Five Ways to Grow in Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Sarah Damm offers an invitation to deepen your devotion (and your family's) to the Sacred Heart of Jesus this June.

I didn’t grow up with an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in my home, and there wasn’t one in my parish. As a young girl, I didn’t know devotion to the Sacred Heart existed. I don’t even think I heard or saw the words “Sacred Heart” strung together, except in one place: my grandmother belonged to the “Sacred Heart Auto League” and had their emblem on her car.   

Catholic devotions invite us to grow in love for the Lord

Sadly, I grew up in an era that set aside (sometimes purposely, sometimes unknowingly) some of the most beautiful devotions of the Catholic faith, including devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. When I reached young adulthood, I slowly began discovering Catholic devotions, and I was instantly captivated by the simple, but deep, way they invite us to grow in love for the Lord. Devotions, and the prayers and acts of love that accompany them, connect us to the entire Catholic Church — past, present, and future — and their richness and depth elevate our prayer and draw us closer to God.   

The Sacred Heart of Jesus is one such devotion. 

As we look ahead to the month of June, we are reminded that June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This year, the moveable feast of the Sacred Heart is Friday, June 7. This happens to be the first Friday of the month, too, which is another key element to the Sacred Heart devotion.  

Perhaps this June is the perfect time to add a new devotion to your prayer routine. Or if you already have a devotion to the Sacred Heart, maybe there is room to deepen it. 

5 ways to grow in devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus this June 

Start Small

At the beginning of each day, pray a Morning Offering. This very simple prayer tells the Lord that we offer everything about our day to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. 

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world. I offer them for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart: for the salvation of souls, the reparation for sins, the reunion of all Christians, I offer them for the intentions of our bishops and of all Apostles of Prayer and in particular for those recommended by our Holy Father this month. Amen. 

Know Your History

Why do Catholics venerate the Sacred Heart of Jesus? Why do we do this specifically in the month of June? Learn how devotion to the Sacred Heart grew because of what Jesus instructed St. Mary Alacoque in a series of visions in the mid-1600s. One recommended book to begin learning more is Secrets of the Sacred Heart: Twelve Ways to Claim Jesus’ Promises in Your Life by Emily Jaminet. 

Adore Him

Since the Sacred Heart of Jesus is present on earth in the Blessed Sacrament, consider visiting a Eucharistic Adoration Chapel once a week in June. Perhaps this new prayer habit could carry on for the rest of the year … and beyond. 

Honor First Fridays

This June, commit to beginning the First Friday devotion, which is a primary part of the Sacred Heart devotion. Quite simply, on each First Friday, for nine consecutive Fridays, we are invited to go to Confession and receive Holy Communion in honor of Jesus’ Sacred Heart and in reparation for sin in the world.  

This is what Jesus promises to those who honor First Fridays:

I promise you that in the excessive mercy of my Heart that my all powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the first Friday for nine consecutive months, the grace of final repentance; they shall not die in my disgrace nor without receiving the sacraments; my divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in that last moment. (Our Lord to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, quoted in Secrets of the Sacred Heart by Emily Jaminet) 

Enthrone Your Home

Another custom involving the Sacred Heart of Jesus is enthroning your home, which simply means inviting Jesus into your home and giving Him authority over your family and household. Learn more at CatholicCulture.org.  

As you draw closer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus this June, consider what is stirring in your own heart. What can you do (practically) to remain close to Jesus’ Sacred Heart? 

Share your thoughts with the Catholic Mom community! You'll find the comment box below the author's bio and list of recommended articles.

Copyright 2024 Sarah Damm
Images: Canva
This article contains Amazon affiliate links, which provide a small compensation to the author of this piece when purchases are made through the links, at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting our Catholic Mom writers in this way.