The Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Solemnities are the most important celebrations of the Church.  The Solemnity of The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus is celebrated on the Friday after Corpus Christi each year. This beautiful devotion focuses on the wounds of Christ, which are open demonstrations of His great love for us. Although it became officially celebrated in the church in 1873 when approved by Pope Pius IX, the history of the devotion to the Sacred Heart goes back even further.

In the 1700's, Jesus Christ appeared to a French nun, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. Through her apparitions, He asked us to honor His heart of flesh, sacrificed out of love for us and to receive Him in the Eucharist frequently, most especially on the First Friday of each month. In 1675 Jesus asked that the modern feast of the Sacred Heart be celebrated on the Friday following Corpus Christi in reparation for the ingratitude of mankind and their neglect of His sacrament of Love. By asking that the feast be celebrated immediately after Corpus Christi, Jesus intended us to associated the Eucharist, with the unfailing love of His Sacred Heart. 

​There are many ways to celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.  One way to honor Christ on this special feast day is to pray the Litany to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  Litanies can be repetitious, but their repetitiveness enables us to channel the deep emotion of our hearts, ones difficult to express in words. The repetition gives emphasis and by repeating the responses we weave them into our heart bringing us closer to God. The Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is an opportunity for us to offer our gratitude to Christ for His sacrifice. He has opened His Heart for us out of love, and is more than willing to extend that love to us when we ask. Will you join your parish family in honoring Christ today by praying The Litany to the Sacred Heart of Jesus?

The Litany can be found at the following links:

The Litany of the
​sacred heart of jesus

A Video of the Litany 
​for you to pray along

Here is another prayer you can offer as well:

Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
O most holy heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing, I adore you, I love you, and with lively sorrow for my sins I offer you this poor heart of mine. Make me humble, patient, pure and wholly obedient to your will. Grant, Good Jesus, that I may live in you and for you. Protect me in the midst of danger. Comfort me in my afflictions. Give me health of body, assistance in my temporal needs, your blessing on all that I do, and the grace of a holy death.  Amen.