Most people don’t know ladybugs are named after the Virgin Mary. 🙏 For centuries, Christians in Europe associated these little red beetles with Our Lady. In English, they were once called “Our Lady’s bugs.” Even the Oxford English Dictionary traces the name back to Mary.

Today is the feast of St. Anthony of Padua, widely known as the miracle worker. 🙏 The patron saint of lost items, 13th-century Franciscan friar is renowned for his profound scriptural knowledge, eloquent preaching, and extraordinary miracles. St. Anthony earned his title through numerous documented wonders, both in his lifetime and posthumously.

Blessed feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. 🙏 🔗 ucatholic.com/saints/heart-o…

Pope Leo elevates the Body of Christ during Holy Mass. 🙏 The Holy Father celebrates Mass on the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Spain. Video: Vatican News

A statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus stood untouched in a fire. 🙏 On the very day the Catholic bishops of the United States consecrated the nation to the Sacred Heart. The fire took place in Wayne County, Pennsylvania. Photo Credit: Chris Dolan

How to receive a plenary indulgence on feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus: On this feast day, the Church offers a plenary indulgence—the full remission of temporal punishment due to sins already forgiven—to the faithful who publicly recite the Act of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This may be done in a church, with one’s family, or within a religious community. To receive the indulgence, the usual conditions must also be fulfilled: - Be detached from all sin, even venial sin - Receive the Sacrament of Confession within about 20 days before or after - Receive Holy Communion, preferably on the feast day itself - Pray for the intentions of the Holy Father, such as one Our Father and one Hail Mary Recite the Act of Reparation: Most sweet Jesus, whose overflowing charity for men is requited by so much forgetfulness, negligence, and contempt, behold us prostrate before Thy altar, eager to repair by a special act of homage the cruel indifference and injuries to which Thy loving Heart is everywhere subject. Mindful, alas, that we ourselves have had a share in such great indignities, which we now deplore from the depths of our hearts, we humbly ask Thy pardon and declare our readiness to atone by voluntary expiation not only for our own personal offenses, but also for the sins of those who, straying far from the path of salvation, refuse in their obstinate infidelity to follow Thee, their Shepherd and Leader, or, renouncing the vows of their Baptism, have cast off the sweet yoke of Thy law. We are now resolved to expiate each and every deplorable outrage committed against Thee. We are determined to make amends for the manifold offenses against Christian modesty in unbecoming dress and behavior, for all the foul seductions laid to ensnare the feet of the innocent, for the frequent violations of Sundays and holy days, and the shocking blasphemies uttered against Thee and Thy Saints. We wish also to make amends for the insults to which Thy Vicar on earth and Thy priests are subjected, for the profanation, by conscious neglect or terrible acts of sacrilege, of the very Sacrament of Thy Divine Love, and lastly for the public crimes of nations who resist the rights and teaching authority of the Church which Thou hast founded. Would that we were able to wash away such abominations with our blood. We now offer, in reparation for these violations of Thy divine honor, the satisfaction Thou didst once make to Thy eternal Father on the Cross and which Thou dost continue to renew daily on our altars. We offer it in union with the acts of atonement of Thy Virgin Mother and all the Saints and of the pious faithful on earth; and we sincerely promise to make recompense, as far as we can with the help of Thy grace, for all neglect of Thy great love and for the sins which we and others have committed in the past. Henceforth we will live a life of unwavering faith, of purity of conduct, and of perfect observance of the precepts of the Gospel, especially that of charity. We promise to the best of our power to prevent others from offending Thee and to bring as many as possible to follow Thee. O loving Jesus, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our model in reparation, deign to receive the voluntary offering we make of this act of expiation; and by the crowning gift of perseverance keep us faithful unto death in our duty and the allegiance we owe to Thee, so that we may one day come to that happy home where Thou, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, livest and reignest, God, world without end. Amen.

The United States has been consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. 🙏

Blessed Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. 🙏 Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us! 🔗 ucatholic.com/saints/solemni…

Today the United States was consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. 🙏 US Bishops gathered in Florida to dedicate America in commemoration of it's 250th birthday. Video: USCCB

The United States has been consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. 🙏 On June 11, US Bishops gathered in Orlando, Florida, to consecrate America in commemoration of it's 250th birthday.

Pope Leo offers Mass in the Canary Islands during his visit to Spain. 🙏 Video: Vatican News

Today the United States will be consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. 🙏 The consecration will take place at 4 PM ET during the U.S. bishops' spring plenary assembly in Orlando, Florida. The ceremony is a centerpiece of the Church's observance of America's 250th anniversary.

Relics of St. Margaret Mary travel to United States for the nation's consecration on June 11. 🙏 St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, who received visions of Jesus revealing his Sacred Heart, will have relics in Orlando, Florida, as the U.S. bishops consecrate the United States to Jesus’ Sacred Heart on June 11. The relics will arrive in New York from Paris on June 2 and remain in the U.S. through September.

The tallest Church in the world lights up for the first time. 🙏 The Basilica of Sagrada Família stands at 172.5-meters tall and took over 100 years to complete. Video: Vatican News

Pope Leo blesses the Basilica of Sagrada Família, the tallest church in the world. 🙏 The pontiff celebrated Mass crowning the newly completed 172.5-meter Tower of Jesus Christ. Pope Leo prayed at the architect's crypt tomb before the solemn event attended by thousands, Spain's King Felipe VI, and Queen Letizia. The Basilica took over 100 years to complete.

Pope Leo presides over the solemn Mass for the inauguration of the Basilica of Sagrada Família, the tallest church in the world. 🙏 Video: Vatican News

Pope Leo makes his grand entrance to the Basilica of Sagrada Família, the tallest church in the world. The Holy Father will preside over the solemn Mass marking the 172.5-meter tower's inauguration. Video: Vatican News

Pope Leo: "You do not have to be afraid to get married and start a family."🙏 The Holy Father to young people in Spain.

Heartwarming: Pope Leo embraced 3-year-old “Super Mateíto” from Ecuador, a little boy with brain developmental challenges whose family moved to Madrid seeking a better future. To his parents, the Holy Father offered a simple but powerful reminder: place your trust in God. 🙏