For the parishioners of St. Francis Chapel, the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is more than a ceremony. It’s an invitation to make Christ present in the ordinary rhythms of home life. It helps families bring Jesus to the dinner table, to family prayer, and to the quiet moments in between.
What Is the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart?
The Enthronement of the Sacred Heart is a family’s way of formally welcoming Christ into their home. A blessed image or statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is given a place of honor, a “throne,” and the family consecrates itself to Jesus in front of it, asking Him to reign over their household the way He reigns in heaven.
The devotion goes back to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, who received visions of the Sacred Heart in the 1670s. It grew into a worldwide family apostolate in 1907, when Fr. Mateo Crawley-Boevey began promoting home enthronements as a way to bring the faith back into everyday family life.
Pope St. Pius X approved the practice in 1908, and Catholic families have carried it on ever since.
How to Prepare for the Ceremony
A little preparation makes the day feel special and keeps the focus where it belongs.
- Set a date. Talk with your pastor or another priest, or plan to have the head of household lead the ceremony instead.
- Attend Mass together. Have the whole family receive Holy Communion at Mass on the day of the enthronement.
- Choose your image. Find a picture or statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, if your family doesn’t already have one.
- Prepare the “throne.” Use a table or mantelpiece, covered with a white cloth and decorated with flowers and candles. Place the image on it, along with photos of family members who’ve passed away or can’t be there. Keep holy water nearby.
- Invite your people. Ask relatives and close friends to join you.
- Celebrate afterward. Plan a family gathering once the ceremony is complete. This is a day worth marking.
Shop our Sacred Heart collection — images, rosaries, and medals to bring the devotion home.
The Ceremony
The ceremony itself follows a simple order:
- The family gathers around the throne, with children closest to the presider.
- The presider blesses the image and sprinkles it with holy water.
- The image is placed in its position of honor.
- Everyone stands together to recite the Apostles’ Creed.
- The presider offers a few words on the meaning of the enthronement.
- The family kneels for the Act of Consecration (full text below).
- An Our Father and Hail Mary are offered for family members who are absent or who have passed away.
- The family recites a prayer of thanksgiving (full text below).
- The Hail, Holy Queen is recited standing, as an act of homage to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
- A short litany is prayed, followed by the presider’s blessing.
- The family and presider sign the Certificate of Enthronement, which is worth framing and keeping near the image, or preserving with your family keepsakes.
The Act of Consecration
Prayed kneeling, as the heart of the ceremony:
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, who made 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 propose to lead a life like Yours, so that among us may flourish the virtues for which You promised 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, and over our hearts by an ardent love for You, kept burning by 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, and to sanctify our joys and soothe our sorrows.
If any of us should ever grieve Your Sacred Heart, remind us of Your goodness and mercy toward the repentant sinner. And when the hour of separation comes and death visits our home, may we find consolation in the hope of being reunited in heaven, where we shall sing Your praises for all eternity. May the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the glorious Patriarch St. Joseph offer You this Consecration on our behalf. Glory to the Divine Heart of Jesus, our King and our Father! Amen.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Glory be to You, O Sacred Heart of Jesus, for the infinite mercy You have bestowed on this family. You have chosen us from among thousands as recipients of Your love, in which Your loving Heart finds consolation for the ingratitude of the world.
Silently we adore You, overjoyed to welcome You under our roof, sharing in our toils, cares, and joys. We know we are unworthy of this honor, yet You have already reassured us through the wound of Your Sacred Side, the source of grace and life everlasting.
Remain with us, Most Sacred Heart. May our home be a haven for You, as sweet as Bethany, where You are welcomed among loving friends. Come, Lord Jesus, and fill with Your presence whatever loss and sorrow this family has known. Stay with us in this late and weary hour, for You alone are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Take up Your abode with us, so that we may live always in Your love and presence, proclaiming You our King and wishing no other. May Your triumphant Heart, O Jesus, be forever loved, blessed, and glorified in this home. Your Kingdom come! Amen.
Closing Litany and Blessing
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (3 times), have mercy on us (3 times). Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us. St. Joseph, pray for us. St. Margaret Mary, pray for us. Glory to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, forever and ever. Amen.
The presider then imparts the blessing, and the family signs the Certificate of Enthronement.
Keeping the Devotion Alive
Enthronement is a beginning, not a one-time event. Here are simple ways families continue living it out:
- Attend daily Mass when possible, with a spirit of reparation.
- Observe the First Friday of each month with Mass and a renewal of the consecration before the image.
- Pray the family Rosary regularly in front of the enthroned image.
- Celebrate the Feast of the Sacred Heart each year with Mass, Communion, and a family gathering.
- Spend time in Night Adoration at home at least once a month.
- Honor the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on August 22 with Mass and a family consecration to Mary’s heart.
- Observe the Five First Saturdays devotion in reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
When to Renew the Consecration
Many families return to the Act of Consecration on meaningful days:
- The Feast of the Sacred Heart and the Feast of Christ the King
- The anniversary of the enthronement itself
- Birthdays and anniversaries of family members
- A child’s birth or baptism
- A child’s First Communion
- Before a family member leaves home for the military, religious life, or marriage
- When an absent family member returns
- In seasons of joy, sorrow, illness, or loss
Renewal Prayer
Prayed at night prayers, in union with families everywhere who have enthroned the Sacred Heart:
Most Sweet Jesus, humbly kneeling at Your feet, we renew the consecration of our family to Your Divine Heart. Be You our King forever. May Your spirit fill our thoughts, our desires, our words, and our works. Bless our undertakings, share in our joys, our trials, and our labors. Grant us to know You better, to love You more, and to serve You without faltering.
By the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of Peace, set up Your kingdom in our home and in our country, so that one cry may resound from home to home: “May the triumphant Heart of Jesus be everywhere loved, blessed, and glorified forever!” Sacred Heart of Jesus, protect our families. Amen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the same as the Enthronement of the Immaculate Heart of Mary?
No. This ceremony consecrates a family to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Mary is honored within it, especially through the Hail, Holy Queen and the Immaculate Heart, but the enthronement itself is a devotion to Christ’s Sacred Heart.
Do we need a priest to perform the ceremony?
It’s traditional to invite a priest, but a priest isn’t required. The head of the household may lead the ceremony if a priest isn’t available.
What kind of image or statue should we use?
Any reverent depiction of the Sacred Heart of Jesus works well. Many families choose an image that can stay permanently displayed in a shared space, like a living room or dining room.
How long does the ceremony take?
Plan for around 20 to 30 minutes for the ceremony itself, plus time before and after for Mass and a family gathering.
Can we do this if some family members can’t be present?
Yes. The ceremony includes a prayer specifically for absent and deceased family members, so no one is left out.
From CatholicCulture.org
Prayer Source: Our Christian Home by Rev. Joseph A. Fischer, Seraphic Press, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1954