Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
"Behold the Heart which has so loved men that it has spared nothing, even to exhausting and consuming Itself, in order to testify Its love; and in return, I receive from the greater part only ingratitude, by their irreverence and sacrilege, and by the coldness and contempt they have for Me in this Sacrament of Love.” > — Jesus to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (June 1675)
The U.S. Bishops have decided to consecrate the United States to the Sacred Heart during the 250th anniversary of the nation in 2026. The national consecration will take place on June 12, 2026 (the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart) or the night prior, during the U.S. bishops’ spring meeting in Orlando.
In the Archdiocese of Portland, Archbishop Sample will consecrate the diocese on Sunday, June 7, the Feast of Corpus Christi.
We invite you to join in this consecration of our nation and our diocese by learning more about the Sacred Heart and participating in a Novena to the Sacred Heart from May 30 through June 7.
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The month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a devotion which began in the 12th century and gained popularity after Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 1670s, revealing to her the image of His Sacred Heart. It is a month dedicated to contemplating the wonderful mystery of the human heart of Jesus, which contains all of God’s eternal, infinite, self-giving love for each person.
In Jesus’ first apparition to St. Margaret Mary, after revealing His Heart to her, He said:
“My divine Heart is so passionately fond of the human race, and of you in particular, that it cannot keep back the pent-up flames of its burning charity any longer. They must burst out through you.”
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1. Pray the Morning Offering
A cornerstone of Sacred Heart devotion is the Morning Offering, which unites your entire day—prayers, works, joys, and sufferings—to the loving Heart of Jesus. Every morning, start your day by praying:
Divine Heart of Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer myself to God the Father in the Holy Sacrifice of the Altar, with all of my works, studies, prayers, sufferings, and joys of today, in reparation for our sins and so that Your Kingdom come. Amen.
2. Enthrone an Image of the Sacred Heart in Your Home
Enthroning a beautiful image or statue of the Sacred Heart in a central place in your home makes Christ’s presence visible and invites daily contemplation. Gather your family or roommates to bless and enthrone the image, asking Jesus to reign in your home. This simple act turns the household into a school of intimacy, where family members frequently lift their eyes to the Lord who loves them personally.
3. Practice the First Friday Devotion
Jesus revealed to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque His desire for us to receive Holy Communion on the First Friday of each month in reparation for sins and indifference. This practice opens us to receive Christ’s merciful love more deeply in the Eucharist. Attend Mass as a family on First Fridays when possible, receive Holy Communion with devotion, and spend time in Adoration.
4. Invoke the Sacred Heart Throughout the Day
Short, heartfelt invocations such as “Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us” or “Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make our hearts like unto Thine” can easily be woven into daily life. These short prayers help keep your eyes fixed on Jesus (cf. Hebrews 12:2).
During the month of June, consider concluding your day by praying the Litany or the Invocations of the Sacred Heart.
5. Pray the Novena to the Sacred Heart
From May 30 through June 7, pray the Sacred Heart prayer provided by Archbishop Sample daily.
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When we look at images of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we notice several distinct symbols. Each of these expresses a unique aspect of God’s love for us:
Flames: The Sacred Heart of Jesus burns with divine love. In the Gospel, Jesus says that He came to bring fire to the earth—the fire of divine love and the Holy Spirit. One traditional prayer says, “O Heart of Jesus, burning with love for us, inflame our hearts with love for You.” He wants to set our hearts on fire with His love to consume all that is not of Him, spreading that fire to a world in need.
“My Divine Heart is so inflamed with love for men, and for you in particular that, being unable any longer to contain within Itself the flames of Its burning Charity, It must needs spread them abroad by your means...”(Jesus to St. Margaret Mary, 1673)
Rays of Light: The Sacred Heart is surrounded by rays of light emanating from it. In the Gospel of John, Jesus reveals Himself as the light of the world. This light shines into the darkness of our sin, suffering, fear, and doubt, revealing the ultimate truth of God's love.
Crown of Thorns: We remember that during His Passion, the soldiers placed a crown of thorns on Jesus’ head. Jesus told St. Margaret Mary that the crown of thorns symbolizes our individual sins, which prick His Heart.
The Cross: While Jesus hung upon the Cross at Calvary, in the image of the Sacred Heart, the Cross stands atop His Heart. This reminds us that it was the divine love of His Heart that supported Him through the Passion, and it is that same love that supports us when we bear our own crosses.
The Open Wound: After Jesus died on the Cross, a soldier pierced His side with a lance, and blood and water flowed out—flooding the world with divine mercy. The open wound shows us that the Heart of Jesus is always open and His mercy is always accessible to us.
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