“O come! Let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!” The Christmas hymn rings out in the cold of winter.
His tiny heart beats, there in Bethlehem.
Mary and Jesus at daybreak, statue at Sacred Heart
Mother Mary holds Him close; she can feel His tiny heart beating next to her mother’s heart. This is her newborn son. This is the eternal Son of the Father. His tiny heart thunders through the universe and down the centuries. Let us offer our hearts at the manger; there we behold the Christ child.
Know of my prayers for you and your families this Christmas season.
I am visiting my family in St Louis over the holidays. This is our first Christmas together after my dad’s passing in March. There will be plenty of laughter, food and tears, I’m sure.
I was honored to consecrate our retreat center to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the great jubilee year of 2025, using a prayer from Pope Francis. I prayed this consecration at Mass on Sunday, December 14.
Jesus renews our hearts and our mission! I prayed the consecration at our final retreat of 2025. These first few months have been quite an adventure for me! I’m in a new place and a new ministry. I’m meeting our retreatants and donors; I’m visiting pastors and parishes to promote our retreats.
At Mass on December 13, I looked out and saw smiling faces and hearts renewed in our chapel. On the retreat, I offered several reflections on the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the wisdom of St Ignatius. After a weekend of prayer, quiet, rest and reflection, I could see God’s grace at work in the minds and hearts of our retreatants. I also prayed for the intentions submitted by our donors and friends; submit your prayers here:
https://www.sacredheartretreat.org/prayer-sign-up
Please pray with us and for us. Offer your heart to the Heart of Jesus in this Christmas season. Join us at Sacred Heart Jesuit Retreat in Sedalia CO for a weekend retreat or a day of prayer in 2026– in January, Lent, or Easter.
Pope Francis writes, “Mary ‘treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart” (cf. Lk 2:19 and 51)... What Mary “kept” was not only her memory of what she had seen and heard, but also those aspects of it that she did not yet understand; these nonetheless remained present and alive in her memory, waiting to be “put together” in her heart. [19, Dilexit Nos].
With Mary, let us ponder the love of Jesus in our hearts. Let us bring to Him our joys, our hopes, our fears and concerns. With the angels and shepherds, “Come, let us adore Him!” In the New Year, join us for a retreat— drawing close to His Sacred Heart.
We’re finishing some renovations over Christmas break. We have a new exercise room, new music room, new flooring and furniture and more! Bring a friend or family member with you in 2026!
Info: https://www.sacredheartretreat.org/preached-retreats
Finally, please consider making a gift to Sacred Heart Retreat— at the end of 2025 or the beginning of 2026. Click here to donate today!
Merry Christmas!
-Fr Joe SJ
Let us pray:
Lord Jesus Christ, in this Jubilee Year, I offer You my heart. May Your Sacred Heart
pour forth streams of living water to renew and deepen our mission
at Sacred Heart Jesuit Retreat in Sedalia CO. Strengthen us in love and service.
Inspire us to journey with You in justice and peace– for You harmonize all of our differences in the light
that radiates from Your open Heart. You live and reign for ever and ever.
St Ignatius Loyola, pray for us. Amen.
-Pope Francis, Dilexit Nos #220, adapted
renewal of consecration to the Sacred Heart, 2025