CEREMONY OF ENTHRONEMENT OF

THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS INTO THE HOME

Family Version led by Priest or Head of Household

(Adapted from the Sacred Heart Legion and other sources)

All are seated while the head of household explains what is about to happen, explains the meaning and importance of the Enthronement.

1. Our help is in the Name of the Lord.
2. Who made Heaven and earth.
3. The Lord be with you.
4. And with your spirit.
5. Let us pray.: Almighty and everlasting God, who dost approve the painting and sculpturing of the images of Thy Saints, so that as often as we gaze upon them we are reminded to imitate their deeds and sanctity; vouchsafe, we implore Thee, to bless and sanctify this image made in honor and in memory of the Most Sacred Heart of Thy only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ; and grant, that whosoever in its presence, will suppliantly worship and honor the Most Sacred Heart of Thy only begotten Son, may obtain through His merits and intercession grace in this life and everlasting glory in the world to come. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The head of household now sprinkles the image with holy water. Then the designated family member enthrones the image in the place of honor prepared for it. This is the symbolic act of Enthronement.

All stand and pray the Apostles Creed.

ALL KNEEL AND PRAY THE ACT OF CONSECRATION:

Oh Sacred Heart of Jesus, You revealed to Saint Margaret Mary Your desire to rule over Christian families. In order to please You, we gather before you this day to proclaim Your complete kingly dominion over our own family. We desire to live from this moment onward with Your life. We desire that the virtues, to which you have promised Peace on earth, may flourish in our family. We want to banish far from us the spirit of the world which You have condemned.

You shall be King over our minds in the simplicity of our faith, and over our hearts by the wholehearted love with which our hearts shall burn for You, and whose flame we shall keep alive by the frequent reception of Your divine Eucharist.

Be so kind, O divine Heart, as to preside over our gatherings, to bless our enterprises, both spiritual and temporal, to dispel our cares, to sanctify our joys, and to comfort our sorrows. If any of us should have the misfortune to offend You, remind him, O Heart of Jesus, that You are good and merciful to the repentant sinner. And when the hour of separation strikes, when death shall come to cast mourning into our midst, we will all, both those who go and those who stay, be submissive to Your eternal decrees. We shall console ourselves with the thought that a day will come when all of us, reunited in heaven, can sing forever Your glories and Your mercies.

May the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the glorious patriarch Saint Joseph present this consecration to You, and keep the memory of it alive in our minds all the days of our life. All glory to the Heart of Jesus, our King and our Father! Amen.

Now pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

    Glory be to Thee, * O Sacred Heart of Jesus, * for the infinite mercy Thou hast bestowed * upon the privileged members of this family. * Thou hast chosen it from thousands of others, * as a recipient of Thy love * and a sanctuary of reparation * wherein Thy most loving Heart shall find consolation * for the ingratitude of men. * How great, O Lord Jesus, * is the confusion of this portion of Thy faithful flock * as we accept the unmerited honor * of seeing Thee preside over our family!

    Silently we adore Thee, * overjoyed to see Thee sharing * under the same roof * the toils, cares and joys of Thy children! * It is true, we are not worthy * that Thou shouldst enter our humble abode, * but Thou hast already reassured us, * when Thou didst reveal Thy Sacred Heart to us, * teaching us to find in the wound of Thy Sacred Side * the source of grace and life everlasting. * In this loving and trusting spirit * we give ourselves to Thee, * Thou who art unchanging Life. * Remain with us, Most Sacred Heart, * for we feel an irresistible desire * to love Thee and make Thee loved.

    May our home be for Thee * a haven as sweet as that of Bethany, * where Thou canst find rest * in the midst of loving friends, * who like Mary * have chosen the better part * in the loving intimacy of Thy Heart! * May this home be for Thee, * O beloved Savior, * a humble but hospitable refuge * during the exile imposed on Thee by Thine enemies.

    Come, then, Lord Jesus, come, * for here as at Nazareth, * we have a tender love for the Virgin Mary, Thy sweet Mother * whom Thou hast given us to be our Mother. * Come, * to fill with Thy sweet presence the vacancies * which misfortune and death have wrought in our midst.

    O most faithful Friend, * hadst Thou been here * in the midst of sorrow, * our tears would have been less bitter; * the comforting balm of peace * would then have soothed these hidden wounds, * which are known to Thee alone. * Come, for even now perhaps, * there is drawing near for us * the twilight of tribulation, * and the decline of the passing days * of our youth and our illusions. * Stay with us, * for already it is late, * and a perverted world seeks to envelop us * in the darkness of its denials * while we wish to adhere to Thee * who alone art the Way * the Truth * and the Life. * Repeat for us those words * Thou didst utter of old: * “This day I must abide in this home.”

    Yes, dear Lord, * take up Thy abode with us, * so that we may live in Thy love * and in Thy presence, * we who proclaim Thee as our King * and wish no other! * May Thy triumphant Heart, O Jesus, * be forever loved, * blessed, * and glorified * in this home! * Thy Kingdom Come! Amen!

The ceremony ends with a short litany:

1. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
2. Have mercy on us!
3. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
4. Have mercy on us!
5. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
6. Have mercy on us!
7. Immaculate Heart of Mary
8. Pray for us.
9. St. Joseph
10. Pray for us.
11. St. Margaret Mary
12. Pray for us.

All: Glory to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus forever and ever! Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Amen.

© Debra Black and the Face of Grace Project, all rights reserved. Permission granted to use this material with the following attribution: “Adapted from original courtesy of The Face of Grace Project https://thefaceofgraceproject.com/

 Photo: Maria_Droste_zu_Vischering_and_the_Sacred_Heart_of_Jesus Public Domain from Wikimedia.org