If you’ve not read it yet, you should read the essay we published explaining the the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart. Devotions to the Sacred Heart seem to be mostly lost in the post-conciliar Church, but they are nonetheless a source of great comfort and blessing to those individuals and families who practice them.
My family has its own story about the Enthronement. In June, 2007, my wife Jamie felt a very strong calling to Enthrone our home and place our family under the protection of the Sacred Heart. She didn’t know what it was or why it was important, but through prayer and prompting, she became aware of the urgency that we do so. On one particular day in June, while we were on a drive, she asked me to stop at a small chapel. She had never been in the chapel before, but she has a very strong spiritual radar, and when she tells me she needs to make a visit, I make sure it happens.
As I sat in the car with sleeping children, Jamie went inside. Soon thereafter, a darkness fell over the interior of the building, and the only light was that shining through the window of the Sacred Heart. She felt certain that she was meant to do the Enthronement, and told me as much when she emerged. We went home and did so as soon as we could gather the necessary prayers. We didn’t know why this request, seemingly from heaven, was so important. Why the timing seemed so imminent.
But several days later, we found out that Jamie’s mother had gone missing. A short time after that, we learned that she had been murdered.
The Enthronement we made was clearly providential.
Christ made twelve promises through His visionary, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, to those who would practice devotion to His Sacred Heart:
- I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.
- I will establish peace in their families.
- I will console them in all their troubles.
- They shall find in My Heart an assured refuge during life and especially at the hour of their death.
- I will pour abundant blessings on all their undertakings.
- Sinners shall find in My Heart the source of an infinite ocean of mercy.
- Tepid souls shall become fervent.
- Fervent souls shall speedily rise to great perfection.
- I will bless the homes where an image of My Heart shall be exposed and honored.
- I will give to priests the power of touching the most hardened hearts.
- Those who propagate this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, never to be effaced.
- 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 repentance; they shall not die under my displeasure, nor without receiving their Sacraments; My heart shall be their assured refuge at that last hour.
It was in particular the third, fourth, and fifth promises that we needed at that time. It was as though we had been handed a spiritual shield to prepare us for what was to come. In the dark days that followed, as we travelled across the country to try to piece together what had happened and bury the dead, Christ was undoubtedly with us. And has been ever since.
I have yet to encounter a person who has made the Enthonement who has not experienced some profound benefit in relationship to it. In our family, we have at times been more faithful to requirements of this great devotion, and at times less. Still, we have made sure, no matter what, that the Sacred Heart is always enthroned in every home we have lived in since. The image we used in this morning’s piece is not just a stock photo. It is taken from the mantle in our living room.
Tomorrow begins the novena to the Sacred Heart, which begins with the feast of Corpus Christi tomorrow, and ends on Friday, June 12. If you would like to participate, we include it here (as taken from Mystics of the Church):
Efficacious Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
(To be recited daily for 9 consecutive days)
I. 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.” Behold I knock, I seek and ask for the grace of…… (here name your request)
Our Father….Hail Mary….Glory Be to the Father….
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
II. 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…….(here name your request)
Our Father…Hail Mary….Glory Be To the Father….
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
III. O my Jesus, you have said: “Truly I say to you, heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away.” Encouraged by your infallible words I now ask for the grace of…..(here name your request)
Our Father….Hail Mary….Glory Be to the Father…
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
O’ Sacred Heart of Jesus, for whom it is impossible not to have compassion on the afflicted, have pity on us poor sinners and grant us the grace which we ask of you, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, your tender Mother and ours.
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears! Turn, then, O most gracious Advocate, thine 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; Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus, pray for us.
–Novena promulgated by St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690)
Originally published on June 3rd, 2015. This post has been updated.
