In 1673 Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a French Roman Catholic nun and mystic, of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Visitation. She received the vision of the Sacred Heart. In this vision, Jesus promised: “I will give peace to their families..” and “I will bless those places wherein the image of My Sacred Heart shall be exposed and venerated.” From these two promises came the inspiration to consecrate one’s family to the Sacred Heart and to “enthrone” an image of the Sacred Heart in a central place in the home.
Place a picture or statue of the Sacred Heart in a conspicuous place in the home or in the place of honor on a family altar. You might choose to place this image in the room near your television or computer so that you will see the face of Jesus each day. Place candles there as well. (Baptismal candles may be used.) Please never leave lighted candles unattended. Battery-pack candles work just fine. You may also choose to have a Bible and Holy Water to use. Gather your family together around the picture/statue and light the candles as symbols of faith and love of the family members for the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Act of Consecration
Head of Family: Begin with the Sign of the Cross, then continue “Almighty and Eternal Father. We, the ( ……….. family, each member of the family speaks his/her first name beginning with the parents) consecrate ourselves and our home to the Sacred Heart of Your Only Begotten Son, Who loves us with a tender and everlasting love. May we return this love, as He comes into the midst of our family, to live and share our lives in a special way from this day on.
We accept You, Divine Heart of Jesus, as a living member of this family. Stay with us Lord. Sanctify our joys and comfort us in all our sorrows.
May your Holy Spirit inspire each of us so that we may continually be aware of Your special Presence among us, especially in one another. Help us, through this consecration to have a deep and loving respect for one another so that we may daily live this consecration in our family life.
Let our love go beyond our home into this world so that we may do our part to win other families to your Sacred Heart, thus helping to form a real community among the families of this parish and of the whole world.”
You may choose to read a passage from the Bible or download the Sunday readings from usccb.org/bible and share what the Word means to you. Invite petitions and prayers of thanksgiving from the family members gathered. Pray the Lord’s Prayer and the Hail Mary. Conclude with the Sign of the Cross.
