Catholic All Week

Pope Leo XIV embarked on his first major European trip with his June 6-12 visit to Spain, themed “Lift up your eyes.” One of the highlights of the papal visit was his June 10 stop at the Basilica of the Holy Family in Barcelona, where the world did just that as he inaugurated its 564-foot Tower of Jesus Christ. Here is a look at the fascinating history of the basilica that has become the tallest church in the world.

Historic roots

The idea of the basilica, known in Spanish as Sagrada Familia, was proposed by St. Josep Manyanet Vives, a Catalan priest known for his devotion to the Holy Family. In 1871, a Catholic association dedicated to St. Joseph embarked on a pilgrimage to Rome that included a stop at the famed Marian shrine of Loreto. The original neo-Gothic design of the basilica was intended to resemble the shrine in Loreto. The design was altered two years after the cornerstone was laid due to differences between the bishop and the project’s first architect, Francisco de Paula del Villar. The project was then taken over by famed Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí, whose sainthood cause is underway. Pope Leo inaugurated the tower on the 100th anniversary of Gaudí’s death.

Papal connections

The pope’s visit offers a unique historical symmetry: The basilica’s cornerstone was laid in 1882 during the pontificate of Pope Leo XIII. Now, 144 years later, his namesake inaugurated the Tower of Jesus Christ. St. John Paul II visited the partially constructed basilica on Nov. 7, 1982, noting that while the basilica was “not yet finished,” its presence has “been solid from the beginning,” which he compared to “another structure built with living stones: the Christian family.” The next time a Roman pontiff would visit the basilica was in 2010, when Pope Benedict XVI consecrated the altar during a dedication ceremony, thus opening it for public worship. 

Visiting the basilica

If a visit to Spain is in your summer travel plans, the basilica is a can’t-miss UNESCO World Heritage site that offers a variety of tours. If you are staying closer to home, there are virtual and photographic tours on the basilica’s website of this breathtaking landmark whose towers to Mary and the four evangelists reach up to the heavens. Educational resources for students and schools can also be found on the site.

 

 

Catholic All Week

On June 11, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will formally consecrate the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Devotion to the Sacred Heart grew from 17th century revelations to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in France, during which Jesus proclaimed His desire for the institution of a feast to honor His Heart. Pope Pius IX instituted the solemnity in 1865.

A story of love

At its core, devotion to the Sacred Heart is all about God’s love for humanity. It is with this immense love that the Father gave His Son into our hands, that the Son delivered Himself up to death for us, and that the Father gives His Son and the Son gives Himself to us in the Blessed Sacrament on the altar. Devotion to the Sacred Heart is devotion to the love of God poured out for us in Jesus.

Perpetuating the devotion

There are many practices Catholics use to carry out this devotion – among the most common are making a morning offering, participating often in Eucharist Adoration, making an act of consecration to the Sacred Heart and renewing it at least once a year, and making a First Friday Devotion. The latter entails going to Mass and receiving Holy Communion on the First Friday of every month for at least nine consecutive months and offering it for the reparation of sins committed against Jesus’ Sacred Heart and the Eucharist.

Consecration of our nation

On June 11, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will formally dedicate the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus – the first national consecration of its kind. Church leaders describe the move as a meaningful way to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary and reflect on the unlikely rise of the world’s first large-scale self-governing republic in the modern era. The consecration comes at a moment of heightened political tension across the country, giving the ceremony added symbolic weight. Supporters say the act is intended as both a prayer for national healing and a reminder of the country’s spiritual foundations.

Catholic All Week

While we honor all mothers in May, the month has a special place in the heart of Catholics for its focus on the Blessed Virgin Mary. As Pope Francis said in a Nov. 13, 2024, Vatican address, “Our Lady helps us see Jesus. She opens doors.” This month, make an effort to step through that door and deepen your devotion to Mary in any of the following ways.

Arrival of the holy spirit

At the first Pentecost, Peter, Mary, the apostles and their followers were gathered in the upper room in Jerusalem, where Jews from all over the world were still in town celebrating the end of Passover. A great wind blew and a flame appeared as a tongue of fire, which split itself into individual flames above the heads of all those present. The Holy Spirit came upon those gathered and each began to speak in tongues. Despite the fact many had no common language, they were perfectly able to understand one another.

 

The papacy and a birthday

As those in the room went out among the crowd to spread the Good News, some accused those speaking in tongues of being intoxicated. Peter explained to the crowd that this was the work of the Holy Spirit, as prophesied in Scripture, and began preaching to them. Peter then called on those present – about 3,000 people – to be baptized. That moment firmly established Peter as the leader of the faith – the “rock” Jesus had previously told him he would become – and is known as the birthday of the Church.

 

The tradition of novenas

The timing of these feasts is where the concept of the novena – nine days of prayer – originated. Acts 1 says that Mary and the apostles prayed together “continuously” for nine days after the Ascension, leading up to Pentecost. Traditionally, the Church prays the novena to the Holy Spirit in the days before Pentecost. Look for that and other novenas online.