Saints of the Sacred Heart

Alex Resch was inspired and encouraged by the nine friends of the Sacred Heart in Catholic Mom writer Emily Jaminet’s new children’s book. 

Saints of the Sacred Heart

By Emily Jaminet

Published by Sophia Institute Press

I have previously written about sharing the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus with children, and I always thought my list was missing a solid picture book! Thankfully, Sophia Institute Press has just published a beautiful picture book and devotional for children called Saints of the Sacred Heart, by Emily Jaminet. Emily is one of my go-to resources for all things related to the Sacred Heart Devotion and Home Enthronement. This picture book, illustrated by Tracy L. Christianson, features short and powerful stories of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque along with 9 friends of the Sacred Heart – Saints who faithfully made their hearts places of rest for Our Lord, Jesus Christ. 

A Picture Book that Encourages Children and Families to Pray 

This stunningly illustrated children’s book is sure to draw in young children and invite them to make their hearts a place of rest to welcome Jesus. Saints of the Sacred Heart is unique because, in addition to being a picture book, it is also a prayer book and devotional for children and families!  

Firstly, the book clearly encourages devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus by telling Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque’s story and the background of Jesus’ message to her to spread the devotion to His Sacred Heart. Then, throughout the book, Emily has sprinkled various invitations for prayer, meditation, and reflection. The book mentions various prayers and devotions, such as the First Friday Devotion, the Sacred Heart of Jesus prayer, the Rosary, and the Divine Mercy Chaplet. 

The most creative aspect of this book is that Emily Jaminet chose nine saints — nine friends of the Sacred Heart — to highlight. You can see all of the saints on the cover of the book. Many are favorites in our family, and we learned about a couple of new ones too! 

Since there are nine saints (each of whom had a special and deep devotion to the Heart of Jesus), the book is also set up to be read and prayed for nine days — novena style! I absolutely love that. You can read a saint each day and pray the Sacred Heart of Jesus Prayer, which is included in the back of the book. Each saint also has a special “Offering of the Heart” which can be used as a meditation prompt for each day of the novena. This is all optional and you can simply read and enjoy the book however you wish!  

As I read about each Saint and the corresponding meditations, I couldn’t help but stop and ponder their amazing witnesses and how I am called to welcome Jesus more fully into my own heart. I know that this book will transform and inspire little hearts as well. 

When to Read this Book 

The clear choice for reading this book would be any time in June since June is devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus! It would also be great to revisit it on any of the feast days of the saints who are included in the book. The stories are short, and the meditations for each would be a great way to honor the saint for that day.  

This would also be a wonderful book to read with your children on the First Friday of each month if your family participates in that devotion. In fact, Jesus asked for the faithful to specifically receive Holy Communion and complete the First Friday Devotion for nine Fridays in a row. Reading about a saint on each consecutive Friday would be the perfect way to keep track of how many Fridays you have completed, since there are exactly nine saints included in the book. This would be so fun and meaningful for kids. 

Who Would Enjoy this Book? 

I think that any child ages 4 and up would love this book. It is one that you can display in the summertime around the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and return to throughout the year to renew your devotion or celebrate the special friends of the Sacred Heart within the book.  

The time periods of when each saint lived are also highlighted in this book, so you could use their stories to enhance your child’s history and geography studies.  

If you are a catechist, this would also be a great book to share with your religious education students. You could lead your class through the novena for 9 class sessions — I am sure the kids would be excited to hear about the new saint of the week! 

Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us! 

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Copyright 2025 Alex Resch
Images: top) detail from cover