Sacred Heart of Jesus 2026

Dear Friends:

Summer is upon us, and if, as the song goes, “Summertime, and the living is easy!”, It is also a time for us to renew our spiritual lives. As our nation prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence — a momentous civic milestone known as the Semiquincentennial — the United States bishops will be consecrating the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 11, 2026. This act beautifully unites a spiritual dedication of the nation to Christ’s love and kingship with this historic American celebration, linking our civic heritage with profound spiritual renewal.

The U.S. Bishops voted overwhelmingly to consecrate the nation to the Sacred Heart, with 215 in favor and eight opposed. As we know, the Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a long-standing Catholic devotion, rooted in the 17th-century visions of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, that emphasizes Christ’s love and mercy. Former Popes, including Pius XI, Leo XIII, and Pius XII, have encouraged the consecration of individuals, families, and nations to the Sacred Heart in recognition of Christ’s kingship and as a call to infuse society with Gospel values.

This consecration will take place on June 11, 2026, which is the day before the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, will acknowledge Christ’s reign over the hearts of individuals and the nation. This consecration is to encourage Americans to integrate faith into public and private life. One of the bishops, Kevin Rhoades, explained: “This act reminds Catholics to serve the nation by promoting justice, and the spirit of the Gospel in all areas of life.”

This will be the first formal consecration of the nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This act represents both a spiritual renewal and a public witness of faith, linking Christ’s love to the nation’s civic identity.

The fullness of this consecration to the Sacred Heart and our nation’s 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence will serve the following purposes:

1.    It will be the recognition and affirmation of Christ’s Kingship — that Christ is the true ruler of hearts and societies.

2.   It is to be a call to the Gospel values and to inspire leaders and citizens to “perfect the temporal order” with the spirit of the Gospel, which is to foster justice, peace, and human dignity.

3.   This is to unite a shared spiritual vision, drawing on the Sacred Heart as a symbol of divine love and mercy.

4.   This will be a great civic milestone, which is to align the nation’s celebration of its founding ideals with a deeper faith perspective, seeing its history through the lens of Christ’s love.

The consecration is a way to entrust the nation to the love and care of Jesus, the Redeemer of the world, and is rooted in the belief that the Sacred Heart represents the very center of the human person — spiritual, psychological, and physical — and that love is humanity’s deepest calling.

 Here is the official, beautiful, and powerful prayer of the Consecration:

“Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before thine altar. 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 to Thy most Sacred Heart.

 Be Thou King, O 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 unity of faith, so that soon there may be but one flock and one shepherd.

 Be Thou King of all those who even now sit in the shadow of idolatry or Islam, and refuse not to draw them into the light of Thy kingdom. Look, finally, with eyes of pity upon the children of that race, which was for so long a time Thy chosen people; and let Thy Blood, which was once invoked upon them in vengeance, now descend upon them also in a cleansing flood of redemption and eternal life.

 Grant, O 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.”

Abbot Sharbel Ewen, O.S.B.
Prince of Peace Abbey