Belonging to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Posted by Fr. Joe Laramie, SJ on Oct 16, 2020 7:03:00 AM

Hearts are everywhere in our culture. We use the emoji in texts: “I ❤️U,” or on bumper stickers: “I ❤️NY.” Instagram and Twitter let you click a heart to ‘like’ a post. And let’s not forget the ‘hand heart.’ Notre Dame’s Domers, of course, love the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the central place of worship on campus. So what is this Sacred Heart? And what does it mean? In my work with teenagers and young adults, I sense this devotion is poised for a great renewal.

We’re all craving connection, community, communion, and love in our broken and virus-wrecked world. We seek a heartfelt relationship with something, or rather Someone, bigger than ourselves. This is the power and attraction of the Sacred Heart. The heart of our Catholic faith is not an idea, but a person: Jesus. And he has a living, beating human heart right now. He has a risen Body and his Heart is filled with love for you and me.

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Topics: communion of saints, devotional prayer, Jesus Christ, love, Sacred Heart of Jesus, community, saint devotions

Free Resource: Saints Workbooks

Posted by Scott Boyle on Apr 22, 2020 2:08:43 PM

This time of social distancing has reminded me of how much I thrive when I am able to spend intentional time with others. Although it has certainly taken some creativity, I’ve been surprised at how I’ve been able to maintain relationships with friends and family and spend quality time at a distance. Game nights over Zoom and phone calls over walks have proved to be two essential foundations. 

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Topics: catechesis, saints, printable saints, downloadable resources, saint devotions, COVID-19 Resources

A Devotion to St. Joseph

Posted by John Cavadini on Mar 19, 2020 9:29:28 AM

Editorial Note: This post is a part of our saint devotion series, in which one of our staff or faculty members explores their relationship with a particular saint. 

St. Joseph is my favorite saint. He is my “best friend” among the saints, if the saints are our “friends.” I love him better than all the rest, and it’s OK, because, as St. Bernadette used to say, “there is no jealousy in Heaven.” But I cringe when someone asks me to write about him. I love St. Joseph so very much because his life is thoroughly “hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). He hides himself. We know him as someone who does not speak, who does not represent himself, who does not tell his own story, who gives up giving an account of himself. In this way, his life is a whole burnt offering, speaking to us only by not speaking.

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Topics: communion of saints, prayer, saints, spirituality, St. Joseph, devotions, saint devotions

A Devotion to St. André Bessette

Posted by Timothy Pisacich on Mar 18, 2020 7:27:00 AM

Editorial Note: This post is a part of our saint devotion series, in which one of our staff or faculty members explores their relationship with a particular saint. 

Saint André Bessette was a Congregation of Holy Cross brother with a deep veneration to St. Joseph, whose intercession André attributed to the many physical healings he witnessed. André’s post as door-keeper at Notre Dame College in Montreal, Canada evolved when people began to experience physical healings after meeting with him. Eventually, André saved up $200 from his work as a barber to build a shrine to St. Joseph across the street from Notre Dame College, where he met and prayed with pilgrims seeking healing. While there is little in common between André’s ministry in Quebec and mine for Echo, the McGrath Institute’s two-year graduate service program, I am regularly inspired by André’s presence to the other, and his confidence in directing others to Christ. 

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Topics: communion of saints, Lent, prayer, saints, spirituality, St. André Bessette, devotions, saint devotions

A Devotion to St. Ignatius

Posted by Scott Boyle on Mar 17, 2020 7:17:00 AM

Editorial Note: This post is a part of our saint devotion series, in which one of our staff or faculty members explores their relationship with a particular saint. 

Back when I was in high school in Cincinnati, I loved asking philosophical and theological questions. The environment at St. Xavier, the Catholic, Jesuit high school I attended prompted many of those questions. And no one received more of those questions than my sophomore year religion teacher, Mr. Yeazell. 

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Topics: communion of saints, prayer, saints, spirituality, devotions, St. Ignatius, saint devotions

Living and Handing on the Faith

The McGrath Institute Blog helps Catholics live and hand on their faith in Jesus Christ, especially in the family, home and parish, and cultivates and inspires everyday leaders to live out the fullness and richness of their faith in the simple, little ways that make up Church life.

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