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The Knights of Columbus this week began a novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, offered for Pope Leo XIV and his intentions — and it’s not too late to join.
The novena runs from June 19, which marked the anniversary of Pope Leo’s ordination to the priesthood, through June 27, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart.
In a recent press release from the organization, Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly encouraged widespread participation and reaffirmed the Knights’ commitment to the Holy Father.
“Our Holy Father can count on the loyalty and prayers of the Knights of Columbus — now and always,” he said. “In solidarity with him, I invite all Knights, their families, and people of goodwill to join in this special novena for the pope and his intentions, as we support the Church’s mission of evangelization through our works of charity and faith formation.”
In addition to the novena, participants are encouraged specifically to pray with Pope Leo’s prayer intention for June, which is “that each one of us might find consolation in a personal relationship with Jesus, and from His Heart, learn to have compassion on the world.”
The 2025 novena also marks the 350th anniversary of the final apparition of Jesus to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, where Christ revealed His immense love in the image of His Sacred Heart: “Behold this Heart which has so loved men that it has spared nothing, even to exhausting and consuming itself, in order to testify its love.”
Participants can still begin and obtain the prayers for the novena. They can also submit personal intentions through the Knights’ website. These intentions will be brought to Rome later this Jubilee Year by Kelly. Families are also encouraged to enthrone an image of the Sacred Heart in their homes as part of their devotion.
>> Pope Leo’s first prayer intention: ‘That the world might grow in compassion’ <<
