Solemnity June 4Solemnity · Friday after the Corpus Christi octave

The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

The pierced Heart of Jesus, burning with love for every person, honored on the Friday after the second Sunday after Pentecost. In 2027: June 4.

Portuguese school, Sacred Heart of Jesus (19th century). Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Who was The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus?

Devotion to the Heart of Jesus, pierced on the Cross, grew among medieval saints such as Gertrude and Mechtilde. Between 1673 and 1675 Jesus appeared to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, a Visitation nun in Paray-le-Monial, France, showed her his Heart surrounded by flames and thorns, and asked for Communion on First Fridays, a Holy Hour and a feast in honor of his Heart. Saint Claude de la Colombière helped spread the message.

Pope Pius IX extended the feast to the whole Church in 1856. It is movable: it is celebrated on the Friday after the Second Sunday after Pentecost. In 2027 it falls on June 4, and in 2028 on June 23. June is the month of the Sacred Heart.

Feast day and traditions

Many Catholic homes enthrone an image of the Sacred Heart and consecrate the family to it, and many people make the Nine First Fridays. In Latin America the image presides over countless living rooms with the words "Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, en vos confío".

Nations and cities have been consecrated to the Sacred Heart, including Ecuador and Colombia.

Prayer

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in you. Make my heart like yours, gentle and humble, and keep my family close to your love. Amen.

Novena

To pray a novena that ends on the eve of the feast, begin on May 26 and finish on June 3.

Mass readings

Read the Mass readings for June 4 from the US bishops (USCCB).

Open readings →

Free · By email

We'll remind you of the feast

Get an email before June 4 with the saint's story, prayer and a greeting ready to send.

Celebrate as a family

Place an image of the Sacred Heart in a place of honor at home and say together: "Sacred Heart of Jesus, we trust in you."

Wish someone a happy feast day

Send a greeting with this saint's story and prayer.