The Enthronement of the Sacred Heart in the Home

Five steps for preparing families for the enthronement:

1. Remote Preparation: This would be the first step and consists in beginning to speak to the families about the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in a simple way and telling them about the Enthronement Ceremony in the home.

2. Proximate Preparation: Families that have expressed the desire for the Enthronement are visited again. They should be given instruction in greater detail about the devotion to the Sacred Heart and the Enthronement. Depending on the need of the particular family, perhaps several visits may be needed for this.

3. Immediate Preparation: The family makes some kind of immediate preparation for the Enthronement. This may take the form of a “home tridium” or a novena of prayers. Also, the family should be encouraged to go for confession and to receive Holy Communion on the day of the ceremony.

4. Procedure: This is the actual Enthronement Ceremony preferably to be presided over by a priest. He blesses the image, gives a talk, and at the end of the ceremony, bestows a blessing upon those present. He also may bless the home. Depending on how long Father talks, the ceremony may last 20-30 minutes.

5. Follow-up: Encourage the family to “live the enthronement and the consecration”. A general principal is: get the family to do something according to its spiritual capacity. Be careful not to ask too much. It is important to visit the family afterwards, to help them to renew their consecration, etc...

Three conditions for the Enthronement:

l. THAT THE MARRIAGE IS A VALID ONE.

2. THAT AT LEAST ONE OF THE PARENTS BE A PRACTICING CATHOLIC. For example, if one of the parents is a lapsed Catholic or a non-Catholic, the Enthronement may take place if the other parent is a Catholic who practices his or her faith.

3. THE FAMILY MUST HAVE THE GENERAL INTENTION OF DOING GOD’S WILL. This means they may be obliged to fulfill certain specific conditions such as giving up a sinful practice before they can have the Enthronement. Of course, to avoid scandal the priest will be the best judge as to the proper procedure in such cases.

In cases where the Enthronement cannot be had because these conditions are not met, nothing prevents the family from honoring an image of the Sacred Heart in their home and/or praying to the Sacred Heart. Often this will result in the reception of graces that will effect a change in the spiritual status of the family. “Those who are well do not need a physician, but those who are sick; I have come for sinners… The Son of Man has come to seek and save that which was lost.”

The meaning of the word “enthronement”:

The word “enthronement” means to place on a throne in recognition of someone’s authority. (An example of an enthronement would be when a bishop is enthroned in his cathedral as a recognition of his spiritual authority over the diocese.)

The meaning of the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart:

To enthrone the image of the Sacred Heart thus means to recognize Christ’s rule over you. It means the recognition of Jesus the God-man who is all-loving and merciful, as the King and Friend of the family. It means giving our Lord first place in our hearts, in our family life. It is like a “heart–exchange” – Jesus gives His heart to us and we offer our hearts to Him. Under the influence of His grace, He really brings about a transformation of our hearts, that is, of our attitudes – changing indifference into love, apathy into action, fear into trust. We become different persons, for we have had a change of heart.

To say it another way, the Enthronement is the official and social recognition of the sovereignty of the Sacred Heart of Jesus over the Christian family. This recognition of Christ’s authority is outwardly expressed and made permanent by the solemn installation of the image of that divine Heart in a conspicuous (obvious) place in the home and by the Act of Consecration.

The Enthronement is not the mere blessing of a picture, or a mere act of consecration, or a mere outward passing ceremony. It is all of this and a great deal more. The Enthronement is meant to encourage and enable families to live the “Sacred Heart way of life” – a life of love and friendship with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the divine Head and loving friend of the family – that is, genuine Christian living.

Consecration to the Sacred Heart – Its importance and meaning:

Consecration to the Sacred Heart is a very important part of the Enthronement Ceremony. In fact, it has been said that Consecration to the Sacred Heart is the most important of all the devotional practices demanded by our divine Lord for His Sacred Heart. St. Margaret Mary tells us that our Lord has made special promises of blessings for those who consecrate themselves to His Sacred Heart: it rejoices the Sacred Heart and is a powerful weapon against the devil; it is a sovereign remedy against mortal sin; it puts souls on the road to perfection; consecration will procure peace of heart; it is a key which opens the Sacred Heart t o us; it is a pledge of salvation.

The Act of Consecration may be explained as having several meanings. First, it signifies that we renew our pledge of love and loyalty to Christ, our King, made on the day of our baptism. Secondly, consecration means to make sacred, to set something apart as dedicated to the service of God: as, for instance a chalice or altar is consecrated. When we consecrate ourselves and our family to the Sacred Heart this means that from then on the family is not only a dedicated family pledged to loving Christ wholeheartedly, but also that it will be sacred in God’s eyes – something very pleasing to Him – the family over which He will watch in a very special way.

How should the family prepare for the Enthronement?

l. Learn more about the devotion to the Sacred Heart and the Enthronement. We can help with this through our visits. Also, we can encourage the family to read about it and when possible share pamphlets and books for them to read.

2. By prayer. Three possibilities are:

a) Novena of prayers and readings done as a family for nine days preceding the Enthronement.

b) Tridium of prayers and readings – special prayers and readings to be done by the family on the three days preceding the Enthronement.

c) A week of prayer with the Pilgrim Virgin. Since love of Mary should lead us to Jesus, it is most fitting her Son should be enthroned as King after a week of prayer with the Pilgrim Virgin in the home. The statue would be brought to the home a week before and the family recites the Rosary daily in preparation for the Enthronement. This may be a very nice way for families to prepare for the Enthronement especially when the family cannot read or there are no copies of the Novena or Tridium of prayers available. The family may make the Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary at the end of the week and before the Enthronement Ceremony while the Pilgrim Statue is still in the home or the Consecration to the Immaculate Heart may be made after the Hail Holy Queen within the Enthronement Ceremony itself. Then, after having brought her Son into the home, His Mother moves on to prepare another family for His coming.

3. By Confession, Mass and Communion. It would be good if all the members of the family could go for Confession at some time during the preparation for the Enthronement. (To gain the plenary indulgence attached to the Enthronement, Confession must be made within a week before or after the Enthronement, and Holy Communion should be received the same day as the Enthronement.) It would also be good if at least one member of the family would attend Holy Mass and receive Communion throughout the Novena or Tridium. But at least on the day of the Ceremony, the entire family should make an effort to receive Communion together, in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

4. By setting up a “throne” in the living room (or main room) in the house in a conspicuous place. A fireplace mantle, on the T.V. (it will remind them family to watch only good shows) or a table fixed as an altar may be prepared for the “throne”. Cover it with white cloth; decorate with flowers and candles. If a picture of the Sacred 'Heart is to be used and hung on the wall, then in order to bring out the idea of a shrine, a wall bracket may be placed below the picture on which flowers and candles may be placed or they may be put on a table nearby the place where the picture is to be hung. In another part of the room, place the statue or picture of the Sacred Heart on a small table with Holy Water. Here it will be blessed and then carried by the head of the house to the “throne”. Place near or on the throne photos of absent loved ones, living or dead.

5. Invite relatives and friends. This is not essential but it is important; it emphasizes the social aspect of the ceremony; it gives Christ the King more honor; others share the blessings and learn about the enthronement