Votive Mass of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Installation of State Deputies
St. Mary’s Church, New Haven
June 5, 2026
The Humility of God
Some time ago, the Knights of Columbus restored the beautiful image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus found in the Church of the Gesù in Rome. It was painted by Pompeo Batoni in 1767, and it is the same image that appears on the pilgrim icon of the Sacred Heart that has made its way through the highways and byways of the Order. Batoni often painted portraits of high and mighty aristocrats, but in this painting he captures something of Jesus’ tender and humble love – the Lord Jesus who “is meek and humble of heart.”
We don’t often think of humility as an attribute of God. We tend to think that Jesus became humble only when he assumed our human nature. Prior to his becoming man, we may tend to assume, the Son of God, who is the splendor of the Father, reigned in glory – with no need of humility and no trace of it. But we should think again. Jesus’ human heart, after all, reveals the very heart of God’s Triune love.
In a retreat talk given in the presence of Pope John Paul II, my old boss and mentor, James Cardinal Hickey, spoke about “the humility of God” – and what did he mean? He explained that God the Father manifests his humility in giving everything over to the Son, “the last drop” of who he is and what he has. Jesus says as much in today’s Gospel: “All things [he said] have been handed over to me by my Father . . .” The Son’s humility is expressed in his having nothing of his own, only that which he receives from his heavenly Father. The mutual receptivity of knowledge and self-giving love between the Father and the Son is the Holy Spirit. In this eternal exchange of love and knowledge among the Persons of the Trinity there is no trace of egotism, rivalry, or arrogance. It is an exchange of a purely generous, self-giving love. And, as we know, love is self-giving only when the beloved takes precedence over the lover. That is why Jesus said of his Heavenly Father: “The Father is greater than I” (Jn 14:28). The point is that the humility so evident in Jesus’ human nature is perfectly in accord with his divine nature.
It is because of his humility, both divine and human, that Jesus courageously led the way into the valley of death, riding our humanity like a chariot into the abyss of sin and death, defeating Satan and his minions, not with the force and bluster, but with a sacrificial love, infinite in its goodness and powerful in its humility. It is this love that is revealed in the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the abyss of divine charity made manifest in a human heart like ours, indeed, a heart pierced for us and for our salvation.
Only the Humble Understand God’s Humility
How can we possibly comprehend ‘the height and depth, the length and the breadth’ of the love (cf. Eph 3:18-19) flowing from the Sacred Heart of Jesus? Its purity, its beauty, its goodness, its sheer gratuity defy human calculation. Artists, novelists, philosophers, theologians cannot comprehend ‘the why’ of it; only the pure of heart, those who have become like newborn children can do so. Jesus says as much in today’s Gospel: “I give praise to you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned, you have revealed them to the childlike.”
In this moment when the leadership of our new state deputies is to be blessed, let us take stock of the humility of our Lord and Master, the One in whom every form of leadership and service finds its model. What do we learn from the Sacred Heart of Jesus? Only this: that humility is foundational to leadership. If we would be great leaders in the Knights of Columbus our hearts must conform to heart of Jesus who is meek and humble.
Right about now, you might be saying to me, “Wait a minute! Don’t you know that meekness doesn’t’ work in a men’s organization? But let’s be clear: meekness is not weakness! It takes great strength and courage to lead with restraint, to listen, to discern, to pray, to consult, and then to decide. At a minimum, great leaders do not lash out, nor impose themselves on others, but truly seek the common good, and generously expend themselves to ensure that what is true and good and just is accomplished. St. Paul says as much in today’s reading from Philippians: he prays that “[our] love might increase more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value…” Humility, as St. Gregory the Great insists, is the gateway to all the other virtues, and it is foundational to leadership in the Knights of Columbus. After all, Blessed Michael McGivney epitomized this sort of humble strength both as a parish priest and as the founder of our Order.
Drawing Strength from the Sacred Heart
Leading with humility and magnanimity is not easy, indeed it can be well-nigh impossible except for the grace of Christ. That is why we need to entrust our leadership to Christ, the Good Shepherd. who leads us from sin to grace and from grace to glory. It is he, the Good Shepherd, who also offers us the invitation: “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, & I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.”
Through the intercession of Blessed Michael McGiveny may we lead with charity and humility of the Sacred Heart throughout the fraternal year that lies ahead. Vivat Jesus!