Included are the necessary preparations for the Ceremony of Enthronement, the formula for the ceremony itself, suggested practices of devotion, and special occasions when renewal of the Consecration is encouraged.

Preparation for the Ceremony of Enthronement See your pastor or another priest to set a date for the enthronement.

Have entire family receive Holy Communion at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass offered on the day.

Procure a beautiful picture or statue of the Sacred
Heart, if you do not already have one.

Prepare a "throne," a table or mantelpiece. Cover it with white cloth and decorate with flowers and candles. Place picture or statue on small table near "throne." Place pictures of departed and absent family members around "throne." Have holy water handy.

Invite your relatives and friends for the ceremony.

Have a family party after the ceremony. Make the day as solemn as possible.

The Ceremony
All gather around the "throne"; father, mother, and
children nearest priest.

The priest, in surplice and stole, blesses the statue
or picture.

Let us pray

Almighty and everlasting God, who does approve the painting and sculpturing of the images of Your saints, so that as often as we gaze upon them we are reminded to imitate their deeds and sanctity; vouchsafe, we implore You, to bless and sanctify this picture made in honor and in memory of the Most Sacred Heart of Your only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ; and grant that whosoever, in its presence, will suppliantly worship and honor the Most Sacred Heart of Your 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 sprinkles the picture with holy water.

The priest or the father (or in his absence the mother) then installs the picture or statue in its place of honor.

All stand to recite the Apostles' Creed. "I believe in God, the Father almighty..."

The priest then addresses a few words of exhortation to those present.

All kneel. The priest recites the official Act of Consecration.

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, who did make known to St. Margaret Mary Your ardent desire to reign over
Christian families, behold us assembled here today to proclaim Your absolute dominion over our home.

Henceforth we purpose to lead a life like Yours so that among us may flourish the virtues for which You did promise peace on earth, and for this end we will banish from our midst the spirit of the world which You abhor so much.

You will reign over our understanding by the simplicity of our faith. You will reign over our hearts by an ardent love for You; and may the flame of this love be ever 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 Your Sacred Heart, remind him of Your 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 every one of us be resigned to Your eternal decrees, and seek consolation in the thought that we shall all one day be reunited in heaven, where we shall sing the praises and blessings of Your Sacred Heart for all eternity.

May the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the glorious Patriarch St. Joseph offer You 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 absent members, both living and dead.

All recite with the priest the following prayer of thanksgiving:

Glory be to You, O Sacred Heart of Jesus, for the infinite mercy You have bestowed upon the privileged members of this family. You have chosen it from thousands of others, as a recipient of Your Love and a sanctuary of reparation wherein Your most loving heart shall find consolation for all the ingratitude of men. How great, O Lord Jesus, is the confusion of this portion of Your faithful flock as we accept
the unmerited honor of seeing You preside over our family! Silently we adore You, overjoyed to see You sharing under the same roof the toils, cares, and joys of Your innocent children! It is true we are not worthy that You should enter our humble abode, but You have already reassured us, when You revealed Your Sacred Heart to us, teaching us to find in the wound of Your Sacred Side the source of grace and life everlasting. In this loving and trusting spirit
we give ourselves to You, You who are unchanging life. Remain with us, Most Sacred Heart, for we feel an irresistible desire to love You and make You loved.

May our home be for You a haven as sweet as that of Bethany, where You can find rest in the midst of loving friends, who like Mary have chosen the better part in the loving intimacy of Your Heart! May this home be for You, O beloved Savior, a humble but hospitable refuge during the exile imposed on You by Your enemies.

Come, then, Lord Jesus, come, for here as at Nazareth, we have a tender love for the Virgin Mary, Your sweet Mother, whom You have given us to be our Mother. Come to fill with Your sweet presence the vacancies which misfortune and death have wrought in our midst.

O most faithful Friend, had You been here in the midst of sorrow, our tears would have been less bitter; the comforting balm of peace would have soothed these hidden wounds, which are known to You 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 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 You, who alone are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Repeat for us those words You uttered of old, "This day I must abide in this home."

Yes, dear Lord, take up Your abode with us, so that we may live in Your love and in Your presence, we who proclaim You as our King and wish no other! May Your triumphant Heart, O Jesus, be forever loved, blessed, and glorified in this home. Your Kingdom come! Amen.

As an act of homage to the Immaculate Heart of Mary recite the Hail Holy Queen, standing.

Ejaculations

Priest: Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, (3 times)
All: Have mercy on us. (3 times)

Priest: Immaculate Heart of Mary,
All: Pray for us.

Priest: St. Joseph,
All: Pray for us.

Priest: St. Margaret Mary,
All: Pray for us.

All: Glory to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, forever
and ever. Amen.

The priest gives his blessing:

Benedictio Dei omnipotentis, Patris, et Filii, + et Spiritus Sancti, descendat super vos et maneat semper. Amen.

(May the blessing of almighty God, Father, Son, + and
Holy Spirit, 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 picture of the Sacred Heart or kept in the family archives. The priest announces the indulgences.

Suggested Practices of Devotion
Frequent and even daily attendance at Mass by at least
one member of the family, and Communion of Reparation.
Recite the Mass of the Saint during the day.

Observance of the First Friday of each month. (Holy
Mass, Communion of Reparation; renewal of act of
consecration before enthroned image.)

Daily Family Rosary before the enthroned image of the
Sacred Heart, with renewal of the act of consecration
(short form).

Celebration of the Feast of the Sacred Heart by the entire family; attendance at Mass, Communion for the extension of the Reign of the Sacred Heart through the Enthronement; family gathering and celebration at home, with renewal of Enthronement; special party for the children.

Observe the month of June; keep flowers before "throne"; Mass and Communion as often as possible.

Assist at Holy Hour in church.

Night Adoration in the home. Any hour between 9 and 6, by one or all the members of the family at least once a month.

Celebrate Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, August 22; Mass, Communion; Consecration of family to Immaculate Heart.

Make the five First Saturdays in reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary for the Conversion of Russia:
Mass and Communion of Reparation; five decades of the
Rosary plus a fifteen-minute meditation on the fifteen
mysteries of the Rosary. The Rosary and meditation may
be carried out at any hour on the First Saturday. A sermon in church will satisfy the obligation of the meditation.

Practice devotion to the Holy Ghost. Recite the Rosary
of the Holy Ghost.
Special Occasions on Which the Family Should Renew the
Act of Consecration (Long Form)
Feast of the Sacred Heart; Christ the King.

Anniversary of the Enthronement.

Anniversary of parents and children.

At births; after Baptism in the church consecrate the
children to the Sacred Heart before the "throne."

At First Communion; prepare the children before the image of the Sacred Heart in the home. When they return from church, let them renew the act of consecration made for them by parents at birth.

Before the departure from home of a member: to join army, convent, seminary, before marriage.

On the return of an absent member of the family.

On days of great family joys; in times of sorrow, sickness, and death.
Renewal of the Consecration of the Family

To be said at night prayers in union with all families
in which the Sacred Heart has been enthroned.

Most Sweet Jesus, humbly kneeling at Your feet, we renew the consecration of our family to Your Divine Heart. Be You our King forever! In You we have full and entire confidence. May Your spirit penetrate our thoughts, our desires, our words, and our works. Bless our undertakings, share in our joys, in our trials and our labors. Grant us to know You better, to love You more, to serve You without faltering.

By the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of Peace, set up Your kingdom in our country. Enter closely into the midst of our families and make them Yours through the solemn enthronement of Your Sacred Heart, so that soon one cry may resound from home to home: "May the triumphant Heart of Jesus be everywhere loved, blessed, and glorified forever!" Honor and glory to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary!

Sacred Heart of Jesus, protect our families.

>> The Sacred Heart of Jesus page