Sacred Heart of Jesus prayer program planned

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SALT LAKE CITY — A new pilgrim icon program centered on the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus has come to Utah, courtesy of the Knights of Columbus.

The new prayer program coincides with the 350th anniversary of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque’s visions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which began around 1674.

“Our Lord reminded [St. Margaret Mary] of that ancient and beautiful devotion, and she shared that gift with the world,” said Patrick E. Kelly, Supreme Knight, during the Knights of Columbus’ Supreme Convention’s annual States Dinner on Aug. 6. “In the heart of Christ, we see the heart of the Father, and we ask Our Lord to help us make his heart our own, so that we may see and love in others what he sees and loves in us. That is what the world needs. And on the 350th anniversary of St. Margaret Mary’s visions, we will make this mission our own.”

Blessed Michael McGivney, the founder of the fraternal Catholic organization, had a deep devotion to the Sacred Heart. As the centerpiece of the new pilgrim icon program, the Knights selected a painting of the Sacred Heart by Italian artist Pompeo Batoni. The image is located in Rome’s Church of the Gesù. Copies of the image, blessed by the papal almoner, have been sent to 73 Knights of Jurisdiction across the world.

Utah program chair Greg Keller encourages all the parishes in the diocese to take advantage of this prayer opportunity.

“Pope Francis has encouraged the entire world to participate in the Sacred Heart of Jesus program, and the Knights have provided the resources and the opportunities for those parishes to participate in this year’s program,” he said.

The first Holy Hour in Utah will be offered Saturday, Jan. 25, 6-7 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Draper. Other Holy Hours will be scheduled across the diocese over the next several months; when the information becomes available, the events will be listed in this newspaper’s Around the Diocese section. Contact your local Knights of Columbus council or parish for information.

Following the Holy Hour, families are encouraged to enthrone the Sacred Heart in their homes by placing an image of the Sacred Heart in a place of honor and conducting an enthronement ceremony (instructions at bit.ly/4a94PQi).

WHAT: Holy Hour with Sacred Heart of Jesus icon

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 25, 6-7 p.m.

WHERE: St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 300 East 11800 South, Draper

Contact Greg Keller, gkkeller3@msn.com, for information.