My Sisters and Brothers in Christ:
May grace and peace be yours in abundance through knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. We pray and sing, God is love. In this we rejoice mightily for His love is matchless and never ending.
Pope Francis’ fourth Encyclical, Dilexit nos, begins with “‘He loved us,’ Saint Paul says of Christ (cf. Rom 8:37), in order to make us realize that nothing can ever “separate us” from that love (Rom 8:39).” St. John tell us, “In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him. In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another.” St. Paul and St. John tell us God’s love is so magnificent, so overpowering, that we cannot only receive it, but by its glory and majesty are compelled to bring it to others, “we must love one another.”
The artist depicts this love within the heart of Jesus; we often see His heart encircled with the crown of thorns. God demonstrably gave us His love through Jesus, God made flesh, the Son, that He might truly dwell among us and help us to understand the gift of this love. Pope Francis calls us to again take notice the human and divine love of the Heart of Jesus Christ and to live accordingly: “His open heart has gone before us and waits for us, unconditionally, asking only to offer us His love and friendship.” ‘He loved us first’ (cf. 1 Jn 4:10). Because of Jesus, ‘we have come to know and believe in the love that God has for us’ (1 Jn 4:16).
Dilexit nos calls for a renewal of “authentic devotion” (163) to the Sacred Heart, knowing that in the Heart of Christ “we find the whole Gospel” (89). It is in His Heart that “we truly come at last to know ourselves and we learn to love” (30).
Pope Leo XIV said, “To speak of the Heart of Christ … is to reflect on the entire mystery of the Lord’s incarnation, death and resurrection, … so that we can make it present in our world.” As we pray within this Heart of Christ, we realize the love of God has no limits. In our age of vast and devastating conflicts, we are called to let ourselves be embraced and shaped by that love, and to realize that in God’s eyes – and our own as well – there is no place for division and hatred of any kind.
At the November 2025 Plenary Assembly, the Bishops of the United States voted to consecrate the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus to mark the country’s 250th birthday. We offered this prayer of consecration on Thursday, June 11, the eve of the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe. This living prayer is one which calls us to reflection of our individual and collective thought, word and deed. Within this living prayer, we are not consecrating an organization, building, or the boundaries of a country to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. We consecrate His living community of faith. We offer our own heart to trust in the love and mercy of Jesus; make reparation for sin; grow in prayer and holiness; live with greater charity and compassion; and entrust ourselves, our families, and our nation to Christ. This living prayer, as it sings the praises of the love of God, requires our own change of heart that we follow Jesus more clearly, love Him more dearly and follow Him more nearly that our earth will become holy, blessed in His Sacred Heart.
O Most Sacred Heart of Jesus:
You know the longings of our hearts, and You desire that we enjoy friendship with You. From Your pierced side, You have poured out the wellspring of life, for which we thirst. Your heart burns with a love for all people to return to a right relationship with You.
We celebrate the abundant gifts You have given this nation, founded on the self-evident truths that our Creator has endowed all people with the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
We make reparation for the offenses against You and against human dignity that have taken place in this nation.
May our hearts be united to Yours, so that our families and communities enjoy peace and happiness; may broken relationships be reconciled, injustices repaired, and the wounds of our land be healed.
May Your holy Catholic Church serve as a sign, pointing all people to Your infinite love.
O Desire of Nations and Center of History, we ask You to bless these United States of America.
Who live and reign with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!
On the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, June 12, I joined Father Miguel González, Rector of St. James Cathedral, to consecrate the Diocese of Orlando to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The community of St. James Cathedral and parish communities throughout the Diocese of Orlando also participated in a prayer of consecration to grow in love, trust, prayer and devotion to God.