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Consecration to the Sacred Heart of JesusSolemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of JesusIn 1899, Pope Leo XIII’s Encyclical Letter Annum sacrum directed that the whole world be consecrated to the Divine Heart of Jesus. This was done on the 11th of June that year. As St. John Paul II indicated on the 100th anniversary of this consecration, Pope Leo wished to “obtain ‘extraordinary benefits first for Christianity, but also for the whole human race’ (Annum sacrum). Asking that … all people should be consecrated, he gave a new direction and sense to the consecration which had already been practised for two centuries by individuals, groups, Dioceses and nations.” The Sacred Heart in Scripture: Indeed! This Divine Heart is to be found in Scripture as well. For example, St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153), referring to the wounds of Christ in Vitis Mystica, brought out how, in the Song of Songs, the Bridegroom exclaims “Thou hast wounded my Heart” (cf Canticle of Canticles 4:9, Douay-Rheims). In 1 Samuel, we read “I will choose a faithful priest who shall do what I have in heart and mind” (2:35) and “The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart…” (13:14). Later, in the prophetic books, there is the assurance that God will appoint wise and prudent pastors after His own heart (cf Jeremiah 3:15). And so, as Jesus undoubtedly explained on the road to Emmaus, these things in Scripture referred to Christ himself, the Good Shepherd and Lamb of God, who fulfills these promises and instructs us, “Learn from me for I am meek and humble of heart” (Matthew 11:29). He makes good the pledge found in Isaiah 12:3, “With joy you will draw water at the fountain of salvation” by giving us living water drawn from the fountain of His Sacred Heart (cf Jeremiah 2:13, John 4:10-16, and John 19:34). The Gospel also describes how St. John, “the Disciple whom Jesus loved”, rested his head on Our Lord’s heart during the Last Supper. Today’s “devotion to the Heart of Jesus has given [the] form to the prophetic words recalled by St. John: “They shall look on him whom they have pierced” (John 19:37; cf Zechariah 12:10), [the form of] … a contemplative gaze” (St. John Paul II). The Sacred Heart in the Liturgical Calendar: St. Gertrude the Great (1256 – ca. 1302) and St. Mechtilde (Gertrude’s younger sister) made veneration of Christ’s heart a central devotion which they practiced. When St. Gertrude asked St. John (who appeared to her in a vision) why he had not written about Jesus’ heart, John said it was because that “had been reserved for subsequent ages when the world, having grown cold, would have need of it to rekindle its love” (cf Legatus Memorialis Abundantiae Divinae Pietatis [The Herald of Divine Love]). Later, as is commonly known, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque promoted the devotion to the Sacred Heart just as Jesus commanded her to do. In 1670, a special feast to honor the Sacred Heart was established in France and later expanded to the entire Church as the solemnity we celebrate today. First Fridays Devotion and Promises to Those Who Keep This Practice: In addition, Christ asked St. Margaret Mary for the now-famous devotion of attending Mass and receiving Holy Communion, on nine consecutive first Fridays of the month, in reparation for those who do not receive Our Lord, those who do not love Him and those who wound Him by their sinful lives. To those devotions, Jesus gave these twelve promises:
Promises to Those Who Consecrate Themselves to the Sacred Heart: As well, there are special promises for those who consecrate themselves to the Sacred Heart and venerate it:
These devotions to the Sacred Heart, through which Christ’s abundant love has promised an outpouring of graces, are a long-standing tradition in the Church. There are even more promises for particular states in life and particular situations. A veritable treasure chest of promises! So, if you have considered consecrating yourself/your family to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and you are now ready to do so, we are providing various consecration prayers below, suitable for that. If you have already consecrated yourself/your family, it is good to renew this consecration annually on today’s solemnity. May God richly bless you and may you be united to the most loving and merciful Sacred Heart of Jesus … now and forever! Various Acts of Consecration:
Bonus Link: Click here to access the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus found on our site. +Art for this post on Consecration to the Sacred Heart: Partial Restoration of The Sacred Heart, Church of Nome di Gesù [Name of Jesus] in Venice, Lattanzio Querena, photographed by Didier Descouens, 30 May 2016 own work, copyright and released under a CCA-SA 4.0 International License not compatible with Facebook; Wikimedia Commons.
Share this post with your friendsSTAY CONNECTED TODAYStay ConnectedSign up for our free email newsletter to stay up to date on the latest from SpiritualDirection.com! Liz EstlerLiz holds a Master of Arts in Ministry Degree (St. John's Seminary, Brighton, Massachusetts), Graduate Certificate in Spiritual Theology (Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation), Liturgy Certificate (Boston Archdiocese), and a BS degree in Biology and Spanish (Nebraska Wesleyan University - Lincoln). She has served as hospital chaplain associate, sacristan, translator and in other parish ministries. She was a regular columnist for a military newspaper in Europe, has been published in a professional journal, and was Editor, SpiritualDirection.com from 2013 to 2018. She once waded in the Trevi Fountain! ALL POSTS What is the prayer of consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary?O Immaculata, Queen of Heaven and earth, refuge of sinners and our most loving Mother, God has willed to entrust the entire order of mercy to you. I, (name), a repentant sinner, cast myself at your feet humbly imploring you to take me with all that I am and have, wholly to yourself as your possession and property.
How do you consecrate the Sacred Heart of Jesus?Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart
Be Thou, O Most Merciful Heart, my justification before God Thy Father, and screen me from His anger which I have so justly merited. I fear all from my own weakness and malice, but placing my entire confidence in Thee, O Heart of Love, I hope all from Thine infinite Goodness.
How do you pray a consecration prayer?I rededicate my body and all its parts to the loving rule of Jesus Christ; I dedicate and consecrate my body to him in every way. I ask for the blood of Christ to cleanse my body and make it holy once more. Holy Spirit, come and fill your temple now; restore my body under the complete dominion of Jesus Christ.
What is the prayer that we pray in devotion to the Sacred Heart?Daily Devotion to the Sacred Heart
O most holy heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing, I adore You, I love You, and with lively sorrow for my sins I offer You this poor heart of mine. Make me humble, patient, pure and wholly obedient to Your will.
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