We are celebrating a feast day, consecrated for us by the blood of the apostles. Let us love their faith, their lives, their labours, their sufferings, their confession of faith, their preaching. (Saint Augustine, +430)
Day: June 28, 2025
The Necessity of An ‘Ordo Amoris’
The notion of the ‘ordo amoris’ – the ‘order of love’ – has generated some debate of late, not least since some big names have been involved: JD Vance responding to Pope Francis, and Robert Cardinal Prevost – before he was elected to the papacy – responding to Mr. Vance, by re-tweeting a tweet. I[…]
The most efficacious way to have devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is through the Immaculate Heart of Mary (St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, +1690)
Pope Benedict and the Sacred Heart
SOLEMNITY OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS OPENING OF THE YEAR FOR PRIESTS ON THE 150th ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF SAINT JOHN MARY VIANNEY HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI Saint Peter’s Basilica Friday, 19 June 2009 Dear Brothers and Sisters, In a little while we shall sing in the antiphon to the Magnificat: “The Lord[…]
A Plea for the Institution of the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
The sanctuary of God in heaven opened, and the ark of the covenant could be seen inside it. Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman adorned with sun standing on the moon and with the twelve stars on her head for a crown (Ap. 11:19; 12:1). June is sometimes referred to as the[…]
Pope Saint John Paul II’s Consecration of the World to the Immaculate Heart
WE ENTRUST, O MARY, AND CONSECRATE THE WHOLE WORLD TO YOUR IMMACULATE HEART! On Thursday, 13 May 1982, after the concelebrated Mass in Fatima, Pope John Paul II made the following act of consecration of the modern world to Our Lady of Fatima. 1. “We have recourse to your protection, holy Mother of God.” As[…]
Mary’s Immaculate and Maternal Heart
On the Saturday after the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Catholic Church celebrates the Immaculate Heart of His Mother Mary, the one from whom He took his flesh – hence, their hearts are joined not only mystically, but physically, as mother and son – they share the same DNA. And what greater[…]
Pope Benedict and Saint Irenaeus of Lyons
(Saint Irenaeus of Lyons, whose feast we celebrate on the 28th of June, just before Saints Peter and Paul, was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Francis in 2022, bringing their exalted number to 37. Editor) BENEDICT XVI GENERAL AUDIENCE St Peter’s Square Wednesday, 28 March 2007 Saint Irenaeus of Lyons Dear Brothers[…]