Devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Prayers to the Sacred Heart
Introduction
The late Pope Benedict XVI fortified the devotion to the Sacred Heart in his book Behold the Pierced One, claiming that in the devotion to the Sacred Heart, the "centre of Christianity is laid before us". The image of the Sacred Heart, of the Incarnate Jesus pointing to his pierced, bleeding, thorn-encircled, and enflamed heart, presents the heart and face of Christ.
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Theology of the Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
The late Pope Benedict XVI, fortified the devotion to the Sacred Heart in his book Behold the Pierced One, claiming that in the devotion to the Sacred Heart, the “centre of Christianity is laid before us”.
Jesus’s incarnate Heart, Pope Pius XII wrote, “more than all the other members of His body, is the natural sign and symbol of His boundless love”, expressing both divine and human love. Christ’s entry into our humanity was so complete that his body, which exists still today, wrote the Pope, “possesses full powers of feeling and perception, in fact, more so than any other human body”.
Jesus’ Incarnate Heart, he adds “is the natural sign and symbol” of his embodied, boundless love. His Heart that felt more deeply than any other took all of our sufferings upon itself, saving us through its perfect obedience.
The image of the Sacred Heart, of the Incarnate Jesus pointing to his pierced, bleeding, thorn-encircled, and enflamed heart, presents the heart and face of Christ. To reflect upon these together, Pope Benedict wrote, is transformative, since “anyone who gazes upon the face of the Lord, which the servants of the Sanhedrin and Pilate’s servants have spat upon, which they have slapped and covered with spittle, will see in his face the mirror of our violence, a reflection of what sin is, and their conscience will be purified in the way that is the precondition . . . for every improvement in human affairs.”
In other words, meditating on Jesus’s often scorned and wounded heart, shows us the ugliness of sin. In adoring it, we move towards purifying our own heart and conscience, freeing us to develop a closer relationship with the Divinity of Christ, our Saviour. The image of the Sacred Heart is an open invitation to participate in Christ’s deep and abiding love, which led to his sacrifice on Calvary, that we might be redeemed. What greater love is there?
The devotions in this booklet will help us glorify the beatified Sacred Heart of Jesus, who still dwells among us, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.
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Devotion to the Sacred Heart and Jesus’s Promise to Celebrants
The Friday that follows the Second Sunday after Pentecost is the Feast of the Sacred Heart. Many Catholics prepare for this Feast by beginning a Novena to the Sacred Heart on the Feast of Corpus Christi, which is celebrated from the Thursday of the week before. On the Feast of the Sacred Heart itself, we can gain a plenary indulgence by making an Act of Reparation to the Sacred Heart.
Devotions to the Sacred Heart were common in Benedictine and Cistercian monasteries. However, the popularisation of this devotion took root after St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647–1690), a Visitation nun, enjoyed a personal revelation of the Christ, involving a series of visions as she prayed before the Blessed Sacrament. She wrote, “He disclosed to me the marvels of his Love and the inexplicable secrets of his Sacred Heart.” Christ talked to her of His love for mankind and the pain caused by the indifference of people to this love. He promised that, in response to those who consecrate themselves and make reparations to His Sacred Heart. He promised to:
- give them all the graces necessary in their state of life.
- establish peace in their homes.
- comfort them in all their afflictions.
- be their secure refuge during life, and above all, in death.
- bestow abundant blessings upon all their undertakings.
- show sinners that his Heart is the source of an infinite ocean of mercy.
- bless every place in which an image of His Heart is exposed and honoured.
- give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.
Those who promote this devotion will have their names written in His Heart. Lukewarm souls will become fervent and fervent souls will quickly mount to high perfection. Moreover, Jesus promised that the grace of final perseverance will be given to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Fridays for nine consecutive months. Celebrants will not die in His disgrace, or without receiving the sacraments. His divine Heart will be their refuge at this time.
Devotions Attached to These Promises
- Receiving Communion frequently
- Going to Confession and receiving the Eucharist on the first Friday of each month for nine consecutive months.
- Undertaking Eucharistic Adoration for one hour on Thursdays. This Holy Hour can be made alone or as part of a group with formal prayers.
- Celebrating the Feast of the Sacred Heart
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The Prayer of Reparation to the Sacred Heart
Most sweet Jesus, whose overflowing charity for men is requited by so much forgetfulness, negligence and contempt, behold us prostrate before You, eager to repair by a special act of homage the cruel indifference and injuries to which Your loving Heart is subject.
Mindful that we ourselves have had a share in such indignities, which we now deplore, we humbly ask Your pardon and declare our readiness to atone. We do this not only for our own personal offences, but also for the offences of others who, straying from the path of salvation, obstinately refuse to follow You, their Shepherd; or who have renounced the promises of their baptism and cast off the sweet yoke of Your law.
We resolve to expiate the outrages committed against You, determined to make amends for the manifold offences that offend Your Sacred Heart, including immodesty, corruption, the violations of Sundays and holy days, and the sins of blasphemy.
We also strive to make amends for the insults to which the Pope and the clergy are subjected to; for acts of sacrilege against the Church, its teaching and in particular, against the Blessed Sacrament. We also ask for forgiveness and make amends by prayers, for the crimes of nations who resist the rights and teaching authority of the Church.
We now join in prayerful reparations for any and all violations against Your Divinity and the immense sacrifice you undertook on Calvary, which we honour in the Mass. We offer these reparations in union with the acts of atonement of Your Blessed Mother, those of the Saints and the pious faithful. We promise to continue with these reparations, with the help of Your grace, for all the sins we and others have committed in the past. We promise to live a life of unswerving faith, of purity of conduct, of perfect observance of the precepts of the Gospel and especially of charity. We promise to do this to the best of our power and to try to deter others from offending You, and to try to bring as many as possible to follow You and the precepts of Your Church.
O loving Jesus, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mother, our model in reparation, deign to receive the voluntary offering we make of these reparations. We ask for the crowning gift of perseverance, to keep us faithful in our duty and the allegiance we owe You, so that we may all one day come to rest in that happy home, where with the Father and the Holy Spirit You also live and reign, Amen.
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Enthronement of the Sacred Heart in Our Homes
Father Mateo Crawley-Boevey, a South American priest of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, was inspired by God, after his instantaneous cure at Paray-le-Monial, to preach everywhere the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart to verify this promise of the Saviour given to St. Margaret Mary: “I will bless every dwelling where an image of My Heart is both exposed and honoured.”
This recognition is manifest by giving the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus a place of honour in the home which is solemnly offered to Him by an act of consecration. A blessed image of the Sacred Heart is hung in a prominent place in the home, and Sacred Scripture is placed before it. Formal prayers follow, including:
O Lord Jesus Christ, To your most Sacred Heart, I confide this intention: (mention your intention). Only look upon me, And then do What your Sacred Heart inspires. Let your Sacred Heart decide. I count on it. I trust in it I throw myself on Your mercy, Lord Jesus! You will not fail me. Amen.
V. The Word was made Flesh and dwelt amongst us.
R. Eternal Word, made man for love of us, we adore You with mind and heart, and with the most profound veneration. To make amends for our ingratitude for so great a benefit, we unite in sincerity of heart with all those who love You, and offer You, our most humble and affectionate thanksgivings. Deeply conscious of that excess of humility, goodness, and sweetness, which we acknowledge in the Divine Heart, we petition You for Thy grace to imitate these virtues, so pleasing to You.
This is followed by: The Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Glory be to the Father.
V. He was crucified also for us. He suffered under Pontius Pilate and was buried.
R. Jesus, our admirable Redeemer, we adore You with our mind and heart, and with the most profound veneration. We grieve for our past insensibility to the outrages and sufferings which Your most loving Heart has endured for our redemption through Your bitter Passion. We unite in sincerity of heart with all those who love You, to thank you wholeheartedly. We admire the infinite patience and generosity of Your Divine Heart, and petition You to replenish our hearts with courage to embrace our sufferings and fix our great consolation in Your cross.
This is followed by: The Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Glory be to the Father.
V. Thou hast given them bread from heaven, which abounds with all delights.
R. O Jesus, burning with love for us, we adore You with our mind and heart, and with the most profound veneration. We unite with sincere hearts with all those who love you, render you thanks and atonement for the outrages which Your Divine Heart suffers in the Most Blessed Sacrament. We revere you and the love you showed Your Eternal Father, humbly asking you to inflame our hearts with love of God and of our neighbour.
This is followed by: The Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Glory be to the Father.
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Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
The Sacred Heart Novena is most traditionally prayed during the nine days leading up to the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which is always 19 days after Pentecost on a Friday. While this novena leads up to the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, it also prepares our hearts for the Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary the day after.
Prayers
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. Grant, good Jesus, that I may live in you and for you. O my Jesus, you have said: “Truly I say to you, ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you.” Protect me in the midst of danger. Comfort me in my afflictions. Give me health of body, assistance in my temporal needs, your blessing on all that I do, and the grace of a holy death. Amen.
This is followed by: The Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Glory be to the Father.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you. O my Jesus, you have said: “Truly I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.” Behold, in your name, I ask the Father for the grace of my request.
This is followed by: The Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Glory be to the Father.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you. O my Jesus, you have said: “Truly I say to you, heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away.”
This is followed by: The Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Glory be to the Father.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, for whom it is impossible not to have compassion on the afflicted, have pity on us miserable sinners and grant us the grace which we ask of you, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, your tender Mother and ours.
Salve Regina
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, Hail our life, our sweetness and our hope. To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us, and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. May we be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
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Singular Devotional Prayers to the Sacred Heart
Act of Adoration
O Most Holy Heart of my dearly beloved Jesus, I desire to renew and to offer You these acts of adoration, and these prayers at every possible moment. I offer them for myself, my family, friends and neighbours. I recommend to You the holy Catholic Church, its parishioners and the souls undergoing your justice, poor sinners, the sick and afflicted, the agonised and all the people of the world.
Although we do not deserve your mercy, we humbly ask not to permit Your suffering for the redemption of humanity to become useless to sinners and those who may not accept your teaching and sacrifice. I ask too for the relief of all souls in Purgatory, particularly to those souls who in life were pious and devoted to your service.
O Divine Heart of Jesus, I adore You with all my heart and soul and consecrate them to you for all time. I devote my thoughts, words and actions to your glory. I ask you to give me strength to face all challenges, to have steadfast faith in your mercy and infinite merits, and to protect me and my family, and when my time on earth is over, to be my refuge when I die. Vouchsafe, through Thine infinite goodness, to receive and hear my petitions and humble devotions.
Prayer of Adoration
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 obedient to your will. Grant, good Jesus, that I live in you and for you.
Daily Prayer 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. Grant, good Jesus, that I may live in You and for You. Protect me in the midst of danger. Comfort me in my afflictions. Give me health of body, assistance in my temporal needs, Your blessing on all that I do, and the grace of a holy death. Amen.
Prayer for the Church
Most sacred Heart of Jesus, pour down Your blessings abundantly on Your holy Church, on the Supreme Pontiff, and on all the clergy. Grant perseverance to the just, convert sinners, enlighten infidels, bless our parents, friends, and benefactors, assist the dying, free the souls in purgatory, and extend over all hearts the sweet empire of Your love.
Prayer to the Sacred Heart in Difficult Times
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you. In this time of difficulty and uncertainty, I turn to you for comfort and strength. Your love is a beacon of hope, and I know that even in my darkest moments, you are with me.
Grant me the grace to trust in your divine will, even when I do not understand. Help me to see the beauty and purpose in my struggles. Give me the courage to face my fears and the wisdom to make the right decisions.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, you are my refuge and my protector. Be with me in my trials, and lead me to peace and healing. I ask for your merciful intercession, and I place my entire being in your loving embrace.
St Gertrude’s Prayer to the Sacred Heart
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, fountain of eternal life, Your Heart is a glowing furnace of Love. You are my refuge and my sanctuary.
O my adorable and loving Saviour, consume my heart with the burning fire with which Yours is inflamed. Pour down on my soul those graces which flow from Your love. Let my heart be united with Yours. Let my will be conformed to Yours in all things. May Your Will be the rule of all my desires and actions. Amen.
St Margaret Mary Alacoque’s Prayer to the Sacred Heart
Lord Jesus, let my heart never rest until it finds You, who are its centre, its love, and its happiness. By the wound in Your heart, pardon the sins that I have committed whether out of malice or out of evil desires. Place my weak heart in your own divine heart, continually under your protection and guidance, so that I may persevere in doing good and in fleeing evil until my last breath. Amen.
Blessed Miguel Pro’s Prayer to the Sacred Heart
Heart of Jesus, I give my heart to Thee. Enclose it in Thee that it may never be separated from Thee. Heart of Jesus, I am all Thine; but take care of my promise so that I may be able to put it in practice even unto the complete sacrifice of my life. Amen.
Memorare to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Remember, O most kind Jesus, that none who have had recourse to Your Sacred Heart, implored its assistance, or called for mercy, have ever been abandoned. Filled and animated by this same confidence, O divine Heart, Ruler of all hearts, I fly to You, and oppressed beneath the weight of my sins, I prostrate myself before You. Despise not Your unworthy child, but grant me, I pray, an entrance into Your Sacred Heart. Sustain me in all my combats and be with me now, and at all times, but especially in the hour of my death. O gracious Jesus! O amiable Jesus! O loving Jesus! Amen.
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The Litany to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy
Christ have mercy, Christ have mercy
Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy
God, our Father in Heaven, Have mercy on us
God the Son, Redeemer of the World, Have mercy on us
God the Holy Spirit, Have mercy on us
Holy Trinity, One God, Have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, Son of the eternal Father, Have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, formed by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mother, Have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, one with the eternal Word, Have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, infinite in majesty, Have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, holy temple of God, Have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, tabernacle of the Most High, Have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, house of God and gate of Heaven, Have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, aflame with love for us, Have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, source of justice and love, Have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, full of goodness and love, Have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, wellspring of all virtue, Have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, worthy of all praise, Have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, king and centre of all hearts, Have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, treasure-house of wisdom and knowledge, Have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, in whom dwells the fullness of God, Have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, in whom the Father is well pleased, Have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, from whose fullness we have all received, Have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, desire of the eternal hills, Have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, patient and full of mercy, Have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, generous to all who turn to you, Have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, fountain of life and holiness, Have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, atonement for our sins, Have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, overwhelmed with insults, Have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, broken for our sins, Have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, obedient even to death, Have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, pierced by a lance, Have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, source of all consolation, Have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, our life and resurrection, Have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation, Have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, victim of our sins, Have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, salvation of all who trust You, Have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, hope of all who die in You, Have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, delight of all the saints, Have mercy on us
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the World, Have mercy on us
Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the World, Have mercy on us
Jesus, gentle and humble of heart, Touch our hearts and make them like your own
Let Us Pray
Grant we pray, Almighty God, that we, who glory in the Heart of Your beloved Son, and recall the wonders of his love for us, may be made worthy to receive an overflowing measure of grace from that fount of heavenly gifts. Through Christ, Our Lord, Amen.
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