Sacred Heart of Jesus Novena

The Sacred Heart of Jesus Novena is a prayer practiced over nine consecutive days to honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus has been an important part of Catholic spirituality for centuries.

History of the Sacred Heart Devotion

The devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus took its present form through the apparitions experienced by St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a French nun, between 1673 and 1675. In these apparitions, Jesus asked that His Sacred Heart be honored as a symbol of His boundless love for humanity.

Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Through St. Margaret Mary, Jesus gave 12 promises to those who honor His Sacred Heart:

1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state in life.
2. I will establish peace in their families.
3. I will comfort them in their trials.
4. I will be their secure refuge during life, and, above all, in death.
5. I will shed abundant blessings on all their undertakings.
6. Sinners will find in My Heart an infinite ocean of mercy.
7. Tepid souls will become fervent.
8. Fervent souls will rapidly grow in holiness and perfection.
9. I will bless every place where an image of My Heart shall be exposed and honored.
10. I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.
11. The names of those who promote this devotion will be written in My Heart, never to be blotted out.
12. I promise you, in the excessive mercy of My Heart, that My all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Friday of nine consecutive months, the grace of final penitence; they shall not die in My disgrace nor without receiving their Sacraments; My Divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.

Sacred Heart Novena Prayer

Here is a prayer that can be used for the Sacred Heart of Jesus Novena over nine days:

How to Pray the Sacred Heart Novena

This novena is typically prayed for nine consecutive days. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross.
2. Recite the Sacred Heart Novena prayer above.
3. Add your specific intentions (optional).
4. Pray one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.
5. End with the closing prayer: "Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in You."

Special Times for the Novena

Although the Sacred Heart of Jesus Novena can be prayed at any time throughout the year, the most appropriate time is the nine days before the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which is celebrated on the Friday following the Feast of Corpus Christi.

Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is also closely linked to the First Friday practice, where the faithful are invited to receive Holy Communion on the first Friday of each month for nine consecutive months, in response to the twelfth promise given by Jesus to St. Margaret Mary.