A nine-day Mass novena in the diocese concluded Friday, June 12, the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, with a Mass at Westerville St. Paul the Apostle Church.
Ten clergy, including bishops, priests and deacons, were present for the liturgy. Bishop Emeritus James Griffin, the 10th bishop of Columbus, served as the main celebrant.
Bishop Griffin, who served as Columbus’ bishop from 1983 to 2004, celebrated the Mass on the eve of his 92nd birthday, which he marked on June 13. More than 400 individuals attended.
Concelebrants for the liturgy included Archbishop Antonysamy Savarimuthu of Madurai, India, a guest to the Columbus diocese, and Fathers William Hahn and Michael Hartge, the diocese’s vicars general. Father Hahn also serves as director of priestly life and Father Hartge as moderator of the curia.
The solemnity of the Sacred Heart, a moveable feast that falls the Friday following the Corpus Christi (Body of Christ) octave, drew increased recognition this year.
The Columbus diocese joined the U.S. bishops in praying a Sacred Heart novena (nine days of prayer) from June 3 to 11. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops asked faithful nationwide to join in prayer ahead of the U.S. consecration to the Sacred Heart.
U.S. Bishops consecrated the country Thursday, June 11 during an assembly in Orlando, Florida. The consecration came ahead of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in July.
In anticipation of the historical event, nine Masses were celebrated – one each day – at various parishes across the Columbus diocese. The liturgies highlighted diocesan ethnic groups, including African and Hispanic communities.
The novena and consecration concluded on the eve of the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Faithful in the Columbus diocese were invited to celebrate the solemnity at St. Paul the Apostle Church.
“I was so impressed with the turnout and the joy,” said Emily Jaminet, executive director of the Sacred Heart Enthronement Network, based in Columbus. “We had a lot of young families gather as well, which is very exciting. The Mass was beautiful.”
Father Jonathan Wilson, pastor at St. Paul the Apostle, preached the homily. He explained that the solemnity celebrates the person of Jesus Christ. There is no greater sign of God’s love, he said, than the Sacred Heart.
He encouraged the congregation to exercise the devotion in three steps: Receive Christ’s love, return His love and share His love.
He emphasized that no one can earn Christ’s love; it is freely given. Faithful can return that love by offering their selves to God and uniting with Him. The world is in great need of Christ’s love, which, he told the congregation, they are called to share.
During Mass, the congregation recited the Prayer of Consecration to the Sacred Heart. Faithful were invited to gather for a reception held afterward.
Father Wilson consecrated St. Paul the Apostle to the Sacred Heart in April 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. He consecrated the parish to the Blessed Mother’s Immaculate Heart shortly afterward on Aug. 22, the feast of the Queenship of Mary.
The Sacred Heart devotion originated in 17th-century France.
Sister Margaret Mary Alacoque of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary (Visitandines) experienced visions of the Sacred Heart. The Lord asked St. Margaret Mary for the feast to be instituted and celebrated in reparation for man’s ingratitude for Christ’s sacrifice. He offered 12 promises to those who practice the devotion.