June 7th, 2024, is the 350^th Anniversary of Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
(This is a free to use shorter article for printing in parish bulletins.
Longer ones are at linked at the bottom of the page and are also free to use.)

In 1674 Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, requesting reparation to his Sacred Heart for the coldness and indifference with which so many of his own followers treat him in the Eucharist. “I feel this more than all I suffered during My Passion. If only [people] would make Me some return for My love, I should think but little of all I have done for them and would wish, were it possible, to suffer still more. But the sole return they make for all My eagerness to do them good is to reject Me and treat Me with coldness. Do thou at least console Me by supplying for their ingratitude as far as thou art able.”  Declaring his love for sinners in similar statements over the course of two years, Jesus inspired an echo of his love in the heart of that frail little Visitation nun in a small “nowhere” town named Paray-le-Monial, deep in rural France. 

Jesus would eventually make Twelve Promises to those who would take up this special devotion to him, culminating with the “great promise” of the First Fridays Devotion: 

“I promise … in the excess of the mercy of My Heart, that its all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Communion on the First Friday of every month, for nine consecutive months, the grace of final penitence, and that they shall not die under My displeasure, nor without receiving the Sacraments, and My Heart shall be their secure refuge at that last hour.”

Needless to say, devotion to Jesus’ Sacred Heart quickly spread! Since then,  theologians, popes, and saints have affirmed the Twelve Promises are not only in line with Church teaching but that the devotion is truly salutary. Learn more, here:
https://www.thedivinemercy.org/articles/twelve-promises-and-great-promise-sacred-heart

Longer articles, also free to use:

Article 1: Devotion to the Sacred Heart, Introduction
Article 2: The Twelve Promises
Article 3: Keeping Jesus Company, and Being in His Company
Article 4: His Love Is Real and Brings Us Hope