Feast of the Sacred Heart - Definition and Overview

The Feast of the Sacred Heart (or properly, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart) is a holy day in the liturgical calendar of the Roman Catholic Church. It falls 19 days after Pentecost, on a Friday.

The Mass celebrated on this day is essentially a restatement of Good Friday, but a regular Mass is conducted when this is not done on Good Friday itself. In addition, white vestments are worn for the Feast of the Sacred Heart, in contrast to the red vestments pressed into service on Good Friday.

The same readings authorized for this Mass are often also used in Masses solemnized on the first Friday of each month, at both churches and, even more frequently, at Roman Catholic parochial schools.