On June 11, 1899, Pope Leo XIII consecrated the world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
In his encyclical Annum Sacrum, His Holiness reiterated the Church’s perennial doctrine that Christ not only has a “natural” right over mankind but a divine claim as its ruler and king.
“His empire extends not only over Catholic nations” but “the whole human race,” including the “infidels” and those who are kept astray by “erroneous opinions,” Leo affirmed. The “abundance of evils which have now for a long time settled upon the world” can only be driven away by “Him … whose strength alone” can defeat them.
June belongs to the Sacred Heart
Devotion to the Sacred Heart dates back centuries. St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a 17th century French nun, was visited by Our Lord multiple times starting in December 1673. During her experiences, she saw Our Lord’s heart surrounded by thorns and a throne of flames. It was related to her that this was a symbol of Christ’s burning love for mankind.
In 1689, she asked King Louis XIV to consecrate France to the Sacred Heart. Regrettably, neither he nor his successors fulfilled the request. A century later, in 1789, the French Revolution broke out, resulting in widespread death and destruction.
In 1856, Pope Pius IX extended the Feast of the Sacred Heart to the universal calendar for June 12. Forty-three years later, Leo XIII’s Annum Sacrum designated June as the official month of the Sacred Heart.
Leo brushes aside the devotion
The Dispatch
One would think that with such a rich history, the Sacred Heart devotion would be at the top of the list of things the Vatican would want to promote this month, especially given LGBT groups still claiming June as “Pride Month.”
But instead of reiterating the Sacred Heart devotion, Leo released a video this week announcing his prayer intention for more people to “discover in sport a universal language that brings cultures together.”
“In times of war and extreme polarization, sport is one of the few things that bring us closer together,” Leo said. “Let us pray this June that sport may be an instrument of peace, encounter, and dialogue among cultures and nations, and that it may promote values such as respect, solidarity, and personal growth.”
Leo’s humanistic outlook is all too apparent. Instead of urging souls to “encounter” Jesus Christ — the only true “instrument of peace” — he directs them to see athletics as a primary means of social enrichment. What’s more, instead of reminding the world that the Catholic faith is what unites mankind, Leo effectively baptizes sports by maintaining that they serve as a “universal language that brings cultures together.”
To be sure, athletics can teach valuable lessons and, in a limited way, can help overcome cultural differences. But the fact remains that only the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the grace-giving sacraments of Holy Mother Church can bring about authentic solidarity, true personal growth, and lasting peace.
Professional sports in the 21st century have become a tool to distract ordinary citizens from the tyrannical measures being imposed upon them by corrupt governments. Events like the Super Bowl and the World Cup — which is set to kick off later this month — are just the latest iteration of the bread and circuses that Roman emperors of old used to hypnotize the masses.
Leo could have exposed this in his prayer intention for June. He could have implored Catholics to have a greater devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to fulfill the First Friday requirements. The fact that he didn’t only confirms his unfamiliarity with Catholic Tradition. We should pray that he becomes better acquainted with it — and fast.
