June 2009 - Overview for the Month

The month of June is dedicated to The Sacred Heart of Jesus. The entire month falls within the liturgical season of Ordinary Time, which is represented by the liturgical color green. This symbol of hope is the color of the sprouting seed and arouses in the faithful the hope of reaping the eternal harvest of heaven, especially the hope of a glorious resurrection. It is used in the offices and Masses of Ordinary Time. The last portion of the liturgical year represents the time of our pilgrimage to heaven during which we hope for reward.

The Holy Father's Intentions for the Month of June 2009

General: That international attention towards the poorer countries may give rise to more concrete help, in particular to relieve them of the crushing burden of foreign debt.

Missionary: That the particular Churches operating in regions marked by violence may be sustained by the love and concrete closeness of all the Catholics in the world. (See also www.apostleshipofprayer.net)

Feasts for June

The feasts on the General Roman Calendar celebrated during the month of June are:

1. Justin, Memorial
2. Marcellinus and Peter, Opt. Mem.
3. Charles Lwanga and Companions, Memorial
5. Boniface, Memorial
6. Norbert, Opt. Mem.
7. Trinity Sunday, Solemnity
9. Ephrem, Opt. Mem.
11. Barnabas, Memorial
13. Anthony of Padua, Memorial
14. Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Solemnity
19. Sacred Heart of Jesus, Solemnity
20. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Memorial
21. Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sunday
22. Paulinus of Nola; John Fisher and Thomas More, Opt. Mem.
24. Birth of John the Baptist, Solemnity
26. Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer, Opt. Mem.
27. Cyril of Alexandria, Opt. Mem.
28. Thirteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Sunday
29. Peter and Paul, Solemnity
30. First Martyrs of the Church of Rome, Opt. Mem.

Focus of the Liturgy

The readings for the Sundays in June are taken from St. Mark, and St. Matthew and are from Year B, Cycle 1.

June 7th - Trinity Sunday Jesus tells the apostles to "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
June 14th - Body & Blood of Christ -The Gospel is a narrative of the institution of the Most Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper.
June 21th - 12th Sunday of Ordinary Time The Gospel is about Jesus asleep on the boat being awakened and calming the storm because of the apostles' fear.
June 28nd - 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Jesus raises the daughter of Jarius from the dead.

Highlights of the Month

As we begin to feel the warmth of summer, we can reflect that God is Love and the Sacred Heart of Jesus — present on earth in the Blessed Sacrament — is the human manifestation of God's Love for men. Appropriately June is considered the month for weddings where human hearts join and cooperate with the Creator in bringing forth new life. The family they create is a human reflection of the Blessed Trinity.

The main feasts of this month are St. Justin (June 1), Sts. Marcellinus and Peter (June 2), St. Charles Lwanga and Companions (June 3), St. Boniface (June 5), St. Barnabas (June 11), St. Anthony of Padua (June 13), Sts. John Fisher and Thomas More (June 22), the Birth of St. John the Baptist (June 24), St. Cyril of Alexandria (June 27) and the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul (June 29).

The feasts of St. Aloysius Gonzaga (June 21) and St. Irenaeus (June 28) are superseded by the Sunday liturgy.

A Time of Love

Ordinary Time is the longest of the liturgical seasons. Like the lush June growth all around us, the green of the liturgical season points to the new life won for us by the Redemption of Jesus Christ, the new life of Charity. For Our Lord came to cast the fire of His love on the earth, and to that end, sent His Holy Spirit at Pentecost in the form of tongues of fire.

Ordinary Time is the hour to "go out to all the world and tell the good news.” The feasts of June highlight this expansion of the Church. At least ten times, the Church vests in the red of the martyrs whose blood is the very seed of her growth. She also celebrates the feasts of the apostles Peter and Paul, and the birth of St. John the Baptist, proto-disciple and prophet.

We, too, are called to be witnesses like the apostles and martyrs. May the Heart of Jesus inflame our hearts so that we may be worthy of our Baptismal call to holiness. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, truly present in the Holy Eucharist, I place my trust in you.
Highlights
June 13
St. Anthony
Called the Wonder Worker because of the numerous miracles attributed to him while he was living and since his death. He is one of the most popular saints in the Catholic Church and is implored as the patron of lost things and a hundred other causes. He was a preacher and theologian and was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XII.
Recipe of the Month
Italian Wedding Soup
Since June is the month for weddings this would be a good time to try your hand with this soup.
Activity of the Month
Enthronement
to the Sacred Heart
The Enthronement is the recognition of the Royal Power of Jesus Christ over the family which pledges to live in union with the Sacred Heart by love, grace and obedience to His Commandments.

Symbols
The Archbishop of Mentz established the foundation for Christianity in Germany. His emblem refers to his defense of the Gospel as he met the blow of death while confirming baptized converts.
One of the Apostolic Fathers, whose feast day in olden times was celebrated by young lads and clerks bedecked with roses. This shield is divided.
The interwoven symbols of Sts. Peter and Paul are used at Winchester, where the cathedral church is dedicated to these saints.
The triquetra is one of the many symbols that clearly express the doctrine of the Blessed Trinity.