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A Calendar of Resources - November

The Month of The Holy Souls

November 2nd
The Feast of All Souls
Catholic Encyclopedia

November 3rd
Feast of St. Martin de Porres (d. 1639)
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintm02.htm

November 4th
Feast of St. Charles Borromeo
Catholic Encyclopedia

November 11th
Feast of St. Martin of Tours (397), Bishop
Catholic Encyclopedia
Veteran's Day

November 13th
Feast of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini
http://www.domestic-church.com/CONTENT.DOC/19981101/SAINTS/cabrini.htm
http://www.cin.org/cabrinsd.html
Famous Birthdays:
Robert Louis Stevenson (b. 1850), author, A Child's Garden of Verses and Treasure Island

November 15th
Feast of St. Albert the Great (1280), Bishop, Doctor of the Church
Catholic Encyclopedia

November 16th
Feast of St. Gertrude the Great (d. 1302)
http://www.cin.org/gergreat.html Feast of St. Margaret of Scotland (d. 1039)
Catholic Encyclopedia

November 17th
Feast of Elizabeth of Hungary
Catholic Encyclopedia

November 18th
Feast of St. Rose Philippine Duchesne (d. 1852)
http://www.ewtn.com/library/mary/duchesne.txt

November 22nd
Feast of Saint Cecelia
Catholic Encyclopedia
Thanksgiving
The American Thanksgiving Tradition Interesting and informative website run by the Plimoth Foundation.

November 25th
Feast of Saint Catherine of Alexandria (d. 307)
Catholic Encyclopedia

November 27th
Feast of the Miraculous Medal (1830)
Catholic Encyclopedia

November 29th
Famous Birthdays: Louisa May Alcott (1832), C.S. Lewis (1898)

November 30th
Feast of Saint Andrew (d. 61), Apostle, Martyr
Catholic Encyclopedia
Don't forget to start the Christmas Novena which starts on St. Andrew's Feastday.

A Calendar of Resources: April


April 1st
Famous Birthdays -William Harvey (1578) English doctor, author of The Circulation of the Blood
April 2nd
Famous Birthdays - Hans Christian Anderson (1805)
April 3rd
Famous Birthdays - Washington Irving (1783) American author, Rip Van Winkle, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
April 10th
Famous Birthdays - Clare Boothe Luce (1903) Catholic author, editor Saints for Now
April 13th
Feast of St. Martin I
Famous Birthdays - Thomas Jefferson (1743), Marguerite Henry (1902) author, The King of the Wind, The White Stallions of Lipizza
April 14th
Famous Birthdays - Annie Sullivan (1866) Helen Keller's teacher
April 15th
Famous Birthdays - Leonardo da Vinci (1452)
April 18th
This Date in History:

(1775) Paul Revere's Ride
(1906) San Francisco earthquake
April 21st
Feast of St. Anselm
April 22nd
Famous Birthdays - Queen Isabella of Castille (1451) Isabella of Castille is a complex, controversial and dominant figure in World history. She was responsible for financing Christopher Columbus' voyages to the New World, for driving the Moors (and the Jews) from Spain and beginning the infamous Spanish Inquistion. Her daughter Catherine was the unfortunate first wife of Henry VIII of England.
April 25th
Famous Birthdays - Guglielmo Marconi (1874) Scientist, Inventor

This Date in History:(1915) The Anzac Landing at Gallipoli
April 28th
Feast of St. Louis Marie de Montfort
April 29th
Feast of St. Catherine of Siena
Recommended Reading: St. Catherine of Siena by F.A. Forbes.
April 30th
Feast of Pope St. Pius V

A Calendar of Resources: August


August 1st
Feast of St. Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop (d. 1787)
St. Alphonsus Liguori from the Catholic Encyclopedia
August 2nd
Feast of St. Peter Julian Eymard, Priest (d. 1868)
August 3rd
Feast of St. Lydia (d. 1st Century, A.D.)
August 4th
Feast of St. John Vianney, Priest (d. 1859)
August 7th
Feast of St. Sixtus II and Companions, Martyrs (d. 258)
August 8th
Feast of St. Dominic de Guzman, founder of the Dominicans (d. 1221)
Resources: St. Dominic and the Rosary by Catherine Beebe (Vision Series)
August 9th
Feast of St. Romanus, Martyr (d. 258 A.D.)
Note: St. Romanus was a Roman soldier/prison guard who was converted by one of his prisoners - St. Lawrence - and was martyred the day before St. Lawrence was.

Feast of Saint Teresa Benedicta (Saint Edith Stein)
August 10th
Feast of St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr (d. 258 A.D.)
August 11th
Feast of St. Clare of Assisi Founder of the Poor Clares (d. 1253)
August 13th
Feast of St. John Berchmans (d. 1621)
August 14th
Feast of St. Maximillian Kolbe (d. 1941)
Resources: "The Volunteer at Auschwitz" by Chuck Colson, pp. 803-808 of The Book of Virtues edited by William Bennett.
August 15th
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven
August 16
St. Stephen (d. 1038)
August 17th
Feast of St. Hyacinth of Poland (d. 1257)
August 18th
Feast of St. Jane Francis de Chantal (d. 1641)
August 19th
Feast of St. John Eudes (d. 1680)
August 20th
Feast of St. Bernard of Clairvaux (d. 1153)
August 21st
Feast of Saint Pius X, Pope (d. 1914)
August 22nd
The Queenship of Mary
August 23rd
Feast of St. Rose of Lima (d. 1617)
August 24th
Feast of St. Bartholomew, Apostle and Martyr (d. 72 A.D.)
August 25th
Feast of St. Louis, King of France (d. 1270)
August 27th
Feast of St. Monica (d. 387), Mother of Saint Augustine
August 28th
Feast of St. Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (d. 430)
August 29th
Feast of the Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist
August 30th
Feast of St. Fiacre, Hermit, (d. 670)
August 31st
Feast of St. Raymond Nonnatus (d. 1240)

A Calendar of Resources: December

December 1st
The Feast of St. Edmund Campion (d. 1581) priest, martyr
Edmund Campion: Hero of God's Underground by Fr. Harold C. Gardiner, S.J.
Edmund Campion by Evelyn Waugh (Ignatius Press)
Read online:
"The Capture of Campion" by Evelyn Waugh
The Catholic Encyclopedia on St. Edmund Campion
Biography of St. Edmund Campion from the Patron Saints Index
December 3rd
Feast of St. Francis Xavier (1552) priest and missionary
Saint Francis of the Seven Seas by Albert Nevins (Vision Series)
Biography of Saint Francis Xavier from the Patron Saints Index
December 5th
In History: Prohibition Ends 1933

Famous Birthdays:

Christina Rosetti (1830-1894)
George Armstrong Custer (1839-1876)
Rose Wilder Lane (1996-1968)
Walt Disney (1901-1966)

December 6th
The Feast of Saint Nicholas
Nicholas: The Boy Who Became Santa (CCC Animated Video)
Available from Emmanuel Books

St. Nicholas and the Golden Bars is one version of the story of Saint Nicholas' legendary generosity. This story can be found on pages 763-765 of the Book of Virtues edited by William Bennett.

Santa Claus Paper Dolls in Full Color by Tom Tierney
This set of paper dolls is beautifully done and neat, not just for playing, but seeing the progression of traditions regarding Saint Nicholas with beautiful illustrations of what people thought he looked like from different eras and cultures. Unfortunately some of these traditions have moved farther and farther away from the original. The descriptions for each "doll" include information about each "version" of St. Nicholas. Available from Dover Publications.

The "O Night Divine" Blog has reviews of numerous books on St. Nicholas here

Websites relating to Saint Nicholas:
St. Nicholas Center
Catholic Encyclopedia

In History: First edition of the Encyclopedia Brittanica is published (1768)

Famous Birthdays: Joyce Kilmer (1886) read his poem "Trees"

December 7th
The Feast of St. Ambrose (d. 397), Bishop and Doctor of the Church
The Catholic Encyclopedia Entry on St. Ambrose
Biography of Saint Ambrose from the Patron Saints Index

In History:

U.S. declares war on Austria-Hungary (1917) link
Anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor (1941) link
The government of the Republic of China begins move from Nanking to Taipei during Chinese Civil War

Famous Birthdays: Willa Cather (1873-1947) link

December 8th
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Holy Day of Obligation
The Catholic Encyclopedia Entry on the Immaculate Conception regarding the doctrine and the origin of the feast.

In History:

Pope Pius IX proclaims the dogma of the Immaculate Conception (1854)

Famous Birthdays:

Horace (65BC-8BC) Roman poet
Mary Queen of Scots (1542-1587)
Eli Whitney (1765-1825) inventor link
Padraic Colum (b. 1881), writer link
James Thurber (1894-1961), writer link

December 9th
Feast of Saint Juan Diego

In History: Lech Walesa elected president of Poland

Famous Birthdays:

John Milton (1608-1674) English author
Claude Louise Berthollet (1748-1822) chemist link

December 10th
In History:

Statehood for Mississippi (1817)
Wyoming becomes first state to allow women to vote (1869)
Treaty signed ending Spanish-American War (1898)

Famous Birthdays:

George MacDonald (1824-1905), writer link
Emily Dickinson (1830-1886), poet see: Into Deep Eternity link
Rumer Godden (1907-1998), writer link

December 11th
In History:

Statehood for Indiana (1816)
Germany and Italy declare war on the U.S. (1941)

Famous Birthdays:

Hector Berlioz (1803), composer
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (1918), writer

December 12th
Solemnity of Our Lady of Guadalupe (1531)

The Lady of Guadalupe by Tomie de Paola Click here for Book Review

Domestic Church's page on Our Lady of Guadalupe
Website on Our Lady of Guadalupe
Catholic Encyclopedia Entry on the Shrine of Guadalupe
EWTN Article on Our Lady of Guadalupe and the status of her feast as a Solemnity in the Americas
"A Tea in Honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe"
Ideas for Celebration from O Night Divine

In History:

Marconi transmits first radio transmission across the Atlantic (1901)
Fr. Flanagan founds Boystown in Nebraska (1917)
2000 U.S. Presidential election (Bush vs. Gore) is decided in Supreme Court

December 13th
Feast of Saint Lucy (d. 304), Virgin and Martyr
Swedish and Sicilian Traditions for St. Lucy's Day (including recipes)
The Catholic Encyclopedia Entry on Saint Lucy
O Night Divine: St. Lucy of Syracuse

In History: Council of Trent begins (1545)

December 14th
Feast of Saint John of the Cross (d. 1591), Priest and Doctor of the Church
The Catholic Encyclopedia Entry on Saint John of the Cross
Biography of Saint John of the Cross from the Patron Saints Index

In History:

Statehood for Alabama (1819)
First telegraph cable laid across Pacific Ocean (1902) link, link map
Roald Amundsen reaches South Pole (1911) bio
Iraq gains independence from U.K. (1932) article

Famous Birthdays: Tycho Brahe (1546-1601), astronomer bio

December 15th
Famous Birthdays:

Gustave Eiffel (1832-1923), architect

December 16th
In History:

Boston Tea Party (1773) article eyewitness account
Battle of the Bulge begins (1944)

Famous Birthdays:

Catherine of Aragon (1485-1536), first wife of King Henry VIII, daughter of Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain
Jane Austen (1775-1817), writer

December 17th
In History:

"A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens is first published (1843) read online
The Wright Brothers first flight (1903) link
Malmedy Massacre, World War II (1944) (film: Saints and Soldiers)

Famous Birthdays:

Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770-1827), composer link

December 18th
In History:

13th Amendment passed, slavery abolished in the U.S. (1865) link

December 19th
In History:

Washington's troops go into winter quarters at Valley Forge, Pensylvania (1777)
related stories: Silver for General Washington by Enid Lamonte Meadowcroft and Winter of the Red Snow by Kristiana Gregory

December 20th
In History:

Louisiana Purchase completed (1803)

December 24th
Christmas Eve
The Christmas Story from the Gospel of Luke
December 25th
Christmas Day - Celebration of the birth of Jesus
Please click here for our page on Christmas Stories
O Holy Night! Masterworks of Christmas Poetry edited by Johann M. Moser
1995, Sophia Institute Press, 142 pp, hardcover

The Christmas Book by Francis X. Weiser, S.J.
1952, Neumann Press, 188 pages, hardcover, Catholic
A very nice, Catholic presentation of the celebration of Advent and Christmas - the origin, customs hymns, stories and much more. The book also includes suggestions for bringing the Christian significance back to some of the customs that have lost their original meaning over time.
Related websites: The Catholic Encyclopedia Entry on Christmas

In History:

Coronation of Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor (800)
St. Francis of Assisi assembles the first Nativity Scene (1223)
George Washington and Army cross the Delaware in Trenton, New Jersey (1776)
World War I Christmas Truce (1914)
Mikhail Gorbachev resigns as president of the Soviet Union (1991)

Other Famous Birthdays:

Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625), composer
Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727), physicist and mathematician
Clara Barton (1821-1912), founder of the American Red Cross

December 27th
Feast of Saint John the Evangelist (d. 100) Apostle
The Catholic Encyclopedia Entry on Saint John
Saint John by Alfred Noyes (author of The Secret of Pooduck Island)
Biography of Saint John from the Patron Saints Index
December 28th
Feast of the Holy Innocents
The Catholic Encyclopedia Entry on the Holy Innocents
December 29th
Feast of Saint Thomas Becket (d. 1170) Bishop, Martyr
Click here to see our page of St. Thomas Becket page

A Calendar of Resources: February

February 2nd
The Presentation of the Lord
Meditation by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger
Catholic Encyclopedia Entry on the Feast of the Presentation

February 3rd
The Feast of St. Blaise
Catholic Encyclopedia Entry on Saint Blaise

February 4th
Famous Birthdays - Charles Lindbergh (1902) - A good movie about Charles Lindbergh's famous solo trans-Atlantic flight is The Spirit of St. Louis starring Jimmy Stewart.

February 5th
Feast of St. Agatha
Catholic Encyclopedia Entry on Saint Agatha

February 6th
Feast of St. Paul Miki and Companions, martyrs
http://www.cin.org/saints/paulmiki.html

February 7th
Famous Birthdays - Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867)
Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little House on the Prairie Interesting website includes information about Laura's family, her books (of course), Little House crafts and activities, materials for homeschoolers, and more.

February 8th
Feast of Saint Jerome Emiliani
Catholic Encyclopedia Entry on St. Jerome Emiliani

February 11th
Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes
See our St. Bernadette page here
Famous Birthdays - Thomas Alva Edison (1847) American Inventor

February 12th
Famous Birthdays -Abraham Lincoln (1809)
Abraham Lincoln by Ingri and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire, is an excellent children's biography of one of our most famous presidents. Includes a lot of detail about his childhood and upbringing. Fully illustrated. This book will be enjoyed by preschoolers through highschoolers... Available from Emmanuel Books.
Abraham Lincoln Timeline Thorough timeline with photos and links to speeches.

February 14th
Feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius
Catholic Encyclopedia Entry
Valentine's Day
No Greater Love: St. Valentine - This tape also includes the story Torch of Fire: St. Patrick. An audio drama from Regina Martyrum Productions. Might be too scary for small children. Available from Dumb Ox Publications

February 15th
Famous Birthdays - Galileo Galilei (1564) Italian astronomer
Catholic Encyclopedia Entry on Galileo

February 18th
Feast of Saint Flavian, Bishop and Martyr
http://www.cin.org/saints/flavian.html

February 19th
Famous Birthdays - Nicolaus Copernicus (1473) Polish astronomer
Catholic Encyclopedia Entry on Copernicus

February 21st
Feast of Saint Peter Damian, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Catholic Encyclopedia Entry on Saint Peter Damian

February 22nd
The Chair of St. Peter
Activities ... http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Academy/6823/pope.html
Famous Birthdays - George Washington

February 23rd
Feast of Saint Polycarp
Catholic Encyclopedia Entry on Saint Polycarp

February 27th
Saint Leander
Catholic Encyclopedia Entry on Saint Leander

A Calendar of Resources: January


January 1st

The Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God
Mary, Mother of God (from Catholic Answers)
Please visit our Blessed Mother Page for books and links relating to Our Lady

New Year's Day

Famous Birthdays:
Paul Revere (1735)
And then what Happened, Paul Revere? by Jean Fritz
The Paul Revere House

Betsy Ross (1752) The Betsy Ross Homepage

January 2nd

Feast of Sts. Basil the Great and Gregory of Nazianzen

Read Pope Benedict XVI's audiences on these saints here:
St. Basil part I, St. Basil part II, St. Gregory part I, St. Gregory part II

January 3rd

Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus

Famous Birthdays:

Joseph Damien de Veuster, also known as Blessed Damien the Leper (1840)

January 4th

Feast of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Biography of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton from the Patron Saints Index

Famous Birthdays:

Louis Braille (1809) Online Biography

January 5th

Feast of Saint John Neumann

January 6th

Traditional Celebration of the Epiphany

Famous Birthdays:

St. Joan of Arc (1412)
Saint Joan, the Girl Soldier by Louis de Wohl (Vision Series)
Saint Joan of Arc Website

January 7th

Feast of Saint Raymond of Penafort

Famous Birthdays:

St. Bernadette Soubirous (1844)
Bernadette, Our Lady's Little Servant by Hertha Pauli (Vision Series)
Biography from the Patron Saints Index

January 12th

Famous Birthdays:

Charles Perrault (1628), author of Cinderella
CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Charles Perrault

January 17th

Famous Birthdays:

Benjamin Franklin (1706)
Benjamin Franklin by Ingri and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire
What's the Big Idea, Ben Franklin? by Jean Fritz
The Electric Franklin Website

January 18th

Famous Birthdays:

A.A. Milne (1882), author of Winnie the Pooh
The Page at Pooh Corner

January 21st

Feast of St. Agnes, virgin and martyr
Catholic Encyclopedia Entry on Saint Agnes

January 22nd

Famous Birthdays:

Lord Byron (1788), English poet The Lord Byron Homepage

January 25th

The Conversion of St. Paul
Caravaggio Painting
Michelangelo Painting
Dujardin Painting
Lives of the Saints - Conversion of Saint Paul

Famous Birthdays:

Robert Burns (1759), Scottish poet Robert Burns Country

January 27th

Feast of St. Angela Merici, Foundress of the Ursulines
Catholic Encyclopedia Entry on St. Angela Merici

Famous Birthdays:

Lewis Carroll (1832), author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
The Lewis Carroll Home Page

January 28th

Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas
Saint Thomas Aquinas and the Preaching Beggars by Brendan Larnen, O.P. and Milton Lomask (Vision Series)
Catholic Encyclopedia Entry on St. Thomas Aquinas

A Calendar of Resources: July

The Month of the Most Precious Blood


July 1 - Blessed Junipero Serra (1784) priest and founder of the California Missions
"Father Junipero Serra" p. 22 of The Children's Book of America, edited by William Bennett
Websites:
Junipero Serra and the California Missions
Blessed Junipero Serra (brief biography)
The California Missions
Blessed Junipero Serra, Priest and Missionary (longer biography)
The Serra Club Homepage

July 3 - St. Thomas the Apostle (74)
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintt07.htm

July 4 - Independence Day

July 4 - St. Elizabeth of Portugal (1336) Queen
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/sainte07.htm

July 6 - St. Maria Goretti, Virgin and Martyr
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintm09.htm
http://www.mariagoretti.org

July 11 - St. Oliver Plunkett (1681), Bishop and Martyr
St. Oliver Plunkett - Catholic Online

July 14 - Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha (1680)
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintk01.htm
Illustrated Children's Story of Kateri Tekakwitha

July 15 - St. Bonaventure (1221-1274) Bishop and Doctor of the Church
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintb16.htm
http://www.cin.org/saints/bonaventure.html
Catholic Encyclopedia Entry on St. Bonaventure

July 16 - Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
St. Simon Stock from the Catholic Encyclopedia
The Scapular from the Catholic Encyclopedia

July 22 - St. Mary Magdalene (77)

July 23 - St. Bridget (1373) Religious, Founder

July 25 - St. James the Greater (42) Apostle

July 26 - Sts. Joachim and Ann
St. Joachim from the Catholic Encyclopedia
St. Anne from the Catholic Encyclopedia

July 31 - St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491 - 1556), Priest and Founder of the Jesuits
St. Ignatius and the Company of Jesus by August Derleth (from the Vision series from Ignatius Press)
Websites:
St. Ignatius' Letter on Obedience
St. Ignatius Loyola by John Farrow
St. Ignatius of Loyola from the Catholic Encyclopedia

A Calendar of Resources: June

The Month of the Sacred Heart


The Feast of the Ascension (Can Fall in May or June)
Bible Readings: Matthew 28:16 - 20, Mark 16:19 - 20, Luke 24:36 - 53, Acts 1:6 - 11

June 3rd
Feast of St. Charles Lwanga and Companions (1887) Martyrs
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintc13.htm
June 5th
Feast of Saint Boniface, Bishop and Martyr (d. 755)
Pentecost Sunday
Bible Reading: Acts 2: 1 - 47
June 13 - St. Anthony of Padua
St. Anthony and the Christ Child by Helen Walker Homan (from the Vision series, available from Ignatius Press)
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/sainta01.htm
June 14 - Flag Day
Mr. Flag Maker - An address by Mr. Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of the Interior, June 14, 1914
Learn 2 Fold an American Flag
The Story of Old Glory by Albert Mayer and The Story of the Star Spangled Banner by Natalie Miller (from the Cornerstones of Freedom series published by Children's Press)
June 22 - St. John Fisher, Bishop and Martyr and St. Thomas More, Martyr (1535)

Related Websites: St. John Fisher Web Page
St. Thomas More Web Page
Video: A Man for All Seasons (1966)
June 24 - The Birth of St. John the Baptist
Reading: Luke 1:1-25, 39-80
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintj02.htm
Corpus Christi Sunday
The great celebration of the feast of the Body of Christ. On this day, traditionally, there are great processions with the Blessed Sacrament through the streets. There is a description of a traditional Corpus Christi procession from the 15th century in chapter 13 of The Merchant's Mark by Cynthia Harnett. You can also read about the Feast of Corpus Christi from the Catholic Encyclopedia.
June 26
Feast of Blessed Jose Maria Escriva (d. 1975)
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintj12.htm
June 27
Feast of St. Cyril of Alexandria (d. 444) Bishop and Doctor of the Church
http://www.knight.org/advent/cathen/045926.htm
June 28
Feast of St. Irenaeus (d. 202) Bishop and Martyr
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/sainti06.htm
Famous Birthdays Rev. Frederick W. Faber - Catholic priest and author
Jesus My God and My All by Rev. Frederick W. Faber

June 29
Feast of Saints Peter and Paul (d. 67) Apostles and Martyrs
St. Peter - http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintp07.htm
St. Paul - http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintp12.htm
Readings: The Gospels (esp. Matthew 16:18-19, 26:69-75, Luke 9:18-22, John 21:15-19) and the Acts of the Apostles, Saint Paul the Apostle by Mary Fabyan Windeatt
Movies: The Robe, Quo Vadis
The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
"Behold this Heart which has so loved men that It has spared nothing, even to consuming Itself to witness Its love! And in return, I receive from most of them only ingratitude, from their irreverences and their sacrileges and by the coldness and contempt that they have for Me in this Sacrament of love...Therefore, I ask you that the first Friday after the octave of Corpus Christi be dedicated as a special feast to honor My Heart, that the faithful receive Communion on that day, making reparation to It by a solemn act of amendment for the indignifites It has received while exposed on the altars.
I promise also that My Heart will open to wield abundantly the influence of Its divine love on those who do It this honor..." Jesus' words to Saint Margaret Mary as quoted in Saint Margaret Mary, Apostle of the Sacred Heart by Ruth Fox Hume

Related Websites:
Apostleship of Prayer
Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus (from the Catholic Encyclopedia)