Act of Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart — Leo XIII, 1899

On 25 May 1899, Pope Leo XIII published the encyclical Annum Sacrum, in which he announced his intention to solemnly consecrate the whole human race — Catholics and non-Catholics, baptised and unbelievers — to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Pope called this consecration «the greatest act of my pontificate». The consecration was actually carried out on 11 June 1899, Feast of the Sacred Heart — in all cathedrals, parishes, religious houses, and oratories of the Catholic world, on the same day and hour. The Pontiff also instituted the annual renewal of this consecration on the Feast of the Sacred Heart and on the Feast of Christ the King (instituted later by Pius XI in 1925). The text that follows is the consecratory formula written by Leo XIII himself and annexed to the encyclical Annum Sacrum (1899) — totally in the public domain.

(Before the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, with all solemnity:)

Sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look upon us humbly prostrate before your altar. We are yours, and yours we wish to be; and so as to be able to live united to you more closely, behold, each one of us today spontaneously consecrates himself to your Most Sacred Heart.

Many have never known you; many, despising your commandments, have rejected you. Merciful Jesus, have compassion on the one and the other, and draw all to your Sacred Heart.

Be King, Lord, not only of the faithful who have never departed from you, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned you; grant that these may quickly return to the paternal home, lest they die of misery and hunger.

Be King of those who live deceived by error or separated by discord; call them to the harbour of truth and to the unity of faith, that there may quickly be one fold and one Shepherd (cf. Jn 10:16).

Be King of those who still live in the darkness of paganism or of Islam, and do not refuse to bring them to the light and to the kingdom of God. Look, finally, with eyes of mercy upon the children of the people who once were your preferred. May the Blood of the Saviour once invoked upon them fall also now upon them, washing them, as a bath of redemption and of life.

Grant, Lord, to your Church security and freedom; grant to all peoples the tranquillity of order; make this single voice resound from one pole of the earth to the other: Praised be the divine Heart, by whom salvation was given to us; to him be honour and glory for ever and ever.

Amen.