WHAT IS AN ENTHRONEMENT TO THE SACRED HEART?
The Sacred Heart Enthronement is a Christian ceremony where Christ is officially invited to enter as a King, Savior and friend to your home, school, business or organization. When we honor the heart of Christ we seek to live out an authentic relationship with Christ and provide Him with a new way to bless us with graces.
The Sacred Heart Enthronement was a direct request from Christ as revealed to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the Promises to those who venerate the Sacred Heart.
We are called to not only hang a picture in our house but also learn how to honor our Lord through loving Him and welcoming Him into our daily life. This promise was one of twelve powerful incentives for those who take time to live out a true faith in Christ. This devotion is a way to be transformed by Christ’s love and allow Him to transform you and your life.
WHY ENTHRONE THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS IN YOUR HOME?
“The Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in your home is an act of adoration that publicly declares Jesus as ‘Lord of the House’. Christ is promising to bless families and individuals who honor Him with the installation of a blessed image of His Sacred Heart.” (Sacred Heart Enthronement Network Manual)
Our God is a God of love, and we need to remember that He wants to be invited into our lives.
“And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Luke 11:9-10)
Our Lord stands at the door of our heart and home waiting to be invited in; it is up to us to answer and open the door.
SUGGESTED PRACTICES OF ENTHRONEMENT:
- PREPARATION:
Like any big moment in your life, you prepare for it and then enjoy the moment! This is a day where you allow the Lord to work in your life in a new way. A wonderful aspect of this devotion is the preparation stage for an Enthronement to the Sacred Heart. Whenever you plan to have a guest over you clean up, go to the store, prepare food, set the table, and plan the evening based on the needs and expectations of the guest that is planning to visit. This is also true with the need to spiritually prepare for the Enthronement to the Sacred Heart. This preparation begins with the intention to welcome Christ into your heart and home. We have a full video series set up to help a family learn more with just one click. Check it out!
- CONSIDER INVOKING THE HELP OF THE BLESSED MOTHER:
Mary brings us to Jesus. We implore Mary’s assistance and intercession throughout this stage of spiritual preparation for the Enthronement to the Sacred Heart. Mary is our mother who desires for our families to be renewed, restored and blessed by Christ. Mary brings us to Jesus and teaches us how to pray much as she did for the young children of Fatima.
- ENTHRONEMENT DAY:
For many families, this is the moment where they can declare for the first time the words from Joshua 24:15, “As for Me and My House We Shall Serve the Lord.” We serve Christ and in return, he reigns over our lives and is there to help us! Consider inviting your priest, family, friends, neighbors or relatives over to enjoy the fruits of this big decision to give your life to Christ in a new way.
We enthrone Christ and seek to love Him, in contrast to many families in this age who have dethroned Him and become indifferent to their Catholic faith. “Like Mary and Joseph, like the shepherds and the three kings, we want to give You a royal welcome as they did when they adored You in Your humble home of Bethlehem.” We desire to offer Christ a living throne in our hearts and homes. T
”The LORD sits enthroned above.” (Psalm 29:10)
On Enthronement Day the head of the family/organization carries the image of the Sacred Heart to a place of honor, the participants pray together and consecrates their group to our Lord, the covenant is signed and the celebration begins! Remember, we go to Christ because we want Him to help us. Do not feel unworthy but rather grateful for what He offers. Bring your troubles to our Lord!
“We can talk to our children all day about how God is important and that they should pray, but it doesn’t always sink in. I would strongly recommend enthronement as a way to make a “sacred space” in the home, to invite the family to prayer. When the children see the parents pray, they will know it’s important and will follow. When they see the occasional loving gaze toward His image, they’ll know that God is loved in the home, and they know that God loves in return.” (Jeff Bernard of Columbus, Ohio, writing about enthroning the Sacred Heart in his home)
LIVING OUT A LIFE DEVOTED TO THE SACRED HEART:
“The Enthronement doesn’t add any new obligations to the ones you already have; it simply renews in a striking visible way the vows you made on the day of your baptism; to accept all of God’s teachings and HIs laws and to renounce the devil and all his pomps and works.” (Rev. Francis Larkin)
Recommended Practices after the Enthronement:
- The celebration of the Eucharist, as often as possible and especially on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation
- Faithful use of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and being open to forgiving others and accepting their forgiveness.
- Gathering before the Sacred Image to pray, recite the rosary, read the Bible, or speak heart-to-heart with Jesus.
- Eucharistic Adoration
- Monthly First Friday and First Saturday celebrations
* Visit www.enthronements.com to order a self-enthronement kit or if you live in the Columbus, OH, Detroit, MI, or Birmingham, AL Diocese consider having a Sacred Heart Missionary team assist with the Enthronement.
SACRED HEART OF JESUS, HAVE MERCY ON US!
