As you know, I begin many of my homilies with a question.  Today, I would like to begin this pastor's column with a question.  What image of Jesus in statue form is found the most in Catholic churches that still have statue adorning their sanctuary or throughout the Church building?  Did you guess the Sacred Heart of Jesus?  I know that would be my answer though there's probably no way to get a "correct" answer to that question.

I have been in a number of older Catholic Churches recently and have seen a "Sacred Heart of Jesus" statue somewhere on pedestals in those churches.  Going to visit sick parishioners at St. Vincent Hospital as much as I do, has led me to see not just one, but two statues of the Sacred Heart of Jesus image there.  If I asked you to tell me where the Sacred Heart of Jesus statues are inside and outside of our church complex, I doubt that many of you would be able to answer that one is on the side wall in our adoration chapel and the one outside is down by the entrance of the lower hall on the right as your car comes into the drive-through in front of the lower hall doors.

On Valentine's Day (and the days leading up to it), we see hearts on a variety of objects and cards.  Obviously it reminds us of love.  What a blessing it is that we have an image of Jesus with his heart showing surrounded by a crown of thorns and a cross on top of it to remind us all the time of Christ's unique love for us and all mankind, a love that showed itself in the most giving of way through his passion, death AND resurrection.

I invite you to join us any and/or all First Fridays for Mass.  Most of the year we celebrate the votive Mass of the Sacred Heart immediately after Mass is over.  I promise to slow down as I lead it, so we can appreciate just how wide and deep Christ's love is for all.