In the month of June, the Church celebrates the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a devotion that has existed since the early days of Christianity, when people reflected on the open heart of Jesus. Celebrating the Heart of Jesus becomes an important pastoral occasion for the entire Christian community to once again become sensitive to making this admirable Sacrifice and Sacrament the heart of their own lives. Along with it, we celebrate the Immaculate Heart of Mary, for the two hearts are never separated, since the Heart of Jesus is the source of Grace and Mary's is the channel of this Grace.

Benedict XVI once spoke about the importance of this devotion: “The contemplation of the 'side pierced by the lance,' in which shines forth God's infinite will to save, cannot therefore be considered a passing form of worship or devotion: the adoration of God's love, which found its historical-devotional expression in the symbol of the 'pierced heart,' remains essential for a living relationship with God.‘.

The origin of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Devotion to the Sacred Heart appears in two powerful events in the Gospel: Saint John's gesture, beloved disciple, resting his head on Jesus during the Last Supper (cf. Jn 13:23); and on the cross, ...where the soldier pierced Jesus' side with a spear (cf. Jn 19:34). In one we have consolation for the pain of the eve of his death, and in the other, the suffering caused by the sins of humanity. These two examples from the Gospel help us to understand Jesus' appeal, made in 1675, to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque:

“"Behold this heart that has so loved mankind. From most I receive nothing but ingratitude, scorn, insults, sacrilege, indifference…" I ask that the first Friday after the octave of the Blessed Sacrament (Corpus Christi) be dedicated to a special feast to honor My Heart, receiving Communion on that day and making due reparation through an act of atonement, to repair the indignities it suffered during the time it was exposed on the altars. And I promise you that My Heart will expand to pour forth in abundance the influences of Its divine Love upon those who pay this divine honor and who seek that it be rendered to It.”

Pope John Paul II always cultivated this devotion and encouraged it in all who wished to grow in friendship with Jesus.

*with information from the Sacred Hearts Parish of São José-SC (extracted from https://sagradoscoracoes.org.br/site/junho-mes-do-sagrado-coracao-de-jesus/)