Five ways to foster devotion to the Sacred Heart

A stained glass window at the Church of St. Pothin in Lyon, France, depicts the Sacred Heart of Jesus. (

Photo by Pascal Deloche/Godong)

HOUSTON (OSV News) — Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus grew from the Lord’s revelations to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 17th century. In one revelation, He asked her to receive holy Communion on nine consecutive First Fridays and to spend an hour in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament on Thursday nights.

In a later revelation, He expressed His desire for a feast dedicated to His Sacred Heart, bringing the devotion into the Church’s universal life. Nearly two centuries later, Pope Pius IX established the solemnity for the universal Church in 1865, observed on the second Friday after Trinity Sunday.

In 1995, St. John Paul II added the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests to that same day, entrusting the priesthood to the Heart of Jesus.

The object of this devotion is the immense love of the Son of God — the love by which the Father gave His Son for us, the Son gave Himself in sacrifice, and continues to give Himself in the Blessed Sacrament. Devotion to the Sacred Heart is devotion to this love poured out for humanity.

The Lord calls His disciples to adore His Sacred Heart, as He did St. Margaret Mary. Its purpose is twofold: to deepen gratitude for Christ’s love, especially in the Eucharist, and to make reparation for the indifference and ingratitude shown toward that love.

The following five practices are among the most common ways of fostering devotion to the Sacred Heart.

1. Make a Morning Offering through the Immaculate Heart of Mary

The first to devote herself to the love of God in Christ was the Blessed Mother. Her heart is always fixed on and nourished by His. Her heart leads to His, and His heart is offered to us through hers. A morning offering like the following one moves us toward Christ’s love through Mary, by little and by little, day by day:
“O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world. I offer them for all the intentions of your Sacred Heart: for the salvation of souls, the reparation of sins, the reunion of all Christians. I offer them for the intentions of our bishops and all apostles of prayer, and in particular for those recommended by our Holy Father this month. Amen.”

2. Make frequent visits to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament

The devotion to the Blessed Eucharist and the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus are, in the end, one and the same devotion in two moments. The love contained in Christ’s heart is offered to us in the Blessed Sacrament, and the Blessed Sacrament always points to the love of God poured out for the world.
The Lord instructed St. Margaret Mary to devote herself to His Sacred Heart in part by keeping a Holy Hour each week, lying prostrate before the Blessed Sacrament. Keeping this Holy Hour in the night between Thursday and Friday places the devotee even more intentionally into the Garden of Christ’s agony when Christ’s Passion began, but His disciples abandoned Him.

3. Make a First Friday devotion

Jesus revealed to St. Margaret Mary both the warmth of His human heart and the coldness of ingratitude He suffered from many. The regular reception of the Eucharist both grants us the warmth of Christ’s love and, at the same time, allows us to express gratitude for the Lord’s gift. The First Friday Devotion is a way for this exchange of love to become habitual and ever more intentional.
Attending Mass and receiving Communion on the First Friday of each month (or at least for nine consecutive months) is offered for the reparation of sins committed against Jesus’ Sacred Heart and the holy Eucharist.

4. Make an act of consecration to the Sacred Heart

Acts of consecration to the Sacred Heart take various forms. The consecration should be renewed at least once each year on the feast of the Sacred Heart, though it may also be renewed on each First Friday.
A simple consecration is like this: “Lord Jesus Christ, today I offer/renew my dedication to your Sacred Heart. I remember Your love for me. I pledge my love in return, placing You in the center of my heart and my family. I wish to live my life in union with You and to share in Your mission of love to all. Lord, accept this dedication and keep me always in Your Sacred Heart. Amen.”

5. Observe the feast of the Sacred Heart with great preparation and reverence

The feast of the Sacred Heart occurs annually on the second Friday after Trinity Sunday, this year June 12. As a solemn occasion for the universal Church, observing this feast with both preparation and reverence allows each member of Christ’s body to participate in the warming of the Church by the love of Christ and make reparations for the ingratitude of disciples and others for Christ’s great love.

In his late-17th-century book The Devotion to the Sacred Heart, Jesuit Father John Croiset offers practical guidance for observing the feast with proper reverence. He urges the faithful, if possible, to dedicate the entire day to honoring the Sacred Heart in the Blessed Sacrament, setting aside unnecessary work and distractions since every moment is precious.

The day should begin with Adoration of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, followed by preparation for a fervent Communion offered in reparation for both personal sins and those of others. After Communion, one should reflect on Christ’s immense love in contrast to one’s own ingratitude, responding with humility and sorrow. He recommends making an act of consecration to the Sacred Heart, offering oneself fully to Him, and spending the remainder of the day in good works and frequent acts of love for Christ, according to one’s devotion.

By these five ways, and others besides, the devotion to the Sacred Heart directs our hearts to the love of Jesus’ own heart. We slowly become emissaries of His love and sharers in the work of reconciliation for the Body of Christ. 

In return, Christ offers 12 promises to those who devote themselves to His heart. ​