The holy hour, flowing from the jubilee for the 350th anniversary of the apparitions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (Dec. 27, 2023 – Jun. 27, 2025) and inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical letter Dilexit
Nos (He Loved Us), is sponsored by Knights of Columbus Council #6108.
During the holy hour, an icon depicting the most famous image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, painted in 1767 by
Pompeo Batoni and now venerated in the Church of the Gesù in Rome, will be displayed. This reproduction of the
original image bears the blessing of Pope Francis and is one of more than 300 icons traveling across the world as
part of the Knights of Columbus Pilgrim Icon Program.
Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly has said that as Knights bring these icons across the world to their parishes, he hopes
“they will invite their families — and all families — to consecrate their homes and themselves to the Sacred Heart."
He further said that “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.”
The Sacred Heart Holy Hour will include readings from Sacred Scripture and reflections from Pope Francis on the
Sacred Heart of Jesus, as well as the Divine Mercy Chaplet, prayers to the Sacred Heart, and time for silent prayer
and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The prayer service will lead all present to grow in their love of God and
devotion to his Most Sacred Heart.
Following the event, families are encouraged to enthrone the Sacred Heart in their homes by placing an image of
the Sacred Heart in a place of honor. This devotion was inspired by Jesus’ promise to St. Mary Margaret Alacoque
to “bless every place in which an image of [his] Heart is exposed and honored.”
The Pilgrim Icon Program has enabled more than 23 million people to honor Our Lord, Our Lady, and the saints,
through 191,000 prayer services featuring different icons, such as Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Holy Family, and St.
Joseph. The Sacred Heart of Jesus icon is the 20th icon venerated through the program since 1979.
Please Spread the Word!
Council #6108 in Gainesville, FL is one of nearly 17,000 Knights of Columbus councils that make up the world’s largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in 1882 to assist working-class and immigrant Catholics in the United States, today the approximately two million members of the Knights
put their faith into action through a broad range of charitable causes locally, nationally and internationally with
financial contributions and hands-on service. To learn more or to join the Knights of Columbus, please visit
kofc.org/join.
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