In 2017, when Joseph and Samantha Austin honeymooned in Paris, France, they could never have imagined the longstanding impact their “French connection” would have almost one decade later.
This connection centers on traditional French devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus: A devotion that has been prominent in the Austins' marriage, family life, and diocesan ministry in Western Massachusetts. Since being appointed director of youth and young adult ministry for the Diocese of Springfield in June 2021, Joseph has incorporated elements of devotion to Jesus’ Sacred Heart in multiple ways. Most recently this included the June 18-20 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage events.
God’s love like a tidal wave
“When we first discovered the Basilique de Sacré-Cœur … it was a big moment.”
Sharing with Aleteia, Joseph recalled how “absolutely stunning” the Parisian Basilica is “in its architectural majesty.” Even more, he said of the Sanctuary of Eucharistic Adoration and Divine Mercy, “[it’s] a standing and prominent example of the great tidal wave of God’s love.”
The last time the Austins visited Paris was Thanksgiving 2025. As soon as their flight arrived, despite getting very little sleep, the couple “booked it” to the Basilica arriving just in time for the annual Consecration to the Sacred Heart for Christ the King Sunday.
“You could see many others with completed books showing how many times they had renewed their consecration. It was a profound moment when we again consecrated ourselves, our marriage and our ministry to the Sacred Heart of Jesus,” Joseph commented.
“I experienced the immense love of God for me – regardless of my love for Him … Many of us wrestle with that lie that we have to be good enough for God to love us or that his love is dependent on our successes, but that that’s what hits me with the Sacred Heart devotion.
“God never stops loving us, and his love is like a tidal wave.”
Austin has experienced various waves of God’s love — as a Methodist convert to Catholicism, as a FOCUS missionary at Columbia University in New York City and carrying out pro-life work at the United Nations in both New York and Geneva. After the couple moved to Western Massachusetts to be closer to Samantha’s family, he has been doing his best to immerse others in the overflow.
A King’s welcome in rose petals
While in Paris for the 2024 Solemnity of the Sacred Heart at Sacré-Cœur, the Austins were deeply moved during the Eucharistic Procession. Joseph described how “when the monstrance passed by, the crowd threw rose petals in the air and shouted, ‘Jesus is king!’”
It was such a profound moment that Joseph brought the practice home. At the diocesan youth rally in February 2025, students threw rose petals into the air as the monstrance passed by with the Eucharistic Lord. Again, in March 2026, rose petals were tossed by youth during the Eucharistic procession for this year’s rally.
Ahead of the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage (NEP) Cabrini Route commemorating the nation’s 250th Independence Day, Austin was named official liaison for the NEP events in the Diocese of Springfield. With the theme “One Nation Under God,” he highlighted welcoming Christ as king with rose petals on several occasions.
Pilgrims were received on June 18 at the National Shrine of Divine Mercy in Stockbridge. That same day an inspiring “Ignite” event was held at the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel and all-night adoration. Another all-night adoration event was hosted by Thomas Aquinas College in Northfield June 19-20.
Throughout the eleven events of the NEP’s three-day schedule in the Springfield diocese, tossed rose petals were used several times. Austin recounted how the practice embodies the acknowledgement of Jesus’ kingship,
Attendees of the Ignite event threw rose petals into the air as Bishop William Byrne processed into the Cathedral with the monstrance. It was a profound and moving moment as Jesus our King arrived at our Cathedral, and afterwards, you could see the path of rose petals leading to the altar - like a wedding.
The next day, after a long Eucharistic procession through Northfield, Jesus arrived at Thomas Aquinas College and was greeted again with the rose petals. And then just after the Closing Mass, as Thomas Aquinas College Chaplin Father Markey processed out of the Church to begin the closing Eucharistic procession, he was again greeted with rose petals…
Austin also suggested introducing the tradition to the Steubenville East conference scheduled for July 24-26 in Springfield. He excitedly said that it might be the first time one of the conferences does this.
From devotional practices to practiced devotion
Reflecting on how God has inspired him in different ways over his visits to Paris, Austin drew the correlation between the French devotion to the Sacred Heart and the ways he has put this into practice at work and home.
Since their marriage, every home the Austins have moved into has included a Sacred Heart Enthronement house blessing and Mass.
“It is a huge event in which we invite the Kingship of Jesus and His Sacred Heart to be the King of our home,” Austin said. “During the ceremony, we bless all of the rooms, put a picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the mantle above the fireplace, and then sign a document stating that He is King over our home, and that document is on the altar during Mass.”
From personal experience, he believes marriage and family are under attack by the enemy of souls. Austin gave the example of an insignificant fight he had with his wife after working together on a ministry event that went very well. He later realized, “Woah, that was the devil being upset that we had a great event and that we led others to Jesus… It's easy to think about God having a plan of loving goodness for our lives, but we often forget that Satan also has a plan and he does not will our good.”
Austin explained that the essence of enthronement to the Sacred Heart is making a choice as a family like the Scriptural verse of Joshua 24:15, “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
He said, “We make that choice at the beginning when we move in, and every day of our lives. It is a choice to serve Jesus or not; and it's really the secret to holiness.
Either Jesus is King over our lives, or he's not and everything and everyone else is.
Austin challenged with a question from his own prayer. If we believe that God is real, do we really live our lives in a way that shows it?
“I am reminded of the statue in solid silver, created by Eugene Benet, that is in the Basilica in Montmartre, and the translated sign below it reads ‘This Heart which has so loved men and in return I received from most of them only ingratitude.’ This reality that so many do not believe in God must wound his heart immensely.
I think for many it's taken even a step further to believe in the concept of God, but not the reality. We can agree that God is real but not actually live it out in our daily lives. And even the moments when we don't choose God, he still chooses us.”
David Crowder’s song “He Love Us” summarizes the experience for Austin. He said, God’s love for us is, like the lyrics state, "like a hurricane. I am a tree, bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy."
Once we have truly started living like God is real and is the King of our lives, our only response can be striving for sainthood, Austin concludes. He recounts inspiration and motivation
now more than ever … by young saints like Pier Giorgio Frassati or Carlo Acutis (who would have been my age) being canonized. We are seeing others like Michelle Duppong who served as a FOCUS missionary around the time when I was a missionary, who are being considered for sainthood.
I think these stories of young people in our current times becoming saints makes present the reality that sainthood is possible. It's possible to become a saint one day. It is possible to live a holy life and to go to heaven one day!
These devotions - like throwing rose petals in the air as Jesus passes by in the monstrance or participation in the Sacred Heart Enthronement - are little ways we can live out that sainthood every day, to make present the fragrance of Christ to others, as Pope Francis spoke about in his masterpiece, “The Joy of the Gospel” (Evangelii Gaudium).
As Christians, we are called to something greater; we are called to be saints, and it is possible. Being saints in the modern age is hard, but it hinges largely on the creativity to make Christ present in all that we do. We do this so that our faith is not a box we take off the shelf once in a while, but present in our entire lives.
The Austin’s attended the closing procession of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage in Philadelphia on July 5. As the procession moved from the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul to its destination, Joseph was moved to see some children at the front spreading rose petals on the ground before the Eucharistic Jesus passed by.
