart statue at Monocacy Manor as it stands today.
Dedication of the Sacred Heart
statue at Monocacy Manor in 1948.
A Song
The talented youngsters of San Francisco’s St. Augustine Children’s Choir impress and inspire with their rendition of O Sacred Heart, O Love Devine.
A Story
The significance of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the immense devotion to it among Catholics is explained succinctly and simply in this brief historical video.
Please Note: The Sisters have no control over advertising on YouTube.
God’s Mercy
A Haiku by Sister Rosalia Giba
Anger, withdraw, flee,
Enveloped by God’s mercy,
Withdraws, melts through love.
 
Ne - ga - ti - vi - ty
Flee, struggle, unleash, depart,
Finally the calm.
 
O soul in torment,
Allow silence to enter,
Calm enters, freedom.
 
Trials prove my faith,
Blessings in the midst of pain,
God’s love overcomes.
 
Faith – shaken – violence,
Turmoil – hard to understand,
Withdraw from my soul.
 
Night of the soul – dark,
God’s love shining through it all,
At last serene joy.
Bargains Abound
Bargains are on the menu this month at St. Francis Center for Renewal, which will host a giant yard sale on Friday and Saturday, June 18-19. Everything from decor and religious items to housewares, books and furniture will be available, as the Center consolidates for the future.
Pick-Your Own
Memberships are now available for the 2021 Pick-Your-Own season at Monocacy Farm in Bethlehem, Pa. Your $10 commitment gives you access to all PYO days on the farm, beginning later this month. For details or to purchase your membership online today, click below.