Consecration to the
Sacred Heart of Jesus
Behold this Heart which has so loved men!
With these words to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1675, Jesus revealed His Sacred Heart as a burning furnace of love for humanity – a Heart on fire with mercy, yet so often wounded by our indifference. Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is among the most treasured Catholic practices, because it focuses directly on Jesus Christ and His merciful love for us. In fact, one could say the Sacred Heart devotion is not just one devotion among many, but the source and summit of all devotions, since it leads us to Christ Himself. The image of Jesus’ Heart, usually depicted aflame, encircled by a crown of thorns, and topped with a cross, is rich in meaning. It represents Jesus’ infinite love and compassion – love that is passionate (burning flame), sacrificial (crown of thorns from His Passion), and persevering (the cross He carried out of love). His Heart is also depicted as shining with light, indicating that Jesus’s love is a light that dispels the darkness of sin and despair. When we speak of the “Heart” of Jesus, we refer not only to His physical heart but to the very center of His Person – His divine-human love, desires, and tenderness. The Church teaches that the term “Sacred Heart of Jesus” denotes “the entire mystery of Christ, the totality of His being, and His person… the Son of God, uncreated wisdom, infinite charity”. In other words, to adore the Sacred Heart is to adore Jesus in the fullness of His love.
The theological foundation of this devotion is profoundly biblical. When Jesus died on the Cross, a soldier’s lance pierced His side, and blood and water flowed out (John 19:34) – symbols of the Eucharist and Baptism, the life-giving sacraments from the Heart of Christ. Early Church Fathers like St. Augustine marveled that the Church was born from the open side (Heart) of Christ, just as Eve came from Adam’s side. Jesus Himself invites us, “Come to me… for I am meek and humble of heart” (Matt 11:28-29). He allowed St. Thomas to touch the wound in His side (John 20:27), an action that has stirred devotion to His wounded Heart as a refuge of mercy. Over the centuries, saints have understood the Heart of Jesus as a refuge and “promised land” of love – the safe dwelling place for souls. Especially in times when people misunderstood God as harsh or distant, Jesus has used this devotion to reveal the warmth of His personal love. In the 17th century, through a series of apparitions to St. Margaret Mary, our Lord rekindled this devotion in the Church, showing her His Heart on fire and lamenting that so many do not return His love. He asked for special practices: holy hours of prayer, especially on Thursdays in memory of Gethsemane; Communion on the First Fridays of nine consecutive months in reparation for sins; and the establishment of a feast of the Sacred Heart, which we now celebrate each year on the Friday after Corpus Christi. He also gave 12 Promises to those who honor His Sacred Heart – promises of spiritual blessings such as peace in families, consolation in troubles, and perseverance in grace until death. True to His word, the devotion to the Sacred Heart became one of the most widespread in the Church, bringing countless hearts back to the love of Jesus.
To this day, when we enthrone an image of the Sacred Heart in our homes or churches, we are declaring: Jesus is King and Center of our lives, and His loving Heart is the heart of our family. We console Him by our love, and He consoles us with His promises. The Church calls devotion to the Sacred Heart “a wonderful historical expression of the Church’s piety for Christ, her Spouse and Lord”,
one that “calls for a fundamental attitude of conversion and reparation, of love and gratitude”. In other words, coming to the Sacred Heart leads us to repent of our sins (for His Heart is wounded by sin), to make acts of reparation – asking for forgiveness and offering love to heal the wounds our sins and the sins of others – and to overflow with gratitude for such a merciful Savior. If the Eucharist is the sacrament of love, the Sacred Heart is the symbol of that Love – “the chief sign and symbol of that love with which the Divine Redeemer continually loves the eternal Father and all mankind” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, §478). How greatly Jesus desires our love in return! He told St. Margaret Mary, “I thirst [for love].” When we offer Jesus a little love, His Heart rejoices as a father whose prodigal child has come home.
Entering the Furnace of Divine Charity: A 33-Day Journey
Given the immense spiritual riches of this devotion, it is fitting that many Catholics choose to make a personal consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In fact, Pope Pius XI taught that personal consecration is “undoubtedly the principal devotional practice” of the Sacred Heart tradition. What is a consecration to the Sacred Heart? It is a deliberate act of offering and uniting your own heart to Jesus’ Heart. You consecrate your heart, with all its desires, fears, and hopes, to the Heart of Christ so that He may reign in you completely. This act is often done in the context of a 33-day preparation (similar to Marian consecration). Over 33 days, one spends a short time each day reflecting on different aspects of Jesus’ love – His teachings, His miracles of compassion, His suffering and death, the meaning of His Heart in scripture and in the lives of saints. You might meditate on His seven last words, or on the wounds of His Sacred Heart, or on the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus in Holy Communion.
Each day includes a prayer of love or reparation to the Sacred Heart. This journey is like stepping closer and closer to the brilliant fire of His love – at first it illuminates us, and ultimately it sets our own hearts ablaze. Many parishes and ministries (such as ours) promote this 33-day “journey into the Heart of Christ.” It can be done individually, as a family, or as part of a group retreat. We often begin on a certain date so that the 33 days conclude on the Feast of the Sacred Heart (a beautiful day for the consecration ceremony), or another significant feast of Jesus.
During the preparation, we invite Jesus each day to draw us nearer. We learn about the meaning of His Heart – how it symbolizes His merciful love and his ardent longing for souls. We reflect on His wounds and Passion, understanding how His Heart was literally and figuratively pierced out of love for us. We practice daily acts of love: perhaps making a small sacrifice to show love for Jesus, or pausing at 3 PM (the Hour of Mercy) to gaze upon a crucifix and say, “Jesus, I love You; forgive us our sins.” Through these exercises, our own hearts begin to soften and burn with love. We also grow in trust – seeing how Jesus calls Himself “meek and humble of heart,” we learn to approach Him with confidence, knowing He will never reject a repentant sinner. Our fears melt in the warmth of His Heart.
At the end of the 33 days, we make an Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart. This is usually a written prayer (often provided in prayer books or composed personally) in which we formally offer our hearts to Jesus. We express sorrow for our sins and the sins of the world that offend His Heart, and we pledge our love and fidelity to Him. We ask Jesus to accept our offering and to give us a share in the fire of His love. Often, such consecrations are made during a special Mass or Holy Hour. Some also include the beautiful practice of the enthronement of the Sacred Heart: placing an image of Jesus’ Sacred Heart in a place of honor in one’s home, and having a priest or the family recite prayers declaring Jesus as the King of the household. This ceremony reinforces that our home and everyone in it now belong to Christ in a special way.
What can one expect after consecrating oneself to the Sacred Heart? Certainly not that all problems disappear – but rather that our hearts are transformed in facing them. By placing our hearts “into” Jesus’ Heart, we find a secure refuge “in all dangers, in all difficulties, in all doubts” (as one traditional prayer goes). Jesus promised St. Margaret Mary that those devoted to His Heart would have peace in their families, comfort in sorrows, and a secure refuge in life and especially at the hour of death. These promises have proven true for so many souls: families enthroned to the Sacred Heart report a greater sense of peace and mutual forgiveness in the home; individuals find strength to carry their crosses, consoled that Jesus walks with them; and many have died with a special serenity, fortified by the sacraments, as if the Sacred Heart itself were their shield in that final battle. Additionally, Jesus promises fervor for the lukewarm and rapid progress in holiness for the fervent.
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When we give our heart to Jesus, He sets it on fire. Those who may have been complacent in faith often experience a new zeal and desire for prayer. Those who were already devout often find new depths of humility and charity, propelled quickly toward the heights of sanctity by the Divine Flame. Indeed, the Sacred Heart is called the “furnace of divine charity” – like the blazing furnace seen by the prophet Daniel (Dan 3:24-25) that burned but did not consume the three youths, the fire of Jesus’ Heart burns away not only our sins and selfishness, but enlivens everything good in us. It purifies us and makes us shine. This fire also ignites apostolic love: by uniting with Jesus’ Heart, we begin to love others with His love. We feel His compassion for souls, His thirst for those who do not yet know His mercy. A true devotion to the Sacred Heart will always overflow in love for neighbors, zeal for evangelization, and works of mercy, because we have in a sense “caught” the heartbeat of Jesus – a Heart that beats with love for each and every person.
Another key aspect of consecrating to the Sacred Heart is the call to reparation. In our Act of Consecration, we usually include promises to make reparation for the sins against Jesus’ love. This means we intentionally offer prayers and sacrifices in atonement for the indifference, ingratitude, and offenses that Jesus’ Heart still suffers from the world. For example, attending Mass or making a Holy Communion in a spirit of reparation (especially on First Fridays) is a beautiful practice. So is spending an hour of adoration, uniting ourselves with Jesus’ agony in Gethsemane where He said, “My soul is sorrowful unto death… remain here and watch with Me” (Matt 26:38). By keeping company with the suffering Heart of Christ, we console Him – as an angel comforted Him in His agony. Imagine that our love today can console Jesus in His agony then (for in His divine knowledge, our acts of love were present to Him). What a privilege! Our consecration makes us companions of the Sacred Heart, ready to stand by Him even when others flee or ignore Him. The Directory on Popular Piety reminds us that images of the Sacred Heart can sometimes be overly sentimental, but the true devotion is robust and theologically rich, inviting the faithful to approach the mystery of Christ’s love with reverence and awe. When we consecrate ourselves, we commit to that “robust” love: not mere sentiment, but a love that is proven in acts of trust and penance.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I TRUST IN YOU!
In summary, Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a profound way of saying “Jesus, I trust You, I love You, I give You my heart – please give me Yours!” In fact, a popular prayer of consecration exclaims: “O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Thine.” This is the goal: that our hearts become ever more like Jesus’ Heart – ablaze with love for God the Father and for every human being. If you feel Jesus tugging at your heart as you read this, consider it an invitation. He is saying, “Give Me your heart, and I will give you Mine. I will put my love in you, and your soul will find rest.” We encourage you to undertake the 33-day journey of Sacred Heart consecration. Here at Consecrati Family Ministries, we host group consecrations where you can receive daily and join others in weekly prayer meetings, culminating in a beautiful consecration ceremony on the Feast of the Sacred Heart. Whether or not you join a group, you can start privately anytime by dedicating the next 33 days to walking with Jesus. Each day, spend a few minutes in prayer – perhaps reading a Scripture about Jesus’ love (like Luke 15’s parables of the Lost Sheep and Prodigal Son), or a meditation by a saint on the Heart of Jesus, and then pray an aspiration like “Sacred Heart of Jesus, I believe in Your love for me.” These little acts will prepare you. And when the day comes, make your Act of Consecration with all the sincerity and love of your heart.
The Sacred Heart of Jesus is an ocean of mercy. Plunging into that Heart is the best decision a soul can make. In the words of Pope Pius XII, “Devotion to the Sacred Heart is the most effective school of the love of God.” It is a school we never graduate from, because we can always grow in love. But under Jesus’ gentle instruction, our hearts will enlarge and our capacity to love God and neighbor will astonish us. Imagine a community, a family, a parish where many hearts are consecrated to Jesus – it would be a foretaste of heaven: “They shall all be taught by God”, and “God is love, and one who abides in love abides in God, and God in him” (1 John 4:16). This is what we aim for.
So, let us say to the Lord Jesus now: “Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You.” He has loved you with an everlasting love; His Heart yearns for you. Will you open your heart to Him? If you do, you will find an answer to the deepest longings of your soul. As St. Augustine wrote, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in You, O Lord.” In the Heart of Christ, the restless find rest, the wounded find healing, the weak find strength, and sinners find mercy. Make your home in His Heart, and you will experience the truth of His promise: “Remain in my love… and your joy will be complete” (John 15:9-11). Sacred Heart of Jesus, Thy Kingdom come! May Your Heart reign in our hearts, now and forever. Amen.
