While in our nation, the month of June is known for numerous causes: National Safety, LGBTQ-Pride, PTSD & Men’s Health, Gun Violence Awareness, etc., in the Catholic Church, June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This ecclesial devotion focuses on Christ’s boundless love depicted in His exposed human heart, often artistically displayed with flames to express the radiating power of God’s divine mercy.

Our modern devotion to the Sacred Heart is rooted in the seventeenth century visions of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, a French nun who proclaimed that meditative prayer upon the heart of our Lord would help the world move from indifference and ingratitude to compassion. According to the story, Jesus instructed her to encourage private and public piety around the image of His heart so that we will better encounter the heart of the Gospel. In this way, we will realize what is at the heart of our faith: love, mercy, care for one another, and ultimate salvation. 

Many homes across the globe have enthroned images of the Sacred Heart or otherwise dedicated the family that dwells therein to live with intention to unite their individual heart with that of Jesus. Related to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is the Immaculate Heart of Mary, a feast of proximity, much as Mary remained ever close to her son. If every household had a reminder within its walls that residents commit themselves to figuratively touch Christ’s heart or be in touch emotionally with what is most important about dwelling in the world, all of us would live life in a more intentional and loving manner.

Arguably unrelated is Pope Leo’s worldwide prayer intention for June: “that sports be an instrument of peace, encounter, and dialogue among cultures and nations, and that they promote values such as respect, solidarity, and personal growth.”  Maybe this intention is tied to the FIFA (Federation International Football Association) World Cup competition that begins this month hosted by North America and because futbol (aka soccer) is the most popular sport on our planet, or maybe it is tied to the summer season when countless young people trade classrooms for playing fields to spend many of their waking hours. Sports teach us many things about how to live, e.g., learn the game, do your best, practice daily, care for teammates, don’t focus on the last play but the next one, play fair—don’t cheat, win with humility, lose with dignity, work together, encourage others, keep improving, etc.

I think that the Sacred Heart and the World Cup, oddly, have commonality.  From the NFL to other athletic groups at various levels, many competitors give us good examples that challenge racism and other negative forces in society. In locker rooms or huddles, players don’t care about the color of one’s skin or the politics of a teammate; instead, they are focused on working together through self-improvement for the common good of their united mission. As we consider what this month stands for in our city, our church, our nation, our world, and our heart, let’s also consider how June can inspire us, house by house, to promote values such as respect, solidarity, and personal growth.