June is widely known as Pride Month these days, which was initially celebrated in 1970. It started off as a week derived from another picketing day in July, and started to change to its current form to remember the Stonewall uprising and continue to advocate for support within and from outside of the gay community. Increasingly, large and small companies across the world are “standing in unison” with the community in many different ways. Pride month continues to grow.
I never realized that Pride month was as old as it was. I also keep forgetting that June being dedicated to a cause was already done, and done a lot longer ago.
June is known as the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which has its roots in devotions from the 12th century and began to evolve to its current form in 1673. Sister Margaret Mary Alacoque was audience to visions of Jesus and communication with Him for over 18 months. In these visions, He explained His love for humanity (something which I believe we all continuously underestimate) and revealed different ways to venerate His Sacred Heart. In 1675, Sister Alacoque began promoting a feast under direction from these visions. In addition, there are 12 promises made by Jesus to those who venerate the Sacred Heart. The promises are:
- I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.
- I will give peace in their families.
- I will console them in all their troubles.
- I will be their refuge in life and especially in death.
- I will abundantly bless all their undertakings.
- Sinners shall find in my heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.
- Tepid souls shall become fervent.
- Fervent souls shall rise speedily to great perfection.
- I will bless those places wherein the image of my Sacred Heart shall be exposed and venerated.
- I will give to priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts.
- Persons who propagate this devotion shall have their names eternally written in my heart.
- In the excess of the mercy of my heart, I promise you that my all-powerful love will grant to all those who will receive Communion on the first Fridays, for nine consecutive months, the grace of final repentance: they will not die in my displeasure, nor without receiving the sacraments; and my heart will be their secure refuge in that last hour.
I’ve always been one more partial to tradition than modern inventions. The devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is much older than I believed. A tradition almost 400 years old certainly must have a strong foundation. These days, we have large groups with big voices who are making a show of pandering to the LGBT community in poor ways. Take the Los Angeles Dodgers, for example. At the end of the day, there is already a celebration for a person who wants us all exactly as He created us. I’d say it’s a much better way to devote our time to in June.
Sources:
https://www.loc.gov/ghe/cascade/index.html?appid=90dcc35abb714a24914c68c9654adb67
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251588/why-is-june-the-month-of-the-sacred-heart-of-jesus
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_Heart
https://www.zieglers.com/blog/the-12-promises-with-devotion-to-the-most-sacred-heart-of-jesus/
Bayou Observant 