In the 17th century our Lord appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and entrusted to her to the mission of spreading devotion to his Most Sacred Heart. Learn more about the Sacred Heart of Jesus Devotion. The Sacred Heart feast day is celebrated on the Friday following the feast of Corpus Christi; additionally, the entire month of June is dedicated to devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Act of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
(A partial indulgence is granted to those who recite this prayer. A plenary indulgence is granted if it is publicly recited on the feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. This prayer was prescribed to be recited on this feast by Pope Pius XI).
MOST sweet Jesus, whose overflowing charity for men is requited by so much forgetfulness, negligence and contempt, behold us prostrate before Thee, eager to repair by a special act of homage the cruel indifference and injuries to which Thy loving Heart is everywhere subject.
Mindful, alas! that we ourselves have had a share in such great indignities, which we now deplore from the depths of our hearts, we humbly ask Thy pardon and declare our readiness to atone by voluntary expiation, not only for our own personal offenses, but also for the sins of those, who, straying far from the path of salvation, refuse in their obstinate infidelity to follow Thee, their Shepherd and Leader, or, renouncing the promises of their baptism, have cast off the sweet yoke of Thy law.
We are now resolved to expiate each and every deplorable outrage committed against Thee; we are now determined to make amends for the manifold offenses against Christian modesty in unbecoming dress and behavior, for all the foul seductions laid to ensnare the feet of the innocent, for the frequent violations of Sundays and holydays, and the shocking blasphemies uttered against Thee and Thy Saints.
We wish also to make amends for the insults to which Thy Vicar on earth and Thy priests are subjected, for the profanation, by conscious neglect or terrible acts of sacrilege, of the very crimes of nations who resist the rights and teaching authority of the Church which Thou hast founded.
Would that we were able to wash away such abominations with our blood. We now offer, in reparation for these violations of Thy divine honor, the satisfaction Thou once made to Thy Eternal Father on the cross and which Thou continuest to renew daily on our altars; we offer it in union with the acts of atonement of Thy Virgin Mother and all the Saints and of the pious faithful on earth; and we sincerely promise to make recompense, as far as we can with the help of Thy grace, for all neglect of Thy great love and for the sins we and others have committed in the past.
Henceforth, we will live a life of unswerving faith, of purity of conduct, of perfect observance of the precepts of the Gospel and especially that of charity. We promise to the best of our power to prevent others from offending Thee and to bring as many as possible to follow Thee.
O loving Jesus, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mother, our model in reparation, deign to receive the voluntary offering we make of this act of expiation; and by the crowning gift of perseverance keep us faithful unto death in our duty and the allegiance we owe to Thee, so that we may all one day come to that happy home, where with the Father and the Holy Spirit Thou livest and reignest, God, forever and ever. Amen.
Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
(A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who piously recite this Act of Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. A plenary indulgence is granted if it is recited publicly on the feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King.)
O most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of mankind, behold us prostrate most humbly before Thy altar. To Thee we belong; Thine we wish to be; and, that we may be united to Thee most closely, we dedicate ourselves each one of us today to Thy most Sacred Heart.
Many have never known Thee, many, despising Thy commands, have rejected Thee. Have pity on them, most merciful Jesus, and draw all men to Thy Sacred Heart. Rule, O Lord, not only over the faithful who never have gone away from Thee, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned Thee, and make them return quickly to their Father's house, lest they perish of misery and hunger. Rule over those who have been misled by error, or separated by schism, and call them back to the haven of truth and the unity of faith, so that there may be soon be one fold and one Shepherd.
Lastly, rule over all who are sunk in the old superstition of the Gentiles, and vouchsafe to bring them out of darkness into the light and kingdom of God. Give to Thy Church, O Lord, safety and sure liberty; give to all nations peace and order; and grant that, over the whole earth from pole to pole, may resound the words, "Praise be to the Divine Heart through which was brought to us salvation, glory and honor be it forever." Amen.