Sacred Heart of Jesus - World Day for the Sanctification of Priests - New Archbishop for Moncton

SOLEMNITY OF THE MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS

"I promise you in the excessive mercy of my Heart that my all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Fridays in nine consecutive months the grace of final perseverance; they shall not die in my disgrace, nor without receiving their sacraments. My divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment" (Jesus to St. Margaret Mary).

Sixteenth century Calvinism and seventeenth century Jansenism preached a distorted Christianity that substituted for God's love and sacrifice of His Son for all men the fearful idea that a whole section of humanity was inexorably damned.

The Church always countered this view with the infinite love of our Savior who died on the cross for all men. The institution of the feast of the Sacred Heart was soon to contribute to the creation among the faithful of a powerful current of devotion which since then has grown steadily stronger. The first Office and Mass of the Sacred Heart were composed by St. John Eudes, but the institution of the feast was a result of the appearances of our Lord to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1675. The celebration of the feast was extended to the general calendar of the Church by Pius IX in 1856.

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Grant, we pray, almighty God, that we, who glory in the Heart of your beloved Son and recall the wonders of his love for us, may be made worthy to receive an overflowing measure of grace from that fount of heavenly gifts. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

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DAY FOR THE SANCTIFICATION OF PRIESTS

Unless another day is determined for good reason by a local Church, the Congregation for the Clergy has ask that this day be designated the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests.

In the Archdiocese of Ottawa we will hold our observance of this special day for the sanctification of priests on Thursday, June 21, when the priests of Ottawa will attend presentations by Mgr Noel Simard, Bishop of Valleyfield.

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ARCHBISHOP VALERY VIENNEAU
SUCCEEDS ARCHBISHOP RICHARD

 

Mgr Andre Richard, CSC

Today it was announced in Rome that His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI had accepted the resignation of the Most Reverend André Richard, C.S.C., as Archbishop of Moncton, according to canon 401 §1 and has named as his successor the Most Reverend Valéry Vienneau, currently Bishop of Bathurst.

Mgr Valerie Vienneau

Congratulations, Archbishop-elect VIENNEAU!