Traditionally, the month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, principally on account of the basis that the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart which comes up (on the Friday after the second Sunday following Pentecost) is celebrated in June.
In accordance with the Directory on Popular Piety, which is a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is “one of the most widespread and popular [devotions] in the Catholic Church.”
This solemnity is a deeply Christo-centric practice that has been promoted by numerous saints over the centuries.
And when viewed, “in the light of the Scriptures, the phrase ‘Sacred Heart of Jesus’ denotes the entire mystery of Christ, that is, the totality of his being, and his person considered in its most intimate essential: Son of God, uncreated wisdom; infinite charity, principal of the salvation and sanctification of mankind.
In other words, the ‘Sacred Heart’ is Christ, the Word Incarnate, Saviour, inseparably containing, in the Spirit, an infinite divine-human love for the Father and for his brothers.”
However, among the many pious customs that involves the Sacred Heart is a traditional “enthronement,” or “consecration” of your house (and heart) to Jesus. Particularly, Jesus made a promise to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque saying that, “I will bless the homes where an image of My Heart shall be exposed and honored.”
Meanwhile, over the years the Church has developed different types of enthronements which make the placing of an image of the Sacred Heart a more formal and spiritual event.
For instance, the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network popularly known as the “Apostleship of Prayer” has its own family consecration prayer service which can be found in Father James Kubicki’s book, A Heart on Fire: One that rediscovers the Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Aside from the prayer service, Father Kubicki provides an engaging history on the devotion to the Sacred Heart and why it is still relevant till date.
And over the past several years Father Michael Gaitley has joined the cause and developed his own program called the “Consoling the Heart of Jesus”, which is very popular in parish settings.
This program features an extensive retreat which is aimed at uniting one’s heart closer to that of Jesus and ends in a consecration to the Sacred Heart.
Cardinal Raymond Burke is another chief promoter of the Sacred Heart. It is he, who compiled a liturgical celebration of the enthronement in his book titled, “the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus”. He went further to include a basic introduction to the ancient custom and he provides a detailed instruction on how to prepare spiritually.
In addition to that, Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque wrote a personal prayer of consecration which could be used when devoting ourselves or our families to the Sacred Heart.
The prayer is as thus:
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, to you I consecrate and offer up my person, my life, my actions, trials, and sufferings, that my entire being may now on, only be employed in loving, honoring and glorifying Thee. This is my irreversible will, to belong wholly to Thee, and to do all for Thy love, renouncing with my whole heart all that can displease Thee.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I take Thee for the sole object of my love, the protection of my life, the pledge of my salvation, the remedy of my frailty and inconstancy, the reparation for all the defects of my life, and my secure refuge at the hour of my death.
O Most Merciful Heart, be thou my justification before God Thy Father, and take me away from His anger which I have so justly merited. I fear all from my own weakness and malice, but placing my sole confidence in Thee, O Heart of Love, I hope that from all Thine infinite Goodness. Remove in me all that can displease or resist Thee. Implant Thy pure love so deeply in my heart that I may never forget Thee or be separated from Thee.
I ask Thee, through Thine infinite Goodness, grant that my name be rooted upon Thy Heart, for in this I put all my happiness and all my glory, to live and to die as one of Thy devoted servants. Amen.
Anyways, whatever method you use to dedicate your home or your heart o the Sacred Heart, the emphasis should be rightly placed on spiritual preparation.
Because this is not just an activity where you place an image of Jesus in a prominent place in your home.
Just in the same way of consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, it is focused on bringing together your heart to the heart of Jesus so that you are one with him in all things.
