By Archbishop Thomas Wenski - The Archdiocese of Miami
Archbishop Thomas Wenski's homily at Mass celebrating the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart with the Servants of the Pierced Hearts. Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish (Doral, FL) June 12, 2026.
Yesterday, at the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe, in Orlando, the Bishops of the United States anticipating our country’s 250th anniversary of our Independence consecrated this nation to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.
On the eve of our nation’s 250 birthday, we recognize that our American experiment in democracy is still a work in progress. And so, in linking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with the devotion to the Sacred Heart whose solemnity we celebrate today, the Bishops invited us to reflect with gratitude on the blessings God has bestow on our nation but, at the same time, devotion to the Sacred Heart demands that we consider how we might better foster truth, justice, and charity in American life.
As Pope Leo XIV said earlier today in Las Islas Canarias: Jesus’ Heart symbolizes God’s merciful and infinite love for every human being. No matter where we come from, God’s love knows no borders, makes no distinctions, is given to all, and brings us together in unity.”
El Papa León XIV nos has invitado a contemplar el amor de Cristo, el cual nos impulsa a salir al encuentro —como parte de nuestra misión— de las hermanas y los hermanos que hoy sufren en el mundo, particularmente a través de nuestro cuidado de las personas pobres y vulnerables. Al meditar sobre la auto donación de Cristo, simbolizada por su corazón traspasado, en favor de todos, nos sentimos naturalmente impulsados a preguntarnos por qué nosotros no habríamos de estar también dispuestos a entregar nuestras vidas por los demás.
Ayer los obispos estadounidenses consagraron esta nación al Sagrado Corazón de Jesus en las vísperas de la celebración de los 250 años de su Independencia. Al vincular la Solemnidad del Sagrado Corazón con el Día de la Independencia de nuestra nación, los obispos desean que promovamos una comprensión correcta del amor a la patria, una que evite los extremos del nacionalismo.
Nuestras celebraciones en torno al 4 de julio deberían fomentar un patriotismo constructivo y con visión de futuro, frente a un nacionalismo divisivo, excluyente y ciego.
As American Catholics, or perhaps as Catholics in America, we recognize how far short our nation falls in many areas in forming a more perfect union. But while we recognize flaws and work to correct them, we also acknowledge the blessings of liberty we enjoy in this great country. In spite of extreme polarization, bitter partisanship, and entrenched divisions, we Catholics do not despair of America.
We love America – but let’s love her as Jesus loves, not just with a sentimental, saccharine love but with love in truth – a love that is stronger than sin. A love that names the sin – whether the sin be that of abortion, euthanasia, racism, or xenophobia. But we name the sin not to damn the sinner but to call the sinner to conversion of heart and mind. For the love that opened its arms on a cross of wood and opened its side to a soldier’s lance piercing his heart is love that believes that the sinner can be redeemed.
Thus, our celebrations around the Fourth of July should foster a constructive and forward-looking patriotism as opposed to a divisive, exclusionary, blind nationalism.
In his book, Memory and Identity, St. John Paul II wrote of the difference between a constructive patriotism and a destructive nationalism: Patriotism is love for everything to do with our native land: its history, its traditions, its language, its natural features. It is a love which extends also to the works of our compatriots and the fruits of their genius. Whereas nationalism involves recognizing and pursuing the good of one’s own nation alone, without regard for the rights of others, patriotism is a love for one’s native land that accords rights to all other nations equal to those claimed for one’s own. Patriotism, in other words, leads to a properly ordered social love.
As we meditate on Christ’s self-offering for the sake of all, exemplified by the image of the Most Sacred Heart, we are naturally led to ask why we too should not be ready to give our lives for others?
We are called to bring our faith into the actions we take and the lives we lead in our communities. We celebrate the ways the Church has contributed to a more just world, and we invite all in our society to see the face of Christ reflected in each sister and brother. Christ’s love should move us out on our mission to attend to our sisters and brothers suffering in the world today, particularly in our care for poor and vulnerable people. And in our communities today among the most vulnerable are found immigrants without permanent legal status.
San Juan Pablo II hablando del amor del Sagrado Corazón dijo una vez: «Es este amor el que debe inspirar hoy a la humanidad, si quiere afrontar la crisis del sentido de la vida, los desafíos de las más diversas necesidades y, especialmente, el deber de defender la dignidad de toda persona humana».
Devotion to the Sacred Heart, like the more recent devotion to the Divine Mercy, echoes the invitation that Jesus makes in the gospels to those who are “weary and heavily burdened” because of sin and hurt to turn to him for mercy, healing and restoration. Indeed, devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and devotion to the Divine Mercy have one and the same message: namely, that humanity is good and is greatly loved by God, and God generously offers mercy to all.
¡Sacratísimo Corazón de Jesús, ten misericordia de nosotros!
¡Most Sacred of Jesus, have mercy on us!
