Liturgy of the Hours

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary


EXALTATION OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, in this tragic hour of the world's history, we entrust and consecrate ourselves to your Immaculate Heart, our only refuge, our hope, our salvation. Have pity on this world, torn by the most terrible conflicts, burning with the fires of hate, victim of its own sins. May your Heart be moved at the sight of so much ruin, pain and sorrow.

We consecrate to your maternal heart our persons, our families, our country--the whole of humanity. Protect and save us!

O Heart of Mary, source of true love, fill our selfish hearts with divine charity and with that true brotherly love without which there can never be peace. Grant that men and nations may understand and fulfill the precept of your Divine Son, LOVE ONE ANOTHER, in order that true peace may be firmly established in the Justice and Truth of Christ.

--Pope Pius XII from the book The Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus



(EWTN)

Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus




An Act of Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

This consecration was written by Pope Leo XIII in 1899.

Most kind Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly kneeling before Thee. We are Thine, and Thine we wish to be; but, to be more surely united with Thee, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to Thy most Sacred Heart. Many indeed have never known Thee; many too, despising Thy precepts, have rejected Thee. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them all to Thy most Sacred Heart.

Be Thou King, 0 Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken Thee, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned Thee; grant that they may quickly return to their Father's house lest they die of wretchedness and hunger.

Be Thou King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof, and call them back to the harbor of truth and the unity of faith, so that soon there may be but one flock and one Shepherd. Grant, 0 Lord, to Thy Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm;

Give peace and order to all nations, and make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry; Praise to the divine Heart that wrought our salvation: to it be glory and honor forever. Amen.

(From Catholic Culture)

This year's Solemnity of the Sacred Heart also marks the beginning of the Year for Priests.

See:
Year for Priests (Vatican Website)
Year for Priests (USCCB Website)
The Year for Priests (Catholicculture.com)