The Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus started in 1672 when St. Margaret Mary Alacoque had visions of Jesus teaching her about the depths of his Love for us all. During these visits he revealed to her twelve promises he would bestow on those who venerate and honor His Heart.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a witness of the faith as a martyr? All of us are called to be saints; but not everyone a martyr. I have always wondered that if I died as a martyr; how I would die; or would I have the courage to die for Christ? Today we have two martyrs – both were from England; and both died the same way; they were beheaded. However, both are from different vocations.

Today is the feast day of a remarkable saint, St. Aloysius de Gonzaga. He was born on March 9, 1568 to a very wealthy and royal family. He was the eldest of seven children. His father, Ferrante de Gonzaga was the Marquis of Castiglione. He intended for Aloysius to succeed him and inherit his entire wealth. And since he was very young his father introduced him to guns and brought him to military training expeditions so he could one day become a soldier.

I once heard a story of a sixteen-year old teenage woman name Andrea who contacted stomach cancer. She could not keep any food down and was felt strong pain in her stomach area. At first the doctors dismissed it as a stomach flu and gave her medicine to treat it. But it only grew worse quickly. So her parents took her again to see the doctor. This time they did a lot of tests and found she had a very advance stage of what would be cancer. She and her parents were told that she had to enter a special hospital for a few months so they could give her chemo in hopes they could save her life.

How many times have I heard great advice from a talk at a retreat; or an inspiration from God at Mass to change something within my life; and only to remain the same? I have in my many years attended many retreats and countless Masses; and got filled with inspiration from our Lord to start something new. And I would start only to give up on it after a while.

St. Thomas Aquinas once said that the Holy Eucharist is the only instance of change we encounter in this world that is exactly the opposite of everything else.