ENTHRONEMENT
OF THE
SACRED HEART OF JESUS
IN A
DIOCESE (ARCHDIOCESE)
Either a picture or statue of the Sacred Heart may be used. If the cathedral already has a statue, it would be appropriate to accentuate with flowers and candles. If a picture is used, it may be positioned in a convenient place in the cathedral, moved in procession and enthroned in a place of honor in the cathedral by the Bishop or Archbishop or his designee. It may also be positioned in its permanent place before the ceremony. It is recommended that a votive Mass of the Sacred Heart be used unless there is another overriding Liturgical celebration.
♥OPENING
BISHOP/ARCHBISHOP: Opening Remarks
BISHOP/ARCHBISHOP:
This may be one of the most important gatherings in our Diocese (Archdiocese) since the Enthronement brings countless blessings. 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 Guide, our Friend, our Counselor, our spiritual Physician, our constant Companion, the unseen guest at every meal.
We certainly want Him to be all these things because each and every one of us needs His help. It is not always 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
BISHOP/ARCHBISHOP:
Jesus is your Lord and He rules through His Heart! He desires to be enthroned as King and Lord of your hearts and of the Diocese (Archdiocese) of ______as your brother and friend. He longs to share your work, 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 all from the slavery of sin and the shackles of fear, depression and worry.
Jesus is ready to release in this Diocese (Archdiocese) of ______the power of His Spirit. He is the Healer, the Consoler, the Sanctifier, and the Teacher. But Jesus 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)
BISHOP/ARCHBISHOP: 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 BY THE BISHOP/ARCHBISHOP
♥PROCESSION AND ENTHRONEMENT
Carrying the image of the Sacred Heat of Jesus, the Bishop (Archbishop) and selected members of the Diocese (Archdiocese) process in song to the place of honor.
Votive lights are carried as a sign of our covenant with the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Processing to the place of honor, all arrive at the “throne” and gather in a semi-circle. While holding the image the BISHOP (ARCHBISHOP)proclaims:
“I NOW ENTHRONE JESUS AS KING, LORD, AND FRIEND OF THE DIOCESE (ARCHDIOCESE) OF ______.”
The BISHOP/ARCHBISHOP then places the image of the Sacred Heart in the selected place of honor.
The Bible is placed near the image.
ALL: We are nourished by the Body and Blood of Christ and the Word of God.
God is enthroned as King forever! (Ps. 29) All that the Lord has said, we willheed and do.
(Ex. 24:7)
BISHOP/ARCHBISHOP: 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 these, 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 Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
♥ACT OF CONSECRATION TO THE SACRED HEART
The Bishop (Archdiocese) asks all to kneel. Together all entrust themselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus throughtheAct of Consecration.
BISHOP/ARCHBISHOP: Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, King of Love and King of Truth, it is my
privilege, as shepherd of the flock You have entrusted to my care, to consecrate to Your loving Heart this Diocese (Archdiocese).
ALL: We consecrate to You all powerful Heart of Jesus, all our priests, deacons, religious women and
men, all our families, our single parents, all our youth, all our single women and men, and all the inhabitants of this Diocese (Archdiocese).
We consecrate all members of the military services, the police and fire departments, and all those in the service of government, asking You to watch over them, guide them, and protect them in the performance of their duties.
To Your compassionate Heart, Divine Physician, we consecrate all doctors, nurses, orderlies, paramedics, and all engaged in the work of being “good Samaritans” to the sick and the suffering.
These we entrust to Your loving care, as well as all those in prisons, rest homes, orphanages and institutions, the lonely, the shut-ins, the homeless, those abandoned by their relatives and friends; those who are materially and spiritually poor; and all who are rebelling against God and society.
Finally, and in a special way, we consecrate to Your merciful Heart, Good Shepherd, all sinners who have wandered from their Father’s house. May all of them, through the motherly intercession of Mary, Refuge of Sinners, return to You so that there may be one flock and one Shepherd.
Today, then, we freely and gratefully make a covenant of love with You, our King, our Brother, our Friend, our Redeemer. You are our Sovereign Lord and Master. You have chosen us to continue Your mission of teaching, governing and sanctifying the faithful, in unison with, and as delegates of, our Shepherd.
In consecrating ourselves to You, we wish to enter into the spirit of expiation and reconciliation which characterized You, the eternal High Priest and Redeemer of all, and which has characterized every true pastor of souls, so that, like You, they are willing to give their lives for their sheep.
Mary, Mother of the Church and our Mother, help us to be a true reflection of your Church, that is a worshiping, praying community of love.
Good St. Joseph, Head of the Holy Family, watch over us as you watched over Jesus and Mary at Nazareth. Obtain for each of us that same loving trust in Divine Providence that sustained you in all your trials.
May the Lord bless us and keep us! May His face shine upon us and be gracious to us! May He look upon us with kindness and give us peace. And may Almighty God bless us – Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Praise the Lord, now and forever. Amen.
BISHOP/ARCHBISHOP: Let us pray the following prayers for the intentions of our Holy Father,
Pope Benedict XVI, for all in our Diocese (Archdiocese):
Our Father….; Hail Mary….; Glory Be….
BISHOP/ARCHBISHOP: 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 present.)
For the grace of being faithful to this covenant with Jesus and this way of life in Him. We pray to the Lord….
For an 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.
♥CONSECRATION TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY
BISHOP/ARCHBISHOP: Our Holy Father has urged all to consecrate themselves to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, therefore let the Diocese (Archdiocese) of ______honor her with this prayer:
ALL: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 our Diocese (Archdiocese) to your Immaculate Heart.
Please accept our consecration, dearest Mother, and use us 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 to St. Joseph, Head of the Holy Family and patron of the UniversalChurch. We ask for 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.
BISHOP/ARCHBISHOP: Reads and then signs the certificate of Enthronement.
♥CELEBRATION
There will be a gathering to celebrate this important event
Jesus appears to
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
Paray-le-Monial, France 1673
1
Diocese (Archdiocese)