Friday 11 June is the solemnity of the Sacred Heart.  This beautiful devotion, which emphasises the divine love which Jesus has for us with his human heart was developed from the apparitions of Saint Mary Alocoque in the 17th Century.  We will have a novena to the Sacred Heart in church after the 9am morning Mass beginning on Wednesday 2 June for nine days (the novena will be prayed after the 8am Mass on Sunday).  If you would like to pray along at home here is the text of the the novena which was written by Saint Padre Pio.

Efficacious Novena to the

Sacred Heart of Jesus

This novena prayer was recited every day by Padre Pio for all those who asked for prayers.
The faithful are invited to recite it daily, so as to be spiritually united with the prayer of Padre Pio.

1. O my Jesus, you have said: “Truly I say to you, ask and it will be given you, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you.” Behold I knock, I seek and ask for the grace of [insert your intention.]
   Our Father…Hail Mary…Glory be to the Father…Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
2. O my Jesus, you have said: “Truly I say to you, if you ask any thing of the Father in my name, He will give it to you.” Behold, in your name, I ask the Father for the grace of [insert your intention.]
   Our Father…Hail Mary…Glory be to the Father…Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

III. O my Jesus, you have said: “Truly I say to you, heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away.” Encouraged by your infallible words I now ask for the grace of [insert your intention.]
Our Father…Hail Mary…Glory be to the Father…Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, for whom it is impossible not to have compassion on the afflicted, have pity on us miserable sinners and grant us the grace which we ask of you, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, your tender mother and ours.

Say the Hail, Holy Queen and add: St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus, pray for us.