Friday, 12th June, is the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, a happy day and one on which we should certainly do our best to get to Mass. The Sacred Heart “reveals the merciful love of our Saviour who banishes all fear, shame and discouragement from our own hearts. The Heart of Jesus continues to beat for us in heaven, pouring out its infinite merits upon us through the sacraments. Devotion to the Sacred Heart remains one of the Church’s greatest treasures and one of our greatest consolations on our pilgrim way. Our Lord promised St. Margaret Mary that ‘sinners shall find in my heart the source of the infinite ocean of mercy’ and that ‘those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in my Heart never to be plotted out’” (Magnificat June 2021). In 2002, Pope St. John Paul II designated the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart as a World Day of Prayer for Priests. The aim was to invite all the clergy and all the faithful of the Church to join in prayer for the sanctification of priests. This intention of prayer for priests is today a crucial one. (Bishop Philip) asks everyone: please pray constantly for your priests and pray also for me – that we may be truly holy men, obedient and loyal, filled with great zeal, care and love for our people, united in a deep personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the High Priest. [Image: Dehonians] [Portsmouth Diocese e-News]