By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic
Sister Brooke Marie, of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary, sells religious articles alongside Bailey Garland, of the St. John Paul II Catholic Newman Center in Illinois, and others who were helping the sisters raise funds for their new formation houses by working at the bookshop.
The main altar of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Doral, with the Blessed Sacrament exposed for the all-night vigil for the Two Hearts hosted by the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
High school student Jeison Alviso, from St. Raymond Church, Miami, who is contemplating the priesthood, prays the rosary at the night vigil.
The community prays the rosary during the adoration hour dedicated to the young. Many young people were present at the all-night vigil, including some who came from other states, including Illinois.
Father Elkin Sierra, a newly ordained priest assigned to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Doral, preaches to the assembly at the concluding Mass of the all-night vigil on Saturday morning.
Concelebrating the concluding Mass of the all-night vigil on Saturday morning, from left: Father Mark August, ordained five years ago for the Archdiocese of Chicago, and two newly ordained priests of the Archdiocese of Miami, Father Yonhatan Londoño, parochial vicar at St. Louis in Pinecrest, and Father Elkin Sierra, parochial vicar at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Doral.
Sister Maria Jose Socias, of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary, gives thanks to the priests and all the assembly after the concluding Mass of the all-night vigil at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, Doral.
Photography: ROBERTO AGUIRRE | FC
DORAL | Hundreds of people, among them families and young adults from South Florida and Illinois, took part this year in the annual all night vigil in honor of the "Two Hearts" — the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart Mary.
The vigil, hosted by the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary, was held June 28-29 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Doral. Miami Auxiliary Bishop Peter Baldacchino celebrated the opening Mass the evening of June 28, solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, accompanied by Our Lady of Guadalupe's pastor, Father Israel Mago. Newly-ordained priests from the Archdiocese of Miami — Father Yonhatan Londoño and Father Elkin Sierra — concelebrated the closing Mass early in the morning June 29. Other priests from the archdiocese as well as other U.S. dioceses, and some from outside the U.S., also took part in the celebrations.
After the evening Mass, the Blessed Sacrament was exposed all night and the rosary was prayed every hour for different intentions, such as for the priesthood, for religious sisters, for religious brothers, for the family, for youths and for missionaries.
Confessions were heard before the
Mass began and throughout the night until the morning hours. The Servants of the Pierced Hearts estimate that over 1,800 people attended, many of them staying the entire night. The monstrance used for the event rises to a height of six feet.
The solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is always celebrated the Friday that follows the second Sunday after Pentecost. Catholic News Agency provides this explanation and history of the feast:
From the earliest days of the Church, "Christ's open side and the mystery of blood and water were meditated upon, and the Church was beheld issuing from the side of Jesus, as Eve came forth from the side of Adam. It is in the 11th and 12th centuries that we find the first unmistakable indications of devotion to the Sacred Heart. Through the wound in the side, the wound in the Heart was gradually reached, and the wound in the Heart symbolized the wound of love." (Catholic Encyclopedia)
This general devotion arose first in Benedictine and Cistercian monasteries of that time, especially in response to the devotion of St. Gertrude the Great, but specific devotions became popularized when St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690), a Visitation nun, had a personal revelation involving a series of visions of Christ as she prayed before the Blessed Sacrament. She wrote, "He disclosed to me the marvels of his love and the inexplicable secrets of his Sacred Heart." Christ emphasized to her his love — and his woundedness caused by man's indifference to this love. He promised that, in response to those who consecrate themselves and make reparations to his Sacred Heart:
- He will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life.
- He will establish peace in their homes.
- He will comfort them in all their afflictions.
- He will be their secure refuge during life, and above all, in death.
- He will bestow abundant blessings upon all their undertakings.
- Sinners will find in his Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.
- Lukewarm souls shall become fervent.
- Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection.
- He will bless every place in which an image of his Heart is exposed and honored.
- He will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.
- Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in his Heart.
- In the excessive mercy of his Heart, his all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Fridays in nine consecutive months the grace of final perseverance; they shall not die in his disgrace, nor without receiving their sacraments. His divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.
Above are some pictures from this year's celebration.
