Jesus loves young adults, said Jesuit Father Joe Laramie.  

“His first disciples, all young adults. So many of our favorite saints,” naming a few, including Joan of Arc and Thérèse of Lisieux — “Jesus called them to himself when they were young adults.” 

Father Laramie — author, national preacher for the Eucharistic Revival and national director of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network — is a speaker at a June 24 “Hearts on Fire” retreat for young adults at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. He recently joined “Practicing Catholic” radio show host Patrick Conley to discuss his special devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  

The Catholic faith has many beautiful traditions and a great history, Father Laramie said, but at the center of it all “is a relationship with a person, that heart-to-heart connection with Christ, who is truly God and truly man, that the Eucharist and the Sacred Heart have this really beautiful connection.”  

The heart of Jesus is at the center of the body of Christ, the Church, Father Laramie said. “… we look to him, we return to him to be strengthened, blessed, healed, drawn deeper into his life and love. … I really love preaching and teaching about that close connection of the Sacred Heart and the Eucharist,” he said. 

Conley asked Father Laramie for suggestions to enter more deeply into the Sacred Heart and grow in devotion to the Eucharist. As one example, Father Laramie suggested an addition to morning prayers. “If you say a decade of the rosary, if you do a little Scripture in the morning, just close it off by saying, ‘Jesus, today I offer you my heart with your heart,’” he said. 

To hear more suggestions and the full interview, listen to this episode of “Practicing Catholic,” which debuts at 9 p.m. June 23 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM and repeats at 1 p.m. June 24 and 2 p.m. June 25. 

To learn more about the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, visit popesprayerusa.net. To learn more about Father Laramie, visit JoeLaramieSJ.com.   

Produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the latest show also includes an interview with Archbishop Bernard Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis, who describes the 2023 presbyteral assembly, at which priests from across the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis gather for reflection, prayer and fellowship; and Tizoc Rosales, director of advancement at The Saint Paul Seminary, who describes his new role and the importance of advancement to various seminary programs. 

Listen to interviews after they have aired at PracticingCatholicShow.com or choose a streaming platform at anchor.fm/practicing-catholic-show.