The following is from Msgr. Kevin T. Royal, Pastor of St. Mary Parish from their Keeping the Faith newsletter (June 7, 2024)
Dear Saint Mary Friends,
June is many things to many people (end of school, weddings, the NBA Finals, and my favorite, the Stanley Cup Finals). The month has also been commandeered for certain 30-day long observances – although mom gets only one day in May and dad one in June.
Do a search and you’ll find June is African-American Music Appreciation Month, Caribbean-American Heritage Month, LGBTIQA+ Pride Month, National PTSD Awareness Month, and National Safety Month.
You likely didn’t know about most of these designations because one of them swallows up the rest in the public’s attention. And that’s a shame. This is not meant to be disrespectful to those observing that month, but simply to point out it has become a social behemoth not allowing for rivals.
And for the umpteenth time, do we have to say all human beings deserve respect and are precious in the eyes of God, but that every human thought, action, or choice may not be so? Disagreement does not mean hatred. In fact, in the church’s case it means love.
It’s all too bad, because June is also the Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The month of absolute Divine Love.
When Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and revealed his desire that we have devotion to his Sacred Heart, the heart he showed her was pierced with thorns (our sins) and surrounded by flames (his burning love for us).
The humble heart of Christ pierced in death on the Cross out of love for all.
The humble heart of Christ offered as healing and mercy to all.
The humble life-giving heart of Christ inviting everyone to come to him.
About her vision she wrote:
I saw this divine Heart as on a throne of flames, more brilliant than the sun and transparent as crystal. It…was encircled with a crown of thorns, ….He made me understand the ardent desire He had of… drawing us from the path of perdition….to manifesting His Heart to men, together with all Its treasures of love, mercy, grace, sanctification and salvation….
Who does not desire those treasures?
He is the Light “more brilliant than the sun” who shines in any darkness in our lives.
Back briefly to the behemoth celebrating this month.
Would that there could ever be a reasoned, respectful, and dispassionate conversation on Christ’s Light and his true Love in relation to the purpose and importance of the human body and identity, but that is difficult these days.
Would that there could ever be an appreciation and understanding that the body is an essential part of our identity and communicates who we are (there’s a reason Christians insist on the Resurrection of Jesus in his body – our body).
Would that this would be the first medicine sought in our times.
Please take this month of June to see yourself in the Heart, Mind, and Body of Christ. It is your primary identity. An identity to which all other secondary identities are united, blessed and healed.
