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History
Between 1673 and 1675, Our Lord revealed to the world His Sacred Heart through St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a religious sister of the order of the Visitation of Our Lady, at Paray-le-Monial in Burgundy, France.1
Our Lord asked that we develop a devotion to His Sacred Heart, especially in the Blessed Sacrament, so that we can learn more about the love Our Lord has for us and in turn increase our love for Him.1
The 12 Promises
Our Lord promised special graces (the 12 promises) for those who commit to this Devotion for nine consecutive First Fridays.1
- I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.
- I will establish peace in their families.
- I will console them in all their difficulties.
- I will shed abundant blessings upon all their undertakings.
- Sinners shall find in My Heart a fountain and boundless ocean of mercy.
- Tepid souls shall become fervent.
- Fervent souls shall rise speedily to great perfection.
- I will bless every house in which the image of My Heart shall be exposed and honored.
- I will be their refuge during life and especially at the hour of death.
- I will give to priests the power of touching the hardest hearts.
- Those who propagate this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart never to be blotted out.
- I promise in the excessive mercy of My Heart, that My all-powerful love will grant to all who receive Holy Communion on the first Friday of the month for nine consecutive months, the grace of final penitence; they shall not die in My displeasure nor without their sacraments: My Divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.
Motive
Before starting, please remember that for the devotion to bear fruit, our motive must be that we love Christ and that we desire to make reparation for the outrages committed against the Sacred Heart in the Blessed Sacrament in the past and even today.
Schedule
Our Lord asked that this devotion be practiced on the First Friday after the Feast of Corpus Christi and on the First Friday of every month.1
Structure
- To begin this devotion, choose a month to begin this devotion and commit to this practice for nine consecutive First Fridays.
- Go to confession prior to the upcoming Friday
- [If possible] On the night before the First Friday, visit the Blessed Sacrament and meditate on His Sacred Heart, His love for us, His Passion and His death.
- On the day of the First Friday:
- Commit all your actions of the day to His Sacred Heart
- [If possible] Visit the Blessed Sacrament for the five (5) intentions
- Attend Mass and worthily receive Holy Communion
- Recite the Act of Reparation
- Recite the Act of Consecration
- Recite the Litany to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Pray the Rosary
The Five Intentions
First: Dear Lord, thank You for Your love in instituting the Blessed Eucharist.
Second: Dear Lord, thank You for the times I have received the Blessed Sacrament and all the blessings I have received.
Third: Dear Lord, I will make reparation for the outrages You have suffered from infidels and heretics.
Fourth: Dear Lord, I will make reparation for the “irreverences, impieties and sacrileges” which You have suffered from Catholics.
Fifth: Dear Lord, I adore You in spirit in all the churches where the Blessed Sacrament is present, but forgotten.
Act of Reparation2
O sweetest Jesus, whose overflowing charity towards men is most ungratefully repaid by such great forgetfulness, neglect and contempt, see, prostrate before Thy altars, we strive by special honor to make amends for the wicked coldness of men and the contumely with which Thy most loving Heart is everywhere treated.
At the same time, mindful of the fact that we too have sometimes not been free from unworthiness, and moved therefore with most vehement sorrow, in the first place we implore Thy mercy on us, being prepared by voluntary expiation to make amends for the sins we have ourselves committed, and also for the sins of those who wander far from the way of salvation, whether because, being obstinate in their unbelief, they refuse to follow Thee as their shepherd and leader, or because, spurning the promises of their Baptism, they have cast off the most sweet yoke of Thy law.
We now endeavor to expiate all these lamentable crimes together, and it is also our purpose to make amends for each one of them severally:
For the want of modesty in life and dress, for impurities, for so many snares set for the minds of the innocent, for the violation of feast days, for the horrid blasphemies against Thee and Thy saints, for the insults offered to Thy Vicar and to the priestly order, for the neglect of the Sacrament of Divine love or its profanation by horrible sacrileges, nd lastly for the public sins of nations which resist the rights and the teaching authority of the Church which Thou hast instituted.
Would that we could wash away these crimes with our own blood! And now, to make amends for the outrage offered to the Divine honor, we offer to Thee the same satisfaction which Thou didst once offer to Thy Father on the Cross and which Thou dost continually renew on our altars, we offer this conjoined with the expiations of the Virgin Mother and of all the Saints, and of all pious Christians, promising from our heart that so far as in us lies, with the help of Thy grace, we will make amends for our own past sins, and for the sins of others, and for the neglect of Thy boundless love, by firm faith, by a pure way of life, and by a perfect observance of the Gospel law, especially that of charity; we will also strive with all our strength to prevent injuries being offered to Thee, and gather as many as we can to become Thy followers.
Receive, we beseech Thee, O most benign Jesus, by the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Reparatress, the voluntary homage of this expiation, and vouchsafe, by that great gift of final perseverance, to keep us most faithful until death in our duty and in Thy service, so that at length we may all come to that fatherland, where Thou with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest God for ever and ever.
+ Amen +
Act of Consecration1
Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before Thy 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 Thy Father’s house lest they die of wretchedness and hunger.
Be Thou King of all those who are still involved in the darkness of idolatry or of Islamism, and refuse not to draw them all into the light and kingdom of God. Turn Thine eyes of mercy toward the children of that race, once Thy chosen people. Of old they called down upon themselves the Blood of the Savior; may it now descend upon them a laver of redemption and of 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 honor forever.”
+ Amen +
Sacred Heart of Jesus, Thy Kingdom come!
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in Thee!