Faith in the Home: The Sacred Heart of Jesus

Marriage and Family Life Coordinator, Dr Antonia Braithwaite, describes the traditional Catholic practice of consecrating our family to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. 

The month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and on June 27 2025 the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart. 

The devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus has its origins in the early centuries of Christianity but became more widely recognized in the 17th century through the visions of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, a French nun, and from then the devotion to the Sacred Heart was firmly established in Catholic spirituality. The practice of consecrating one’s family to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a cherished Catholic tradition that expresses deep trust in Christ’s love and protection and expresses the family’s desire that Christ dwell intimately with each member.

Typically, the family gathers in front of an image or statue of the Sacred Heart (even if ‘the family’ consists of only husband and wife). A formal prayer of consecration is recited (these can be found online), offering the family’s joys, sorrows, hopes, and struggles to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Some families choose to enthrone the image in a prominent place in the home as a daily reminder of Christ’s presence and love; say on the mantle, or a prominent shelf, or hanging the image in the entrance way or the living room.

As June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus it is an especially good month to do this, but it can of course be done at any time. Many families renew their consecration annually, deepening their relationship with Christ year after year.

In an age where families face numerous challenges, consecrating your family to the Sacred Heart is a way of asking Christ to bless, guide and protect every member of your family; many graces flow from this Consecration.

Photo by bill Gullo on Unsplash.

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