If you walk into any traditional Catholic home, you will likely see a picture of Jesus with His heart exposed, burning with fire, surrounded by thorns. This is the Sacred Heart. It is not just a nice piece of art. It is a theological statement: God has a human heart, and it burns for you.
Devotion to the Sacred Heart is arguably the most popular Catholic devotion after the Rosary. But many people don't know why we practice it.
- What are the "12 Promises"?
- What is the "First Friday" devotion?
- How do you "enthrone" Jesus as King of your house?
Here is everything you need to know about the month of June and the Heart of God.
1. The History: "Behold this Heart"
Devotion to the wounds of Christ goes back to the Apostles (think of St. Thomas touching the side of Jesus). But the modern devotion began in France in the 1670s. A humble nun named St. Margaret Mary Alacoque received a series of visions of Jesus. In the most famous apparition (1675), Jesus revealed His heart to her and said:
"Behold the Heart which has so loved men that it has spared nothing... and in return, I receive from the greater part only ingratitude, by their irreverence and sacrilege."
He asked for two things:
- A Feast of Reparation: A special feast day on the Friday after the Octave of Corpus Christi.
- Communion of Reparation: Receiving Communion on the First Friday of every month to make up for the sins of the world.
The Symbols Explained
- The Fire: His love is a consuming fire. It cannot be contained.
- The Thorns: The sins of men that prick His heart.
- The Wound: The lance of Longinus that pierced His side on the Cross.
- The Cross: Planted in the heart, showing that love and sacrifice are inseparable.
2. The 12 Promises
Jesus made 12 specific promises to St. Margaret Mary for those who honor His Sacred Heart. (Note: These were compiled from her letters by Philip Kemper in 1882).
- State of Life: "I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life." (Single, married, religious).
- Peace: "I will establish peace in their families."
- Comfort: "I will comfort them in all their afflictions."
- Refuge: "I will be their secure refuge during life, and above all, in death."
- Blessings: "I will bestow abundant blessings upon all their undertakings."
- Mercy: "Sinners will find in my Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy."
- Fervor: "Lukewarm souls shall become fervent."
- Perfection: "Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection."
- Image: "I will bless every place in which an image of my Heart is exposed and honored."
- Priests: "I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts."
- Names Written: "Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in my Heart."
- The Great Promise: "I promise you... that the all-powerful love of my Heart will grant to all those who shall receive Communion on the First Friday of nine consecutive months the grace of final penitence: they will not die in my displeasure, nor without receiving the sacraments; and my Heart will be their secure refuge in that last hour."
Commentary: Promise #12 is the big one. It is effectively a "spiritual insurance policy." It doesn't mean you can sin all you want; it means God will not let you die without a chance to repent.
3. The First Friday Devotion
To claim the "Great Promise," you must:
- Go to Mass and receive Holy Communion.
- On the First Friday of the month.
- For 9 consecutive months. (If you miss one, you start over).
- Offer it in reparation for sins against the Sacred Heart.
Why 9 months? It reflects the 9 days of a Novena, and possibly the 9 months Jesus spent in the womb. It requires perseverance.
4. How to Enthrone the Sacred Heart
The Enthronement is a ceremony where you officially proclaim Jesus as the King of your family. It transforms your home into a "Domestic Church."
Step 1: Get an Image
Buy or print a beautiful image of the Sacred Heart. Frame it.
Step 2: Prepare the "Throne"
Choose a place of honor in the main room (living room or dining room). Not a bedroom. This is a public declaration. Set up a small altar with flowers and candles.
Step 3: The Ceremony
(Gather the whole family. The father or head of the household leads).
Leader: We begin In the Name of the Father... (Read scripture: Luke 19:1-10, Zacchaeus).
Leader: "Lord Jesus, today we want to make You the King and center of our home. We want our family to be Yours. Protect us, guide us, and love us."
Blessing of the Image: (If a priest is present, he blesses it. If not, sprinkle with Holy Water).
Enthronement: The head of the house places the picture in the place of honor.
Act of Consecration: (All recite together):
"O Sacred Heart of Jesus... we consecrate to You our persons and our life... our actions, pains, and sufferings, so that we may be unwilling to make use of any part of our being save to honor, love, and glorify You... Be Thou, O most goodness Jesus, our King and the center of all our hearts."
Closing: Pray an Our Father and Hail Mary for the intention of the Pope and absent family members. Celebrate with a special meal!
5. Living the Devotion
Enthronement isn't magic. It's a commitment. It means:
- No Sin in the House: If Jesus is King, we don't watch immoral movies or allow bad language in His presence.
- Forgiveness: The Sacred Heart is mercy. Family members must forgive each other.
- Prayer: The family prays together (Rosary, graceful meals) in front of the image.
FAQ
Is this distinct from the Divine Mercy?
Yes, but related.
- Sacred Heart: Focuses on Love and Reparation (consoling Jesus).
- Divine Mercy: Focuses on Mercy and Trust (receiving from Jesus). They are two sides of the same coin.
Can I do the First Fridays again?
Yes! Many people do "Nine First Fridays" repeatedly for different intentions.
Conclusion: "Thy Kingdom Come"
When we pray the Our Father, we say: "Thy Kingdom come." The Sacred Heart devotion is how we make that happen—starting in our own living room. If Jesus is King of your heart, He will be King of your home. If He is King of your home, He will be King of your society.
Celebrate the month of June with fire. Find First Friday Mass times on the MyPrayerTower app.