Mass for the Sacred Heart at Devizes, June 15th 2012

A Solemn High Mass was celebrated at the church of the Immaculate Conception, Devizes, 

on Friday 15^th June for the feast of the Sacred Heart.

Fr Jean-Patrice Coulon was the celebrant, Fr Alexander Redman was deacon and David Aron was sub-deacon.

The choir of nine, led by David Bates, sang Victoria’s Mass setting ‘Trahe me post te’. They also sang two motets: ‘Ave, Jesu Christe’ by the late 16^th century English Recusant priest and composer Peter Philips, and ‘O Quam amabilis es’ by Pierre Villette, a French composer who died in 1998.

l-r: David Aron, Fr Jean-Patrice Coulon and Fr Alexander Redman

In his homily, Fr Coulon gave an overview of the history of devotion to the Sacred Heart, from the 11^th century to the time of the great revelations to St Margaret Mary Alacoque in the late 17^th century. He ended by reading a beautiful meditation on the divine heart of Our Lord by St Francis de Sales.

Fr Coulon gave the homily. Note the stained glass windows 

depicting the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Most of the congregation stayed to enjoy the refreshments kindly provided after the Mass.

Sincere thanks go to all involved in the celebration of this beautiful Mass, particularly the priests, the servers and the choir.