The Feast of the Sacred Heart, or the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, is a holiday in the Catholic liturgical calendar. It occurs nineteen days after the holiday of Pentecost, and it always takes place on a Friday. The first official celebration of the holiday took place in 1670, and it was designated as an obligatory holiday in 1856. Since 2002, the holiday has also been a special day designated for priests, with many devoting themselves to the service of the Sacred Heart on this day. The feast is celebrated with hymns and a special litany. This day can be a part of your online church or Internet ministry if you choose to include it, as it embraces and celebrates values that are close to those shared by members of the Universal Life Church.

Devotion to the idea of the Sacred Heart of Jesus has its roots in the Middle Ages. It was developed by a French nun who claimed that the devotion was given to her in a vision. Today, the physical heart of Jesus, as reflected in iconography, represents his love and compassion for humanity. The heart itself has a crown of thorns and is surrounded by flames, which represent Christ’s divine love.

When the Feast of the Sacred Heart was declared an official holiday, it introduced to the Catholic Church the ideas of acts of reparation, consecration, and devotion. Observant Catholics do not worship the Sacred Heart as an idol, but as an example of God’s love for humanity. It reminds them to love one another as Jesus loved all people. The wounded heart represents the self-sacrificing love that they both revere and wish to emulate.

The Catholic Church has created several liturgies for the Feast of the Sacred Heart, and you can use these in your own Universal Life Church or online church if you choose to do so. The liturgies have changed over time, but the most recent ones are only about ten years old. You can even post them on your own website as part of your Internet ministry, or choose excerpts from them that you feel will be especially meaningful to you and to your ministry.

While the Feast of the Sacred Heart might be a traditionally Catholic holiday, its themes of love and compassion for all humanity transcend religious boundaries. The feast day can be a wonderful way to teach others about kindness, charity, and love for all people.