SOLEMN PRAYERS IN HONOR OF THE MOST SACRED HEART OF
JESUS AND THE WORLD DAY PRAYER FOR THE SANCTIFICATION
OF PRIESTS
The following prayers are to be said on the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of
Jesus, as recommended by the Church to all Parishes, communities and the
Apostleship of Prayer around the world
The prayers may be said after Communion or at a time when the Blessed
Sacrament is exposed before the Benediction.
At a time when the prayers are to be said, the congregation is asked to kneel.
Act of Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
By Pope PiusXI
A plenary indulgence will be gained when the prayer is recited on the Solemnity of
the Sacred Heart of Jesus under the usual conditions of the Sacrament of Penance,
Holy Communion and prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father.
Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race,
look down upon us, humbly prostrate before Thine altar.
We are Thine and Thine we wish to be; but to be more surely united with Thee,
behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to Thy Most Sacred Heart.
Many, indeed, have never known Thee; many, too, despising Thy precepts, have
rejected Thee.
Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to Thy Sacred Heart.
Be Thou King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken Thee,
but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned Thee, grant that they may
quickly return to their Father's house, lest they die of wretchedness and hunger.
Be Thou King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord
keeps aloof and call them back to the harbour of truth and unity of faith, so that
soon there may be but one flock and one shepherd.
Be Thou King of all those who even now sit in the shadow of idolatry or wayward
religions, and refuse not Thou to bring them into the light of Thy kingdom.
Look, finally, with eyes of pity upon the children of that race, which was for so
long a time Thy chosen people; and let Thy Blood, which was once invoked upon
them in vengeance, now descend upon them also in a cleansing flood of
redemption and eternal life.
Grant, O Lord, to Thy Church, assurance of freedom and immunity from harm;
give peace and order to all nations, and make the earth resound from pole to pole
with one cry:Praise to the Divine Heart that wrought our salvation: to it be glory
and honour forever. Amen.
ACT OF REPARATION TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS
A plenary indulgence will be gained when the prayer is recited on the Solemnity of
the Sacred Heart of Jesus under the usual conditions of the Sacrament of Penance,
Holy Communion and prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father.
O sweet Jesus, Whose overflowing charity for men is requited by so much
forgetfulness, negligence and contempt, behold us prostrate before Thy altar
eager to repair by a special act of homage the cruel indifference and injuries,
to which Thy loving Heart is everywhere subject.
Mindful alas! that we ourselves have had a share in such great indignities,
which we now deplore from the depths of our hearts, we humbly ask Thy pardon
and declare our readiness to atone by voluntary expiation
not only for our own personal offenses,but also for the sins of those,
who, straying far from the path of salvation, refuse in their obstinate infidelity to
follow Thee, their Shepherd and Leader, or,renouncing the vows of their baptism,
have cast off the sweet yoke of Thy law.
We are now resolved to expiate such and every deploreable outrage committed
against Thee; we are determined to make amends for the manifold offenses against
Christian modesty in unbecoming dress and behaviour, for all the foul seductions
laid to ensnare the feet of the innocent, for the frequent violation of Sundays and
holidays, and the shocking blasphemies uttered against Thee and Thy Saints.
We wish also to make amends for the insults to which Thy Vicar earth
and Thy priests are subjected, for the profanation, by conscious neglect
or terrible acts of sacrilege, of the very Sacrament of Thy divine love;
and lastly for the public crimes of nations who resist the rights
and the teaching authority of the Church which Thou hast founded.
Would, O Divine Jesus, we were able to wash away such abominations with our
blood!
We now offer, in reparation for these violations of Thy divine honour,
the satisfaction Thou didst once make to Thine eternal Father on the cross
and which Thou does continue to renew daily on our altars;
we offer it in union with the acts of atonement of Thy Virgin Mother
and all the Saints and of the pious faithful on earth; and we sincerely promise to
make recompense, as far as we can with the help of Thy grace, for all neglect of
Thy great love and for the sins we and others have committed in the past.
Henceforth we will live a life of unwavering faith, of purity of conduct,
of perfect observance of the precepts of the gospel and especially that of charity.
We promise to the best of our power to prevent others from offending Thee
and to bring as many as possible to follow Thee.
O loving Jesus, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary
our model in reparation, deign to receive the voluntary offering
we make of this act of expiation; and by the crowning gift of perseverance
keep us faithful unto death in our duty and the allegiance we owe to Thee,
so that we may all one day come to that happy home, where Thou with the Father
and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest God, world without end.Amen.
A Prayer for Priests to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
By St. Therese of Lisieux
This prayer is to be recited on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, for the
Sanctification of all Priests.
O Jesus, eternal Priest,keep your priests within the shelter of Your Sacred Heart,
where none may touch them.
Keep unstained their anointed hands,which daily touch Your Sacred Body.
Keep unsullied their lips, daily purpled with your Precious Blood.
Keep pure and unearthly their hearts,sealed with the sublime mark of the
priesthood. Let Your holy love surround them andshield them from the world's
contagion.
Bless their labors with abundant fruit and may the souls to whom they minister be
their joy and consolation here and in heaven their beautiful and
everlasting crown. Amen.
After the prayers are recited, if inside the Mass, the image of the Sacred Heart of
Jesus will be venerated by incensing. If during an Exposition of the Blessed
Sacrament, Benediction follows immediately.
From the prayers and directives on the
Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
given to the Apostleship of Prayer.
With Ecclesiastical Approval and
Recommendation
