ENTHRONEMENT TO THE HOLY HEARTS OF JESUS & MARY
OBJECT & SPIRIT OF THE ENTHRONEMENT
WHAT DOES "ENTHRONEMENT" MEAN?
The Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ means the official and social recognition of the loving Kingship of the Heart of Jesus in the Christian family. The family shows this recognition by giving the image of the Sacred Heart a place of honor in the home and dedicating itself to Him by an act of consecration. In this way the family is brought under the divine influence of the merciful Heart of Jesus, which asserts itself in all the events of family life.
The Enthronement is like a recognition of the living presence of Christ in the home, where His Divine Merciful Heart, as King of Love, is the source, center, and summit of all contemplation, conversation, and activity within the home, attracting and inspiring all members of the family. It is more than a mere veneration of the image of the Sacred Heart or a one-time commemoration. It is a "way of life," a permanent state of true devotion, co-redemption, and love, full of grace, peace, and joy.
The Enthronement is likewise a complete realization of all the desires of the Sacred Heart revealed to Saint Margaret Mary. Enthroned in a family which is wholly imbued with Divine charity, Jesus lives with its members as with His very own, directing and supernaturalizing their intimate home life. The home becomes His sanctuary. He is its King and Friend, reigning over it by love, receiving ardent love and tender reparation from His devoted subjects, bestowing in return untold graces, and filling each heart with peace and happiness.
By the act of Enthronement of the Sacred Heart, the family fulfills at the same time a duty of justice toward our Divine Savior. For He is in very deed its King, its Lord and Master by virtue of His Divine nature and His work of Redemption. It fulfills, moreover, the further duty, which devolves upon every truly Christian family, of rendering solemn reparation to the King of Love, by proclaiming the Divine rights of the Sacred Heart ---- rights which in our present age are so shamefully ignored by a godless, perverted world.
The keynote of the Enthronement is Our Lord's desire to reign over mankind as King of Love. Jesus desires to reign by love and to communicate this love, as He did at Nazareth and Bethany. At Nazareth He was the King of Love in His own home; at Bethany He reigned as King of Love in a devoted family, the prototype of all Christian families of later ages, over which He desires to rule supreme as King of Love and Mercy. By the Enthronement and a subsequent life of devotedness, the family recognizes and proclaims in a special way this Kingship of Jesus Christ, so utterly ignored by the world.
What more royal mark of homage, in truth, could a Catholic family render to the Sacred Heart than to enthrone Him as King of the home? In so doing, the members testify their complete submission to Him and their unchanging devotedness, which they intend to prove by sacrifices and marks of tender affection. What a consoling thought is this for the members of a family: Our Lord has deigned to enter our home! He is with us, full of love and kindness; in Him we can take refuge in all our needs. He has made our home His dwelling. His powerful blessing rests upon our family and upon each one of us!
THE ENTHRONEMENT MUST BE "LIVED"
However, as already intimated, there is question not merely of an exterior sign, beautiful though it be, nor of a mere act of homage, however solemn. The Enthronement must not be a mere external formality, a pious momentary impulse; nor must it be accepted and made in the spirit of a kind compliance with the solicitations of a friend. No, it is and must remain a serious act, performed after mature reflection, by virtue of which Our Lord Jesus Christ is willingly and lovingly acknowledged as the true Head and Ruler of the family.
The outward ceremony must betoken the interior spirit, the beginning of a life of faith and love. In other words, the Enthronement must be LIVED. It must imply the family's intention to live in close union with the Heart of Jesus and in accordance with His desires, a truly Christian life, worthy of their chosen and honored King.
The Act of Consecration itself may be looked upon as a transitory act. But the Enthronement is a fixed condition, a state, by virtue of which the spirit of the holy Gospel becomes the guide, the rule and the soul of the home where the Sacred Heart of Jesus reigns supreme.
Jesus must be invited to participate in all family affairs; He must be asked to sanctify all the details of the home life by His blessed presence. He must really preside everywhere; everything must be done "beneath His eye" and according to His desires. With Him the family shares its joys and sorrows, good or evil fortune, and in sharing them, gives Him glory and deepens the joy or lessens the pain that life inevitably brings.
Living nobly because Jesus so willed is the real proof of our love for Him, To remain unchanged in our love for God, whether the light of His smile surrounds us or the shadow of His hand lies heavy upon us, is magnanimous friendship. It is this friendship that is brought about by the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart in the home, when it is lived as it is intended to be lived. By the Enthronement and under the influence of the Sacred Heart, each member of the family learns intimacy with Jesus. In all the events of life, the individual as well as the family as a group turns with confidence and love to Jesus and makes his own life one with His.
THE ENTHRONEMENT SANCTIFIES THE FAMILY
The family is the foundation, the nucleus of human society. Just as a plant is composed of cells, so human society is composed of the cells of families, and the healthier the cells, the better the plant thrives. In the bosom of the family, the human being receives its existence, its life of body and soul. There the first training and education are imparted to the child; there the character is formed, the ideals shaped and molded.
The condition of the family establishes the condition of the parish, of the state, of the whole Church. If each family is truly Christian, the entire parish will be so; likewise, the diocese, the whole Catholic population. What then can be of greater importance for the Church than the sanctification of the family?
A Christian family without love for Christ, without the protection of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, is in danger of being corrupted by the spirit of worldliness, whose fetid breath stifles all devotion and fear of God. The imperative condition, then, for extending the reign of Christ over mankind is the restoration of families in Christ.
The Enthronement, ordained by Divine Providence and highly recommended by the Sovereign Pontiffs, is a powerful means to preserve and sanctify the family. It is a most efficacious means for the Christian education of children. It enkindles love for the Sacred Heart in the members of the family and encourages frequent and devout attendance at Mass and reception of Holy Communion. It is a strong rampart against the seductive influences and teachings of the modem corrupted world. It brings about, as a logical sequence, a marked increase in vocations. For all these reasons, the solemn Enthronement of the Sacred Heart in families ranks as a work of the greatest consequence.
THE ENTHRONEMENT & THE CHRISTIAN EDUCATION OF CHILDREN
One of the most important factors in family life, and for society in general, is the Christian training of children in the home. To give children a Christian training means to instruct them solidly in all the essential truths of our holy Faith. To give them a Christian training means to set them a good example in prayer and the practice of virtue. To give them a Christian training means to school them in self-renunciation and patience in Buffering. The influence of Christian family life is absolutely necessary for a Christian education. The seeds of piety must be implanted in the receptive hearts of children in the bosom of the family.
The Catholic school is equally important. Teachers must be animated by a Christian spirit, and the school must continue and complete the Christian education of children. But Holy Church can do little and the school still less with children who do not receive religious training and influence at home.
Our Catholic children are exposed to numberless dangers. They are surrounded by the tainted spirit of the world, with its poisonous atmosphere, its loose morals, its shameless fashions, sinful amusements and excessive love for comfort and pleasure. Piety and the love of God may easily grow cold; good morals and religious principles too often suffer shipwreck.
For this reason, children must be carefully trained at home and brought within the loving, grace-giving influence of the Sacred Heart. He alone can enkindle a personal, loyal love for Himself in their hearts, and thus enable them to remain true to His Commandments.
THE ENTHRONEMENT PRESERVES THE SANCTITY OF MATRIMONY
Another effect of the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart in families is the preservation of the sanctity of matrimony. How frightfully the modem world has sinned against this sacred institution, the very root and foundation of society! Marriage is entered into lightly, with little or no thought of its sacramental character, or of its permanence and responsibilities. Divorce is sanctioned everywhere, and that on the flimsiest pretexts. Numberless influences tend to corrupt and desecrate the married state, and the evil fruits of this unhappy condition are manifesting themselves to an alarming degree even among Catholics.
The only remedy for these evils is a return to true Christianity, to Jesus Christ, the Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier of families. Not until the full sacredness of the state of matrimony is recognized will the world change for the better.
For the fulfillment of the duties of married life, the grace of God is necessary. Our Lord has promised this grace to those who venerate His Sacred Heart: I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life. Jesus Christ must again be proclaimed and venerated as the King, the life, the bond of union in the family. The Enthronement, rightly lived, will nourish and preserve this spirit.
In his allocutions to newly-married couples, the late Pope Pius XII frequently urged them to enthrone the image of the Sacred Heart in their homes and to consecrate themselves to Him. "In the revelations, full of love," he said on one occasion, "our Savior promised, among other things, that 'wherever the image of His Heart shall be exposed to be singularly honored, it will bring down all sorts of blessings'. Having confidence in the Divine word, you can and will surely want to assure to yourselves the benefits of so great a promise, keeping and properly honoring in your homes the image of the Sacred Heart . . . It is fitting, then, dear Christian husbands and wives, brethren of Jesus, that the image of His Heart 'which has so loved men,' be exposed and honored in your homes, like that of the nearest and most loved relative who pours out the treasures of His blessings upon you, your children, and your undertakings.
"Exposed and honored. That is to say, this image should not only watch over your hours of rest in a private chamber, but it should be loyally honored by being hung above the entrance, or in the dining room or parlor or in some other frequently used place. 'Everyone therefore that shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in Heaven' [Matt. 10:32] . . ."
"Honored means that at least now and then an attentive hand will place before the precious little statue or modest image of the Sacred Heart a few flowers, or a lighted candle, or even keep a lamp burning there; and that the family will gather round it each evening for a united act of homage, an humble expression of contrition, and a request for new blessings.
"In a word, the Sacred Heart is duly honored in a home when He is acknowledged as the King of Love by each and every one; which is to say that the family is consecrated to Him, inasmuch as the total giving of oneself to a holy cause or a holy person is called consecration. The Sacred Heart of Jesus has pledged Himself to heap special blessings upon those who give themselves to Him in this manner . . .
"But he who consecrates himself should also fulfill the obligations that such an act imposes. When the Sacred Heart reigns in a family, and surely He has the right to reign everywhere, it is necessary that an atmosphere of faith and piety envelop everyone and everything in that blessed household . . . In the consecrated family, parents and children feel themselves under the eye of God and friendly with Him; they are therefore observant of His Commandments and the precepts of His Church. Before the image of the King of Heaven, become their earthly Friend and constant Guest, they fearlessly and meritoriously meet all the labors of their daily duties . . .
"May it be so with you, my dear sons and daughters! Living united with Jesus even in this life, receiving Him frequently in Holy Communion, venerating His image daily, you shall only leave this earth to contemplate eternally the bright and beatific reality of that Divine Heart in Heaven."
[Address entitled: "The Reign of the Sacred Heart in the Christian Family," June 5, 1940, The Holy Father Speaks to Newlyweds, N.C.W.C., Wash. D.C., p. 27-28.]
THE ENTHRONEMENT AND THE EUCHARISTIC LIFE
The intimate and inseparable bond between the Enthronement and Eucharistic life has been stressed from the beginning of this crusade of love and reparation. This has always been the keystone of the work of the Enthronement, the secret of its fruitfulness, the touchstone of its success.
In his first pamphlet on the Enthronement, Father Mateo declared that it was his intention to unite the two tabernacles: that of the Altar and that of the Home. He desired, he said, to make the home, so to speak, a continuation of the Eucharistic life ---- daily Mass and Communion extending their influence over the daily life of the family.
This desire ran as a golden thread through all his preaching: and as the years passed, he urged with ever-increasing intensity that the families of the Sacred Heart be imbued with a Eucharistic spirit; that they assist as frequently as possible at Holy Mass and be the guests of the King at His Eucharistic Banquet, and that they "live" the Mass throughout the day.
In the circular letter he addressed to the Secretariates of the entire world in 1917, Father Mateo said: "You desire and you are bringing it about that the urgent demand of the Sacred Heart concerning the Eucharist and all the practices connected with this request be carried out by those who have given Him the place of honor in their home, and who know that He longs to be loved in His home, the church, in the Sacrament of His Love. The family which has received Him in His Eucharistic Tabernacle takes Him to its family tabernacle, there to keep Him by faith, by prayer and love. Thus you are forming generations of Eucharistic families."
And again, in 1925, he wrote: "Work to develop the flame of the Eucharistic spirit in families which have enthroned the King. Tell them over and over that behind the picture we must at all costs have the reality; that the King of Love Himself must preside over the family. More and more this thought takes possession of me: we must impregnate families with the Eucharistic spirit! We shall never fully anticipate the marvelous effects which flow from the intimate union between the Tabernacle of the King and that of His true friends, between the Eucharistic Tabernacle and the tabernacle of the home."
A final quotation from an article addressed to members of the Legion of Mary in 1943 will show that Father Mateo never changed the doctrinal basis of this crusade: "Jesus, the King whom we enthrone in the family, must be someone real, someone living . . . The image of the Sacred Heart which we put in the place of honor in the house is, in fact, not more than a beautiful symbol representing a Divine reality. Consequently, the King of Love whom we should preach in season and out of season while making the Enthronement is the Sacred Heart of the Altar and of the Tabernacle. We want to unite the home and the Tabernacle with a bond as strong as death. Gently, but finally, with delicacy and energy, we must achieve the creation of a Eucharistic environment wherever the Heart of Jesus has been enthroned. Yes, our goal is to achieve the transformation of Catholic homes into Tabernacles. It is a living Jesus whom one goes to receive at the Holy Table, and it is a living Jesus whom one takes home and guards there. The image of the Sacred Heart which one honors in the home is meant merely to recall constantly to the friends of Bethany this doctrine of Eucharistic love."
A POWERFUL AID TO PASTORS
As the Enthronement creates an intimate relationship between the church and the home, and results in greater love for the Eucharist, so also it creates a close relationship between priests and families. The Enthronement is therefore a powerful aid to the pastor, for by its means the zeal of the flock entrusted to him will be rekindled and sustained.
Families in which the Sacred Heart reigns and which nourish the spirit of the Enthronement will be for the pastor a staunch support upon which he can confidently rely.
Because of its great importance, the presence of a priest at the Enthronement has always been urged by the founder of the work and by the Church itself. Whenever possible, it should be presided over by one of the parish priests, + who thus has a splendid opportunity of meeting entire families, some of whom might never be contacted otherwise. Many priests have experienced the beneficial results of these contacts.
+ If the parish priests are unable to be present for the ceremony; any priest may preside ---- for instance, a friend or relative of the family. If no priest is available, the head of the family, father or mother, or some other member, may preside.
THE ENTHRONEMENT AND OUR TIME
A REMEDY FOR PRESENT-DAY EVILS
Pope Pius XI, whose far-seeing vision so correctly discerned the needs and the evils of the times, once said to Father Mateo during a private audience: "We are living the darkest hour that mankind has lived since the deluge." However, in a hopeful tone he immediately added: "But the Church has a wonderful hope, the greatest hope: We are living in its fullness the hour of the Sacred Heart!" ---- And that hour, says Father Mateo, will be glorious in the measure that Jesus Chris becomes in souls, in homes, in institutions and in countries, the KING ---- Rex regum ---- the King of kings.
It cannot be denied that the evil of the present times lies principally in the family, the cell of human society. If there is to be any hope of betterment, families, one by one, must be restored to Jesus Christ, must be renewed by His Divine Spirit. And the more complete and secure the reign of Christ over families, the more secure will be His reign over society and over nations.
To check the ungodly spirit of our age and to offset its evil consequences, the Popes of modem times have emphatically expressed their wish that all families consecrate themselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. They have requested that individuals, families and nations frequently renew the act of consecration and foster perfect devotedness to this royal, adorable Heart.
Pope St. Pius X adopted as his maxim: "To restore all things in Christ." Pope Benedict XV exhorted all Catholic nations to seek peace and reconciliation in the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Pope Pius XI renewed this act of consecration at the close of the Jubilee Year of 1925, when instituting the Feast of Christ the King, and issued two encyclicals ---- One in 1928 and the other in 1932 ---- urging the necessity of reparation and love. He commanded that a solemn act of reparation be made to our Redeemer on the feast of the Sacred Heart each year, in all the churches of the world, "to make amends for our sins and to compensate for the violation of the rights of Christ, our Sovereign King and most loving Lord."
Pope Pius XII, in his very first encyclical, dedicated his reign to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and declared that " At the head of the road which leads to the spiritual and moral bankruptcy of the present day stand the nefarious efforts of not a few to dethrone Christ . . . In the recognition of the royal prerogatives of Christ . . . lies the only way to salvation." ---- "Summi Pontificatus," N.C.W.C., p. 10.
Yes, the world must once more begin to believe in the Divinity of Jesus Christ, in the true and substantial presence of, Christ among us in the Holy Eucharist, in the dominion of the Sacred Heart. The Enthronement is an efficacious means to bring about this renewal of faith and love.
When nations, families, religious communities and individual souls dedicate themselves wholly to the Heart of Jesus, devote themselves to Him entirely, then will the declaration of the Heart of Jesus be realized: "I will reign despite Satan and his accomplices."
The Enthronement of Jesus means dethronement of Satan. The solemn affirmation of the rights and claims of the One means the formal renunciation of the despotism and tyranny of the other.
The spread of the Enthronement in the families of so many countries, and the wonderful fruits it has produced everywhere, is a proof that this work is destined by Divine Providence precisely as a remedy for our times. According to the desire of the Supreme Pontiffs, the veneration of the Sacred Heart should not be limited to the church, but should be carried into every family circle, in order that home life may be effectively renewed in the true Catholic sense. This should be a powerful aid in the restoration of Christ's kingdom on earth.
A new religious spirit cannot but permeate the family in which the Sacred Heart reigns as King. Such a family will fearlessly and openly profess its faith; it will love and obey the Pope and the Church, and will be a shining example for other families. "When churches are closed, when the image of the Crucified is taken from the school, the family remains the providential and, in a certain sense, impregnable refuge of Christian life." ---- " Summi Pontificatus," p. 38.
With an increased love for our Eucharistic Lord will come also a more tender and filial love for Mary, His Blessed Mother, who will prove herself the loving and compassionate Mother and Queen of the family.
FEAST OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST THE KING
At the close of the Jubilee Year of 1925, Pope Pius XI designated the last Sunday of October to be observed annually as the Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King. When instituting this feast, he issued an inspiring encyclical on the Kingship of Christ and His rights, both human and Divine, to reign over mankind. He repeated the declaration made in an earlier encyclical that the deluge of evils by which mankind was oppressed had flooded the world because so many mortals had put Jesus Christ and His holy law out of their ordinary life, their domestic relations and public affairs; and that the hope of a lasting peace among nations and states would never dawn so long as individual men and states denied and excluded the empire of our Savior.
Inspired with the hope that by this means human society might hasten its return to the most loving Savior, and that the peace of Christ might be restored in the kingdom of Christ, the Holy Father instituted this annual observance of the Kingship of Our Lord.
In his encyclical the Holy Father benevolently acknowledged that the work of the Enthronement had done much to prepare the minds and hearts of Catholics for the feast of Christ the King.
Father Mateo, whose motto during all the years of his laborious apostolate was: THY KINGDOM COME! rejoiced greatly upon the institution of this feast. Recognizing that his own work had prepared the way for a deeper appreciation of the feast, he affirmed: "I do not think that I am wrong in saying that a few years ago the feast of Jesus Christ, the King, would not have had the social weight it will now enjoy, for then it would have lacked the foundation of those thousands, nay, millions, who have enthroned their Lord in the family and have consecrated all its members to the Sacred Heart."
Even before the institution of the feast he had written to the Holy Father: "If liturgically and officially this feast is a new one, the homage which it involves has been practiced for some time past in many countries, thanks to the work of the Enthronement."
That the spirit of the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart is in perfect harmony with the spirit of the feast of the Kingship is shown by the following quotations from the encyclical:
"He [Our Lord] must reign over the human. mind, whose duty it is to adhere steadfastly and firmly and in perfect submission to the truths revealed and to the doctrine of Christ. He must reign over the will, which must obey the laws and precepts of God. He must reign over the soul, which, giving up all lust, must love God above all and cling to Him alone. He must reign over the body and limbs, which are a means to the sanctification of the soul."
"Oh, what blessings we should enjoy if individuals and families and states would allow themselves to be governed by Christ! 'Then, at length,' to use the words of Our Predecessor, Leo XIII, 'it will be possible to heal wounds; then every right will again be held sacred; then will swords be shattered and weapons fall from hands, when all shall accept willingly and obey the empire of Christ, and every tongue confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.' "
May, then, this holy work, so admirably designed for the accomplishment of the desires of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, so highly recommended by the supreme authority of the Church and so salutary for the reform of society through the sanctification of families, continue to grow and expand until the sublime purpose conceived by its founder in the beginning has been fully realized:
To conquer the whole world for the Heart of Jesus,
home after home, family after family!
What must I do to enthrone the Sacred Heart in my home?
Before the Ceremony
1. Learn what it is and how important it is.
2. Set a date for the Enthronement in agreement with the Pastor. It is desirable to have a priest preside at the ceremony, but it is not essential to gain the indulgences. For serious reasons, the father, or someone else may preside and lead the prayers. In any case, please consult your parish priest.
3. If possible have the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass offered that morning for the reign of the Sacred Heart in your home, and as an act of love and reparation to the Sacred Heart. The entire family should try to receive Communion at this Mass, or at another Mass.
4. Obtain as beautiful a picture or statue of the Sacred Heart as possible. If you already have a picture, use that one. [Suitable pictures may be obtained reasonably at a local Catholic shop or on the web.]
5. Below the place of honor reserved for the statue or picture, prepare a "throne" or "altar," that is to say, a table [or perhaps the mantelpiece] covered with a white cloth, beautifully decorated with flowers and candles. The picture or statue should be placed on a small table near this "throne" before the ceremony.
6. Invite your relatives and friends to be present; thus you will already begin to be an "apostle of the Sacred Heart." Have a family party after the ceremony, with a special treat for the children, who, of, course, should be present at the ceremony ---- even the smallest.
7. Make this day one of the outstanding events of the family life ---- one long to be remembered. The greater the solemnity, the better.
Note: Even though your home has been consecrated to the Sacred Heart, you may still have the Enthronement, as the two are not the same.
The Ceremony
1. All gather around the image of the Sacred Heart; father, mother and children nearest to the priest.
2. Priest, in surplice and white stole, blesses the image.
[If no priest is present; have the image blessed beforehand.]
The Blessing of the Picture or Statue
V. Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini.
R. Qui fecit coelum et terram.
V. Dominus vobiscum.
Et cum spiritu tuo.
Oremus. Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui sanctorum tuorum imagines pingi non reprobas, ut quoties illas oculis corporia intuemur, toties eorum actus et sanctitatern ad imitandum memoriae oculis meditemur, hanc quaesumus, imaginem in honorem et memoriam Sacratissimi Cordis Unigeniti Filii tui Domini Nostri J esu Christi adaptatam bene + dicere et sancti + ficare digneris; et praesta ut quicumque coram ilIa, Cor Sacratissimum Unigeniti FilIi tui suppliciter colere et honorare studuerit, illius meritis et obtentu a te gratiam in praesenti, et aeternam gloriam obtineat in futurum. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
V. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
R. Who made Heaven and earth.
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with your spirit.
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 worrship 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.
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 priest here sprinkles the image with holy water.]
3. Then the father [or in his absence, the mother or some other member of the family] enthrones the image in the place of honor prepared for it. This is the symbolic act of Enthronement.
4. All stand while the Apostles' Creed is recited as an act of faith on the part of the family.
5. Everyone is seated while the priest addresses a few words to those present, reminding the members of the family of what the Sacred Heart expects from families which have acknowledged Him as King; recalling the magnificent promises of the Sacred Heart; urging the family to live its Enthronement and frequently to renew the act of consecration which they are about to make.
6. All kneel, while the priest and the father [or father alone, or his representative] recite the official Act of Consecration.
Note: This is the official text composed by Father Ladislaus, SS.CC., and approved by St. Pius X, at the request of the Procurator General of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts by Rescript of May 19, 1908. It was made obligatory to gain the indulgences of the Enthronement by a decision of the Sacred Penitentiary on March 1, 1918. [A.A.8. April 1, 1918, II. 154.] The New Regulations on Indulgences do not grant specifically an indulgence for the Ceremony, but on the Feast of the Sacred Heart, which is the Friday of the Octave Day of Corpus Christi [the Sunday of the Octave occurs after the Second Sunday of Pentecost, which places the Feast after the Third Sunday of Pentecost; for instance, in 1996 this fell on June 15.] a plenary indulgence is granted for reciting on the Feast the Litany of the Sacred Heart, which can be included in the Ceremony. A plenary indulgence is also granted for reciting the following Consecration on the Feast, which is different than the official Act of Consecration given in the Ceremony booklet, but both are suitable:
Act of Consecration to the Human Race
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 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 harbor 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 are still involved in the darkness of idolatry or of Islamism, and refuse not to to draw them all into the light and kingdom of God. Turn Thine eyes of mercy towards 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 be to the divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to It be glory and honor for ever." Amen.
Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
[Recited by the priest and the father together, or father alone, or representative, if no priest is present. At the time that this ceremony was approved by the Holy See, this Act was mandatory for the indulgence, but this indulgence has not been granted for this formula with the New Regulations.]
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, * who didst make known to St. Margaret Mary Thine ardent desire to reign over Christian families, * behold us assembled here today * to proclaim Thine absolute dominion over our home.
Henceforth we purpose to lead a life like unto Thine, * so that amongst us may flourish the virtues * for which Thou didst promise peace on earth, * and for this end * we will banish from our midst * the spirit of the world which Thou dost abhor so much.
Thou wilt reign over our understanding * by the simplicity of our faith. Thou wilt reign over our hearts * by an ardent love for Thee; * and may the flame of this love * be kept burning in our hearts * by the frequent reception of the Holy Eucharist.
Deign, O Divine Heart, * to preside over our meetings, * to bless our undertakings, both spiritual and temporal, * to banish all worry and care, * to sanctify our joys * and soothe our sorrows. * If any of us * should ever have the misfortune to grieve Thy Sacred Heart, * remind him of Thy goodness and mercy * toward the repentant sinner.
Lastly * when the hour of separation will sound * and death will plunge our home into mourning, * then shall we all and everyone of us * be resigned to Thy eternal decrees, * and seek consolation in the thought * that we shall one day be reunited in Heaven, * where we shall sing the praises and blessings of Thy Sacred Heart * for all eternity.
May the Immaculate Heart of Mary * and the glorious Patriarch St. Joseph * offer Thee this our Consecration, * and remind us of the same * all the days of our life.
Glory to the Divine Heart of Jesus, * our King and our Father!
7. The priest here asks those present to say with him ONE Our Father and Hail Mary for all the absent members, both living and dead, so that all may share in the graces of the Enthronement.
8. All recite with the priest [or head of the family] the following:
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 be. loved 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!
9. [All stand] To thank the Immaculate Heart of Mary for the grace of the Enthronement, and to proclaim this loving Mother as the Queen of the home, all recite the Hail Holy Queen. [If so desired, an Act of Consecration to the Heart of Mary may be added, and her image installed near the Sacred Heart.]
10. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus: Have mercy on us! [3 times]
Immaculate Heart of Mary: Pray for us.
St. Joseph: Pray for U.S'.
St. Margaret Mary: Pray for us.
[ALL] Glory to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus forever and ever! Amen.
11. The priest gives his blessing: May the blessing of Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, descend upon you and remain forever. Amen.
12. Then the members of the family and the priest sign the Certificate of the Enthronement, which should be framed and hung near the image of the Sacred Heart or kept in the family vault.
After the ceremony, send in name and address of family to a Local Center or to the National Center. Give date of ceremony, name of officiating priest, if any, and parish.
Hail, Holy Queen (Salve, Regina)
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy; hail our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us. And after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
O Mary, Virgin most powerful and Mother of mercy, Queen of Heaven and Refuge of sinners, I consecrate myself to thine Immaculate Heart.
I consecrate to thee my very being and my whole life; all that I have, all that I love, all that I am. To thee I give my body, my heart and my soul; to thee I give my home, my family, my country. We desire that all that is in me and around me may belong to thee, and may share in the benefits of thy motherly benediction. And that this act of consecration may be truly efficacious and lasting, I renew this day at thy feet the promises of my Baptism and my first Holy Communion. I pledge myself to profess courageously and at all times the truths of our holy Faith, and to live as befits a Catholic who is duly submissive to all the directions of the Pope and the Bishops in communion with him. I pledge myself to keep the commandments of God and His Church, in particular to keep holy the Lord's Day. I likewise pledge myself to make the consoling practices of the Christian religion, and above all, Holy Communion, an integral part of my life, in so far as I may be able so to do. Finally, I promise thee, O glorious Mother of God and loving Mother of men, to devote myself whole-heartedly to the service of thy blessed cult, in order to hasten and assure, through the sovereignty of thine Immaculate Heart, the coming of the kingdom of the Sacred Heart of thine adorable Son, in my own heart and in those of all men, in our country and in all the world, as in Heaven, so on earth. Amen.
Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
I, N... N ... give myself and consecrate to the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ, my person and my life, my actions, pains and sufferings, so that I may be unwilling to make use of any part of my being, save to honor, love and glorify the Sacred Heart.
This is my unchanging purpose, namely, to be all His, and to do all things for the love of Him, at the same time renouncing with all my heart whatever is displeasing to Him.
I therefore take Thee, O Sacred Heart, to be the only object of my love, the guardian of my life, my assurance of salvation, the remedy of my weakness and inconstancy, the atonement for all the faults of my life and my sure refuge at the hour of death.
Be then, O Heart of goodness, my justification before God Thy Father, and turn away from me the strokes of His righteous anger. O Heart of love, I put all my confidence in Thee, for I fear everything from my own wickedness and frailty, but I hope for all things from Thy goodness and bounty.
Do Thou consume in me all that can displease Thee or resist Thy holy will; let Thy pure love imprint Thee so deeply upon my heart, that I shall nevermore be able to forget Thee or to be separated from Thee; may I obtain from all Thy loving kindness the grace of having my name written in Thee, for in Thee I desire to place all my happiness and all my glory, living and dying in very bondage to Thee.
Written by St. Margaret Mary Alacoque