Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Devotion to the Sacred Heart is born from the Gospel itself — from the side opened by the lance on Calvary — and was confirmed in the apparitions to St Margaret Mary Alacoque (Paray-le-Monial, 1673-1675). This novena prepares for the solemnity of the Sacred Heart, celebrated on the Friday after the octave of Corpus Christi.
Offering Prayer (every day)
O Jesus, meek and humble of Heart, we offer you this novena in reparation for the sins of the world and in thanksgiving for the immense gift of your wounded Heart. Receive it, O Lord, and grant us, by the merits of your Blood, the grace we trustingly ask. Amen.
The Nine Days
Day 1 — The pierced Heart
On Calvary, the Heart of Jesus was opened by the lance, and from his side flowed blood and water — sign of the sacraments of the Church. There the Bride of the Lamb was born, washed in his mercy.
Lord Jesus, your open Heart is the gate of heaven. Welcome us within your wounds, especially in the hours when faith falters. Amen.
Our Father · Hail Mary · Glory Be.
Day 2 — Meek and humble of heart
The Lord himself said: learn of me, for I am meek and humble of heart. His meekness is not weakness — it is the strength that knows how to bow down. His humility is the gate of intimacy with the Father.
Sweet Master, form in us a heart like yours: patient in trials, gentle in our relationships, humble in our joys. Amen.
Our Father · Hail Mary · Glory Be.
Day 3 — Burning furnace of charity
The Litany invokes the Heart of Jesus as burning furnace of charity. This is no mere image: it is the reality of the divine love that gave itself on the Cross and is renewed in every Eucharist.
Furnace of love, burn away in us all that is mediocre; kindle in our heart the desire to love you above all things. Amen.
Our Father · Hail Mary · Glory Be.
Day 4 — The revelations to Margaret Mary
At Paray-le-Monial, Jesus showed his Heart to St Margaret Mary, saying: Behold this Heart which has so loved men, and which receives in return so much ingratitude. The devotion born there has spread throughout the Church.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, remember the cold souls who forget you. By the merits of St Margaret Mary, awaken us to your friendship. Amen.
Our Father · Hail Mary · Glory Be.
Day 5 — The First Fridays
In one of the apparitions, Jesus promised the grace of final perseverance to those who would receive Communion on the first Fridays of nine consecutive months. This is the so-called Great Promise of the Sacred Heart.
Heart of Jesus, sustain us in the practice of the First Fridays; obtain for us the grace of a good death, that we may not die without the sacraments. Amen.
Our Father · Hail Mary · Glory Be.
Day 6 — Reparation to the wounded Heart
Pius XI, in the encyclical Miserentissimus Redemptor (1928), taught that Reparation is the duty of every Christian. It is not enough to receive Christ’s love — we must answer for those who have forgotten him.
Divine Saviour, receive our poor reparation for the sins of men, especially Eucharistic sacrileges; by the merits of your precious Blood, convert sinners. Amen.
Our Father · Hail Mary · Glory Be.
Day 7 — Consecration of families
Leo XIII, in 1899, consecrated the whole world to the Sacred Heart. Since then, thousands of Catholic families have enthroned the image of the Heart of Jesus in their homes, making him Lord of their hearth.
King of hearts, reign in our families. May your love be the bond of our marriage, the peace of our children, the light of our elders. Amen.
Our Father · Hail Mary · Glory Be.
Day 8 — Refuge at the hour of death
The Heart of Jesus is the hope of those who die in you. The Church knows the power of this intercession at the final hour, and so entrusts the dying to the Sacred Heart.
Refuge of the dying, obtain for us the grace to die assisted by the sacraments, at peace with God and with our brothers; and protect those in agony this day. Amen.
Our Father · Hail Mary · Glory Be.
Day 9 — Boundless confidence
Tradition handed down by the Salesians says: when you pray to the Sacred Heart, do so with boundless confidence, for there is all mercy. This is the soul of this novena.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, in you I trust; Sacred Heart of Jesus, I believe in your love for me. Grant us today the grace we entrust to your mercy: (state the intention). Amen.
Our Father · Hail Mary · Glory Be.
Final Prayer (every day)
O God, who in the Heart of your Son, wounded by our sins, gave us infinite treasures of love, grant that, paying him the homage of our devout piety, we may also fulfil the duty of worthy reparation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.