Preparation before the Ceremony

Set a date for the Enthronement that is significant in the family. It may be the Feast of the Sacred Heart, or another important feast day, or even a special date in the life of the family, for example the parent’s wedding anniversary. Organise with a priest to preside at the ceremony, although this is not essential to gain the indulgences. If a priest is unable to be obtained, the father, or someone else may preside and lead the prayers.

To prepare spiritually for this great occasion is important. You can pray a novena (9 days) in the lead up to the day, or at least a triduum of prayer (3 days). Confess you sins during this time, and if possible, assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass the morning of the Enthronement. Offer the Holy Mass as an act of love and reparation to the Sacred Heart, and for the reign of the Sacred Heart in your hearts and home. The entire family should attend, and receive Communion at this Mass.

Obtain as beautiful a picture or statue of the Sacred Heart as possible. If you already have a picture, use that one. Place the image/statue in a place of honour, on the mantelpiece, for example, and  prepare a “throne” or “altar,” covering it with a white cloth, and decorate with flowers and candles.

Invite 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 will be present at the ceremony—even the smallest.

Make this day a great event of your family life to be remembered with great solemnity. Mark the date and celebrate your anniversary every year, including a reaffirmation of your commitment to the Sacred Heart.

ENTHRONEMENT OF THE SACRED HEART

The Ceremony

All gather around the image of the Sacred Heart, with the father, mother and children nearest to the priest. The family kneels before the image.

Priest, vested in surplice and white stole, blesses the image. (If no priest is to be present get the image blessed beforehand.)

The Blessing of a Picture or Statue of the Sacred Heart

(LATIN)

V. Adjutorium Nostrum in nomine Domini.

R. Qui fecit cœlum et terram.

V. Dominus vobiscum.

R. Et cum spiritu tuo.

Oremus.

Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, qui Sanctorum tuorum imagines sculpi aut pingi non reprobas, ut quoties illas oculis corporis intuemur, toties eorum actus et sanctitatem ad imitandum memoriæ oculis meditemur, hanc quæsumus, imaginem (seu sculpturam) in honorem et memoriam Sacratissimi Cordis Unigeniti Filii tui Domini Nostri Jesu Christi, adaptatam bene+dicere et sancti+ficare digneris; et præsta, ut quicumque coram illa, Cor Sacratissimum Unigeniti Filii tui suppliciter colere et honorare studuerit, illius meritis et obtentu a te gratiam in præsenti, et æternam gloriam obtineat in futurum. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.

Ultimo aspergat aqua benedicta

(ENGLISH)

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 thy spirit. 

Let us pray.

Almighty, everlasting God, who dost not forbid us to represent Thy Saints in stone or in paint, so that, as often as we gaze upon their likeness with the eyes of the body, we may with the eyes of the mind meditate upon their holiness and be led to imitate their deeds. In Thy kindness we implore Thee, to bless and sanctify these images (statues) made in honour and in memory of the Most Sacred Heart of Thy only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. May all who in their presence, humbly strive to serve and honour the Most Sacred Heart of Thy only begotten Son, may obtain through His merits and intercession grace in this life and eternal glory in the world to come. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The priest sprinkles the image with holy water

Enthronement of the Image

Then the father [or in his absence, the mother or some other member of the family] enthrones the image in the place of honour prepared for it. This is the symbolic act of Enthronement.

All stand while the Apostle’s Creed is recited as an act of faith on the part of the family.

Apostle’s Creed

I believe God, the Father the Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, Our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father the Almighty, from whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.

Everyone is seated while the priest addresses a few words to those present, reminding the members of the family of the significance of the enthronement of the Sacred Heart, and what He expects from families which have acknowledged Him as King, such as obedience, confidence, and love. He recalls 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.

All kneel, while the priest and the father [or father alone, or his representative] recite the official Act of Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Act of Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

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; 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 are still involved in the darkness of idolatry or of Islamism; 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 Saviour; 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 Honour forever. Amen.

Saint Andrew Daily Missal, p. 1906, Indulgence of 300 days each time it is said. On the feast of Christ the King and the Sacred Heart of Jesus, when solemnly read with the Litany of the Sacred Heart before the Blessed Sacrament exposed one can gain 7 years indulgence and 7 quarantines, and a plenary indulgence supposing Confession and Holy Communion. The Act of Reparation below carries the same indulgence but only on the Feast of the Sacred Heart. This is the official text first composed by Father Ladislaus, SS.CC., and approved by His Holiness Pope Saint 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 an Enthronement by a decision of the Sacred Penitentiary on March 1, 1918.

Act of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

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 offences, 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 each and every deplorable outrage committed against Thee; we are determined to make amends for the manifold offences against Christian modesty in unbecoming dress and behaviour, for all the foul seductions laid to ensnare the feet of the innocent, for the frequent violations 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 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 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 Thy eternal Father on the cross and which Thou dost 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 one day come to that happy home, where Thou with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest God, world without end. Amen.

Act of Consecration by Family to the Sacred Heart

The priest and the father recite together, or the father alone, or his representative, if no priest is present. This Act is mandatory to gain the indulgence.

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!

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.

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 honour 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 Saviour, 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.” (Luke 19:5)

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!

Sacred Heart of Jesus, Thy Kingdom come! (Thrice)

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us

St Joseph, pray for us.

St Pius X, pray for us

St Margaret Mary Alacoque, pray for us

St Claude de la Colombière, pray for us

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

(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 (Salve Regina). It is also suggested, the Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary be prayed here, and her image installed near the Sacred Heart.

Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

O Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth, and tender Mother of men, in accordance with thy ardent wish made known at Fatima, I consecrate to thy Immaculate Heart myself, my brethren, my country and the whole human race.

Reign over us, Most Holy Mother of God, and teach us how to make the Heart of Thy Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ reign and triumph in us even as It has reigned and triumphed in thee. Reign over us, dearest Mother, that we may be thine in prosperity and in adversity; in joy and in sorrow; in health and in sickness; in life and in death.

O most compassionate Heart of Mary, Queen of Virgins, watch over our minds and our hearts and preserve them from the deluge of impurity which thou didst lament so sorrowfully at Fatima. We want to be pure like thee. We want to atone for the many sins committed against Jesus and thee. We want to call down upon our country and the whole world the peace of God in justice and charity. Therefore, we now promise to imitate thy virtues by the practice of a Christian life without regard to human respect. We resolve to receive Holy Communion on the First Saturday of every month and to offer thee five decades of the rosary each day together with our sacrifices in a spirit of reparation and penance. Amen.

Act of Reparation to the Immaculate Heart

Most Holy Virgin, and our beloved Mother, we listen with grief to the complaints of thy Immaculate Heart, surrounded with thorns which ungrateful men place therein at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. Moved by the ardent desire of loving thee as our Mother and of promoting true devotion to thy Immaculate Heart, we prostrate ourselves at thy feet to prove the sorrow we feel for the grief that men cause thee and to atone by means of our prayers and sacrifices for the offences with which men return thy tender love. Obtain for them and for us the pardon of so many sins. A word from thee will obtain grace and forgiveness for us all. Hasten O Lady, the conversion of sinners, that they may love Jesus and cease to offend God, already so much offended, and thus avoid eternal punishment. Turn thine eyes of mercy toward us so that henceforth we may love God with all our hearts while on earth and enjoy Him forever in Heaven. Amen.

Blessing of the Priest

May the blessing of Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, descend upon you and remain forever. Amen.

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.