Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
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The Catholic Church has dedicated the month of June to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In this post, I’m sharing a bit about this devotion and just a few resources to bring the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus into your domestic church.
“Take up my yoke upon you, and learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart: and you shall find rest to your souls.”
– St Matthew 11:29
Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Below is a little bit of text exerts taken from the encyclical, Haurietis Aquas (On Devotion To The Sacred Heart) from Pope Pius XII in 1956:
2. It is altogether impossible to enumerate the heavenly gifts which devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus has poured out on the souls of the faithful.
55. It is a symbol of that divine love which He shares with the Father and the Holy Spirit but which He, the Word made flesh, alone manifests through a weak and perishable body, since “in Him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily.”
56. It is, besides, the symbol of that burning love which, infused into His soul, enriches the human will of Christ and enlightens and governs its acts by the most perfect knowledge derived both from the beatific vision and that which is directly infused.
57. And finally – and this in a more natural and direct way – it is the symbol also of sensible love, since the body of Jesus Christ, formed by the Holy Spirit, in the womb of the Virgin Mary, possesses full powers of feelings and perception, in fact, more so than any other human body.
58. Since, therefore, Sacred Scripture and the official teaching of the Catholic faith instruct us that all things find their complete harmony and order in the most holy soul of Jesus Christ, and that He has manifestly directed His threefold love for the securing of our redemption, it unquestionably follows that we can contemplate and honor the Heart of the divine Redeemer as a symbolic image of His love and a witness of our redemption and, at the same time, as a sort of mystical ladder by which we mount to the embrace of “God our Savior.”
Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Our Lord made these promises to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a French nun, in the 17th century. That those who consecrate themselves and make reparations to His Sacred Heart:
- I will give them all the graces necessary for their state in life.
- I will establish peace in their families.
- I will comfort them in their trials.
- I will be their secure refuge during life and, above all, in death.
- I will shed abundant blessings on all their undertakings.
- Sinners will find in My Heart an infinite ocean of mercy.
- Lukewarm souls will become fervent.
- Fervent souls will rapidly grow in holiness and perfection.
- I will bless every place where an image of My Heart shall be exposed and honored.
- I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.
- The names of those who promote this devotion will be written in My Heart, never to be blotted out.
- I promise thee, in the excessive mercy of My Heart, that My all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Friday of nine consecutive months, the grace of final penitence; they shall not die in My disgrace nor without receiving their Sacraments; My Divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.
We recently made a bookmark with the 12 Promises of the Sacred Heart available for a free download. See below at the bottom of the post to get access to this lovely bookmark!
Ideas for Displaying the Sacred Heart in the Home:
Small Sacred & Immaculate Heart framed art
Enthronement to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Enthronement of the home to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is truly wonderful and a beautiful devotion to bring to the Catholic home.
This devotion began in France in 1907 by Fr. Mateo Crawley-Boevey. Fr. Matteo was from Peru and made a pilgrimage to Paray-le-Monial to pray where Our Lord had appeared to St. Margaret Mary.
After having his health restored while in France, he began to formulate his plan: “to conquer the whole world for the Heart of Jesus, home after home, family after family”.
The family gives the image of the Sacred Heart a place of honor in the home and dedicates itself to Him by an act of consecration.
The Enthronement is more than just displaying an image of the Sacred Heart in the home. It is a way of life.
And as such, it must be truly lived.
How to Live the Enthronement
Truly living the Enthronement in the home must be more than just displaying an image of the Sacred Heart.
It is about making Our Lord the true Head and Ruler of the family. And in living in close union with the Heart of Jesus in accordance with His desires.
To live a truly Christian life, worthy of their chosen and honored King.
And there are so many amazing benefits of practicing this devotion. Marriages and family life are strengthened. Many souls become fervent and devout.
With an increased love of Our Lord as King of the home, a more tender devotion to the Blessed Mother as Queen of the family also becomes pertinent.
I highly recommend this book, “The Way of Divine Love” by Sr. Josefa Menendez.
What must I do to Enthrone the Sacred Heart in my home?
The following text is taken from the booklet “Enthronement of the Sacred Heart in the Home”. (Imprimatur: Leo J Ruggle, 1962)
- Learn what it is and how important it is.
- Set a date for the Enthronement in agreement with the Pastor. It is desirable to have priest preside at the ceremony, but it is not essential to gain the indulgences. For serious reasons, the father, or someone else may reside and lead the prayers. In any case, please consult your parish priest.
- If possible have the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass offered that morning for the reign of the Sacred Heart in your home, and as an act of love and reparation to the Sacred Heart. The entire family should try to receive Communion at this Mass, or at another Mass.
- Obtain as beautiful a picture or statue of the Sacred Heart as possible. If you already have a picture, use that one.
- Below the place of honor reserved for the statue or picture, prepare a “throne” or “altar,” that is to say, a table (or perhaps the mantlepiece) covered with white cloth, beautifully decorated with flowers and candles. The picture or statue should be placed on a small table near this “throne” before the ceremony.
- Invite your relatives and friends to be present; thus you will already begin to be an “apostle of the Sacred Heart.” Have a family party after the ceremony, with a special treat for the children, who, of course should be present at the ceremony – even the smallest.
- Make this day one of the outstanding events of the family life – one long to be remembered. The greater the solemnity, the better.
Note: Even though your home has been consecrated to the Sacred Heart, you may still have the Enthronement, as the two are not the same.
Renew this family Enthronement often
It is recommended to renew this consecration as often as possible.
Every night after the family Rosary, our family makes a short renewal of the Consecration of the Family.
Find a time that works for your family to renew your consecration.
More suggested practices of devotion
There are numerous ways to practice devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Here are just a few suggestions, all of which are taken from the Enthronement book I mentioned above.
- Frequent and even daily attendance at Mass by at least one member of the family, and Communion of Reparation.
- Observance of the First Friday of each month.
- Daily family Rosary before the enthroned image of the Sacred Heart, with renewal of the act of consecration.
- Celebration of the Feast of the Sacred Heart by the entire family. Attendance at Mass, Communion for the extension of the Reign of the Sacred Heart through the Enthronement.
- Observe the month of June, the month of the Sacred Heart; keep flowers before the “throne”. Mass and Communion as often as possible.
- Assist at Holy Hour at Church.
- Night Adoration in the Home. Any hour between 9 pm and 6 am by any members of the family at least once a month.
- Celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the 22nd of August. Mass, Communion, Consecration of the family to the Immaculate Heart.
- Make the five First Saturdays in reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
- Practice devotion to the Holy Ghost.
