ENTHRONEMENT
OF THE
SACRED HEART OF JESUS
IN A
RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY
If a Mass will be celebrated, it is recommended that a votive Mass of the Sacred Heart be used unless there is another overriding Liturgical celebration.
♥OPENING
PRIEST OR LAY APOSTLE OF THE SACRED HEART: Opening Remarks
RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY MEMBER:
This is one of the most important gatherings of our lives since the Enthronement brings countless blessings to individuals, families, and all of our undertakings. By the Enthronement we proclaim Jesus as King who rules over us through love….but He is more like a Father than a ruler. He becomes our generous Provider, our Friend, our Guide, our Counselor, our spiritual Physician, our constant Companion on the journey.
We certainly want Him to be all these things because each and every one of us needs His help. It is not easy to be good and do good. We can’t do it alone, but with Jesus’ help, we can.
Reading from Deuteronomy 7:6-12
PRIEST/LAY PROMOTER:
Jesus is your Lord and He rules through His Heart! He desires to be enthroned as King and Lord of your hearts and of your religious community as your brother and friend. He longs to share your everyday life, your joys as well as your sorrows.
Scripture says, “My people, whom I love so dearly, behold I stand at the door and knock: if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and eat with him and he with Me.” (Rv 3:20)
Jesus is your Savior and your Liberator. He wants to save you from the evil forces working to destroy you, to liberate you from the slavery of sin and the shackles of fear, depression and worry.
Jesus is ready to release in this religious community the power of His Spirit. He is the Healer, the Consoler, the Sanctifier, and the Teacher. But He will not force His way into your heart or this place. He wants to be invited. He is waiting to hear you say to Him:
ALL: Come, Lord Jesus! Stay with us; we need you! Be the Lord, the Brother, our friend. Send us
your Holy Spirit and give us new hearts, a new spirit! Say to us as you did to John: “Surely I am coming soon.” (Rev. 22:20)
PRIEST/LAY PROMOTER: Yes the Father loves you, Jesus loves you, the Holy Spirit loves you. What have you
to fear? His Wounded Heart is the sign and pledge of His merciful love. His Heart is open to receive you.
♥BLESSING OF IMAGE
♥PROCESSION AND ENTHRONEMENT
Selected members process in song (to be determined) with the image of the Sacred Heart and the Bible (Knowing the Heart of God in the Word of God… “Your word, Lord, is a lamp unto our feet.”)
Votive lights are carried by all as a sign/pledge of our covenant with the Sacred Heart of Jesus and a representation of our hearts and our intentions.
Arriving at the “throne,” all gather in a semi-circle. Before enthroning the Sacred Heart the LEADER OF THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY proclaims:
WE NOW ENTHRONE JESUS AS KING, LORD, AND FRIEND OF ________________ (name of religious community).
The LEADER then places the image of the Sacred Heart in the selected place of honor.
Other participants then place the Bible near the Sacred Heart image and say,
WE ARE NOURISHED BY THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST AND THE WORD OF GOD.
ALL: God is enthroned as King forever! (Ps. 29) All that the Lord has said, we will
heed and do. (Ex. 24:7)
PRIEST/LAY PROMOTER: As an act of faith in the teachings of Christ, the King of Truth, and as
an act of reparation for all society which ignores them, let us say the Apostles’ Creed.
ALL: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified died and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day he arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy CatholicChurch, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
♥ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE SACRED HEART
Facing the image, the religious community now makes its covenant with the Heart of Jesus, our Lord and Friend:
ALL MEMBERS OF THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY:
Jesus, we enthrone you as King and proclaim you as Lord and Friend of our religious community.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, who revealed to St. Margaret Mary Your ardent desire to reign over the whole world, behold us assembled here this day to proclaim Your absolute dominion over our community.
Henceforth we desire to live with Your life among us so that the virtues may flourish 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. You will reign over our hearts by an ardent love for You; and may the flame of this love be ever kept burning in our hearts by the fervent offering of Mass and devout reception of the Holy Eucharist.
Be pleased O Divine Heart to preside over our meetings, to bless our undertakings both spiritual and temporal, to banish all worry and care, to sanctify our joys and soothe our sorrows. If any of us should ever have the misfortune to grieve Your Sacred Heart, remind him or her of Your goodness and mercy toward the repentant sinner.
And when the hour of separation strikes and death enters our community, whether we go or whether we say, we shall all bow humbly before your eternal decrees. This shall be our consolation: to remember that the day will come when our entire community, once more united in heaven, shall be able to sing of Your glory and goodness forever. May the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the glorious Patriarch St. Joseph vouchsafe to offer You our act of Consecration, and to keep the memory thereof alive in us all the days of our lives.
Glory to the Heart of Jesus, our King and our Friend!
PRIEST/LAY PROMOTER: Let us pray the following prayers for the intentions of the Holy
Father, Pope Benedict XVI, for all families and for absent members of the religious community:
Our Father….; Hail Mary….; Glory Be….
PRIEST/LAY PROMOTER: Lord Jesus, you told us, “Whatever you ask the Father in my name,
He will give it to you.” In Your Name and with great confidence we pray:
ALL RESPOND: Lord Hear Our Prayer. (Petitions to be read by those participating.)
For the grace of being faithful to this covenant with Jesus and our new way of life in Him. We pray to the Lord….
For in increase of personal, generous love for Jesus. We pray to the Lord….
For greater trust in His merciful love. We pray to the Lord….
That the Holy Spirit may always find our hearts responsive to His call. We pray to the Lord….
For a deeper appreciation of the greatest gift of the Heart of Jesus, the Eucharist, through frequent Mass and Communion and especially on First Fridays and First Saturdays. We pray to the Lord….
That we may receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation more often, in order to increase our love for Jesus and avoid sin. We pray to the Lord….
That Bible reading and the Rosary recitation become part of our daily spiritual formation. We pray to the Lord….
That the Holy Spirit may heal all our hurts and remove from our hearts anything that is preventing us from giving ourselves lovingly to Jesus and one another. We pray to the Lord….
And for any intentions that you would like to add at this time….
ALL: Sacred Heart of Jesus, You promised to bless in a special way all those who honor your Divine Heart by enthroning you as King and Lord and who make a covenant of love with you. Please shower your blessings on all who are here and all to come. Amen.
PRIEST/LAY PROMOTER: To thank the Sacred Heart for His many blessings, let us say together this prayer of thanksgiving:
ALL MEMBERS OF THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY:
O divine Heart of Jesus, we thank you for Your great grace and mercy, in choosing our community to receive the legacy of Your love, by transforming it into a sanctuary of reparation and atonement.
Divine Savior, we the least among Your children, bow down in silent adoration before You. We thank you for dwelling in our midst; we salute You, we thirst after You, the everlasting Fount of living waters. Humbly we beg of You, “Stay with us Lord.” May this dwelling be to You a secondBethanywhere You may rest among those who have chosen the better part.
Stay with us, Lord, for as inNazareth’s lowly home, we too honor the Holy Mother You Yourself have given us. Dispel from our hearts, through Your holy Presence, all sorrow and discouragement.
Stay with us for perhaps the darkness of trial is about to come on us. Stay with us for the night is coming! The world strives to envelop us in the shadows of unbelief, but we want to be faithful to You, for You alone are the Way, the Truth and the Life! O divine Jesus, we beg You to let Your word be fulfilled, “Today salvation has come to this house!”
Stay with us, O Lord and Master; take up Your abode with us that we may grow in Your love. You are our King and we would serve You alone. Help us become saints, and through sanctity spread love for You among all those entrusted to our care.
May the triumphant, loving Heart of Jesus be praised, loved and glorified in this dwelling, now and always. Amen!
♥CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY
PRIEST/LAY PROMOTER: Our Holy Father has urged all to consecrate themselves to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, therefore let this religious community honor her with this prayer:
ALL MEMBERS OF THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY:
Queen of the most Holy Rosary, and tender Mother of the Church, we consecrate ourselves to you and to your Immaculate Heart and recommend ourselves to your loving care. We recommend our country and community to your Immaculate Heart.
Please accept our consecration, dearest Mother, and use us and this community to accomplish your designs upon the world.
O Spouse of the Holy Spirit, kindle in our hearts the same love that burns within your heart for Jesus, your Son. Give us the courage to witness our faith even at the cost of ridicule and suffering.
Mary, our Mother, stay with us, pray for us, that Jesus may be proclaimed as King and Lord and loved as Brother and Friend.
We entrust the fulfillment of our covenant to your Immaculate Heart and toSt. Joseph, Head of the Holy Family and patron of theUniversalChurch. We ask for their protection and intercession.
May we be empowered by the Holy Spirit to bring the fire of God’s love to all through this consecration. Amen.
LEADER: Signs the certificate of Enthronement and then may make some appropriate remarks regarding the enthronement. The Priest/Lay Promoter also signs the certificate, as well as others participating in the ceremony. Songs may be sung while the certificate is being signed.
♥CELEBRATION
To celebrate this important event, refreshments may be served.
