By Charles Igwe
Cardinal Francis Leo, Archbishop of Toronto, has called on Catholics to dedicate the month of June to honoring the Sacred Heart of Jesus rather than embracing symbols “that are contrary to God’s divine revelation.” In a statement released ahead of the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, which this year falls on June 27, the cardinal emphasized the importance of remaining rooted in authentic Catholic identity.
June, traditionally celebrated in the Catholic Church as the Month of the Sacred Heart, is a time for believers to contemplate “Jesus’ loving, burning, sacrificial, and life-giving heart,” a symbol Leo described as “one of the most profound and enduring” in Catholic devotion. He reminded the faithful that Catholic symbols are more than images — they are spiritual anchors that “help us to deepen our faith and shape our prayer life,” while also influencing the choices we make and the lives we live.
In his remarks, Cardinal Leo drew a clear contrast between Catholic devotion and the secular observances that have come to characterize June in many parts of North America, particularly the widespread celebration of Pride Month. Without directly naming the LGBTQ+ movement, Leo addressed what he called “symbols that are inconsistent with our Catholic faith” and warned against adopting “trendy, misguided, and inadequate symbols” that do not reflect the Gospel or the Church’s moral teaching.
“We do good to use our own symbols to tell our own story,” he stated, cautioning against symbols “promoted by lobby groups and endorsed by political movements” that “contribute to confusion, distortions, and ambiguities about what the Catholic faith truly teaches regarding the human person, human nature, and natural moral law.”
Cardinal Leo offered the Sacred Heart of Jesus as the ultimate symbol for Catholics — a heart pierced, crowned with thorns, and burning with the inextinguishable fire of divine love. He explained that this symbol represents not just Christ’s physical suffering, but his entire inner life: “his will, emotions, thoughts, desires, and love,” all directed toward the redemption of the world.
To that end, the cardinal encouraged Catholics to renew — or undertake for the first time — a consecration to the Sacred Heart during the month of June. “If you haven’t already consecrated yourself, your family, and household to the most Sacred Heart, please consider doing so,” he said, highlighting the spiritual fruitfulness of this devotion in a world that increasingly trades truth for trend.
