Sacred Devotions · Novenas
A novena is nine consecutive days of prayer — a tradition rooted in the nine days the Apostles and Our Lady spent in prayer between the Ascension and Pentecost. Each novena is a school of trust.
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."Matthew 7:7 · NABRE
Five Novenas
Fr. Dolindo Ruotolo · 1882–1970
"Why do you confuse yourselves by worrying? Leave the care of your affairs to Me and everything will be peaceful. I say to you in truth that every act of true, blind, complete surrender to Me produces the effect that you desire and resolves all difficult situations."
— Our Lord to Fr. Dolindo Ruotolo · St. Padre Pio called him "a living crucifix"
Why do you confuse yourselves by worrying? Leave the care of your affairs to me and everything will be peaceful. I say to you in truth that every act of true, blind, complete surrender to me produces the effect that you desire and resolves all difficult situations.
Surrender does not mean apathy or inertia. It means placing all your concerns in my hands, and then doing your duty — leaving the results to me. The more you trust me, the more you will receive. So often your prayers remain unanswered because you claim back what you have surrendered through anxiety and worry.
Pray always with faith, and do not be troubled if my response does not come immediately. I come quickly when you surrender to me. If you do not see the results, look to your own heart — perhaps you have reclaimed your concerns through anxious thinking. Simply say again: O Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything!
If you could see how I work in the depths of your soul, you would be filled with wonder. I know all things — your present, your past, your future. I know exactly what you need. Give me your work, your worries, your fears. I will work in ways you cannot imagine.
Have no fear. I am here. I am with you. Do not look at the storm — look at me. Peter sank not from the weight of the waves, but from the weight of his doubt. When fear rises, say again: O Jesus, I surrender myself to you. Trust that I am already working all things together for your good.
I am God and I do not change. My promises are certain. My love does not waver. What I have begun, I will bring to completion. Your role is not to manage the outcome — your role is to trust. When you trust completely, I am free to act completely.
Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy burdened, and I will give you rest. Do not try to carry what only I can carry. Place it in my hands — truly place it, not take it back through worry — and rest in my peace.
You cannot surrender through willpower alone. Ask me for the grace to surrender. Pray: Lord, teach me to abandon myself to You. Give me the faith of a child. Let me release my grip on the outcomes I cling to, and fall freely into Your arms. You will catch me. You always catch me.
You have completed this novena. But surrender is not a prayer prayed once — it is a way of life. Each morning, offer me your day. Each time anxiety rises, surrender it. My yoke is easy and my burden is light — because when you truly surrender, I carry everything. Mary, I surrender! St. Joseph, I surrender! To God alone be glory.
Traditional · Prayed before Pentecost or any time
"Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth."
— Traditional Prayer to the Holy Spirit
O Holy Spirit, Soul of my soul, I adore You. Enlighten me, guide me, strengthen me, console me. Tell me what I should do; give me Your orders. I promise to submit to whatever You desire of me and to accept all that You permit to happen to me. Let me only know Your will. Come, Holy Spirit, come by means of the powerful intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Your well-beloved spouse.
Holy Spirit, grant me the gift of understanding — that I may perceive the deep things of God, and see all creation as He sees it. May my mind be opened to the Word of God, that Scripture may be not merely words on a page but living fire. Lord, let me understand what You ask of me, and give me the courage to do it.
O Holy Spirit, in every moment of uncertainty, be my Counselor. When I do not know which path to take, speak to me. When I am tempted to follow the voice of the world, recall me to Your voice — still and small, yet more powerful than thunder. Grant me the gift of counsel, that I may always choose what is right, what is holy, what is pleasing to God.
Holy Spirit, I am weak. I fail. I grow tired and discouraged. Grant me the gift of fortitude — the courage to do what is right even when it costs me everything; to stand firm in faith even when the world laughs; to persevere in prayer even when I feel nothing. Be my strength when I have none of my own.
O Spirit of God, enlighten my mind with true knowledge — not merely information, but the knowledge that saves; the knowledge that all things pass, that only God endures; the knowledge that leads to repentance and to love. Let me know myself as I truly am before You, and let me know You as You truly are — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit, fill me with the gift of piety — a tender, childlike devotion to God the Father. Let me approach Him not with fear but with love; not as a slave but as a beloved child. And let this same tenderness extend to all people, that I may see in every face the image of God. Make me gentle, patient, and compassionate.
O Holy Spirit, grant me holy fear — not the fear of a slave, but the reverence of a child who loves his Father and trembles at the thought of offending Him. Let the weight of God's holiness rest on my soul, that I may never sin lightly, never treat grace cheaply, never take for granted the gift of His mercy.
Holy Spirit, You descended at Pentecost as tongues of fire. Come again to me — burn away what is not of God. Consume my pride, my fear, my sin. Leave behind only what is pure and holy and useful for Your Kingdom. Set me on fire with love for God and for my neighbor.
Come, Holy Spirit, Living Water — quench the thirst of my soul. Come, Holy Spirit, Gentle Dove — grant peace to my restless heart. Come, Holy Spirit, Sweet Guest of the soul — make me Your dwelling place, now and forever. Renew the face of the earth — and begin with me. Amen.
✦︎ Two novenas · One devotion
There are two distinct novenas to the Sacred Heart prayed during June — both beautiful, both worthy.
The Efficacious Novena — prayed daily by St. Padre Pio for all who asked his intercession. Short, humble, anchored in the three Gospel petitions. Timeless and traditionally prayed June 3–11 before the Solemnity.
The USCCB Novena (2026) — written this year for the consecration of the United States to the Sacred Heart on June 11. Each day draws from the Litany of the Sacred Heart and the wisdom of saints and pontiffs, framed by Dilexit Nos and Pope Leo XIV's Dilexi Te. A novena for this particular historic moment.
Many Catholics are praying both. Choose one, or pray them together.
Traditional · St. Padre Pio prayed this daily for all who asked him
"I will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life. I will establish peace in their homes. I will comfort them in all their afflictions. I will be their secure refuge during life, and above all in death."
— Our Lord's Twelve Promises to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I come to You with all my heart. I offer you all that I have and am — my joys and my sorrows, my failures and my hopes. You are the source of every good thing; apart from You I can do nothing. Lord, grant me the grace I seek in this novena, if it be Your will and for the good of my soul. I trust in Your infinite love and mercy.
O Heart of Jesus, burning furnace of love — You loved us first. Before we turned to You, You were already turned toward us. Before we sought You, You were already seeking us. Your love is not earned but freely given, not deserved but poured out in abundance. Let me rest in that love today. Let me receive it without striving, without fear.
O Sacred Heart, You are patient and most merciful — Your mercy endures forever. I bring to You today all my sins, my failures, my shame. Cast them into the ocean of Your mercy. You said: "Come to me, all you who are weary." I am weary, Lord. I come. Make my heart more like Yours — humble, gentle, and merciful to others as You are to me.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, You promised to establish peace in our homes. I offer You my home, my family, my relationships. Where there is conflict, bring reconciliation. Where there is coldness, kindle warmth. Where there is fear, bring Your peace. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you." John 14:27
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, pierced by a lance on Calvary — from Your open side flowed water and blood, the sacraments of the Church, the life of the world. Every wound You bore was for me. Every drop of blood was for my salvation. Let me never wound You again by deliberate sin. And when I fall, let me run to You rather than away from You.
O Jesus, You promised that whoever receives Holy Communion on nine consecutive First Fridays shall not die without receiving the graces necessary for final perseverance. This is the Great Promise — a promise of salvation rooted in Your mercy. I unite my prayer today with all those who honor Your Sacred Heart throughout the world. May devotion to Your Heart spread to every corner of the earth.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, to You I consecrate and offer up my person and my life, my actions, trials, and sufferings, that my entire being may be employed in loving, honoring, and glorifying You. This firm resolution I now make — never to sin again, and to avoid all occasions of sin, so that I may live and die as Your true servant and child. Amen.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, You told St. Margaret Mary: "Behold this Heart which has so loved men, and which has been so little loved in return." Lord, I am sorry for every moment I ignored You, every day I went about without a thought of You. I love You, Lord. I want to love You more. Teach me to love You as You deserve to be loved.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, Your Kingdom come. Reign over my heart, my home, my country, and the whole world. May every heart know You, love You, and rest in You. I offer this novena for all the intentions I have carried in my heart these nine days. You know them all. You know what I truly need. I place everything in Your Sacred Heart, and I trust You completely. Amen.
USCCB · June 3–11, 2026 · Consecration of the United States
"Let us pray together that each one of us might find consolation in a personal relationship with Jesus, and from His Heart, learn to have compassion on the world."
— Pope Leo XIV · Prayer Intention for June 2026
Lord, I come to Your tender Heart today, to You who have words that set my heart ablaze, to You who pour out compassion on the little ones and the poor, on those who suffer, and on all human miseries. I desire to know You more, to contemplate You in the Gospel, to be with You and learn from You and from the charity with which You allowed Yourself to be touched by all forms of poverty. You showed us the Father's love by loving us without measure with Your divine and human Heart. Grant all Your children the grace of encountering You. Change, shape, and transform our plans, so that we seek only You in every circumstance: in prayer, in work, in encounters, and in our daily routine. From this encounter, send us out on mission, a mission of compassion for the world in which You are the source from which all consolation flows. Amen.
While reflections on the heart of Jesus date to the earliest writings of Christianity, the modern devotion to the Sacred Heart began in 17th century France when Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque received visions of Jesus revealing his heart burning with love for humanity. In this revelation, Jesus expressed his desire to be honored in a special way through his Sacred Heart.
This devotion grew when Pope Pius IX extended the observance to the universal Church in 1856, and later when Saint Mary of the Divine Heart urged Pope Leo XIII to consecrate the world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which he did in 1899 through his encyclical, Annum Sacrum.
There have been four papal encyclicals on the Sacred Heart: Annum Sacrum, Pope Pius XI's 1928 Miserentissimus Redemptor, Pope Pius XII's 1956 Haurietis Aquas, and Pope Francis' 2024 Dilexit Nos — on the human and divine love of the heart of Jesus Christ.
Take time today to read Dilexit Nos and explore Pope Francis' final encyclical on the Sacred Heart.
Lord Jesus, You gave your life for us. Your Sacred Heart is ablaze with love. Your hand extends towards me, and towards all, offering love, mercy, and healing. Sacred Heart of Jesus may your love transform me. Burn away my hesitation that I may become your love and radiate your mercy. Amen.
Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque wrote: "I received from my God excessive graces of his love, and I felt moved by the desire to respond to some of them and to respond with love for love" (Autobiography, no. 55).
Both Pope Francis in Dilexit Nos and Pope Leo XIV in Dilexi Te teach us that our encounter with the love of Christ's heart allows us to build up God's kingdom in this world. Pope Leo emphasizes that "God has a special place in his heart for those who are discriminated against and oppressed, and he asks us, his Church, to make a decisive and radical choice in favor of the weakest" (Dilexi Te, no. 16).
For centuries, the Church has established missions centered on the love of the heart of Christ. The Society of the Sacred Heart, founded in 1800, holds in its constitution: "Caught up as we are in the desires of the heart of Jesus, we want people to grow in dignity, as human beings and as children of God."
Consider who is rejected, vulnerable, or living in fear today. How does the Sacred Heart invite you to respond to their needs and suffering?
You can get involved with your local Catholic Charities, Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, or a Catholic Campaign for Human Development funded group.
O most Sacred, most loving Heart of Jesus, Thou art concealed in the Holy Eucharist, and Thou beatest for us still… I worship Thee then with all my best love and awe, with my fervent affection, with my most subdued, most resolved will. O my God, when Thou dost condescend to suffer me to receive Thee, to eat and drink Thee, and Thou for a while takest up Thy abode within me, O make my heart beat with Thy Heart.
— St. John Henry Newman, Meditations and DevotionsSaint John Henry Newman took the episcopal motto Cor ad cor loquitur — "Heart speaks unto heart" — understanding that the Lord saves us by speaking to our hearts from his Sacred Heart. It was in the Holy Eucharist that Newman cultivated his deepest encounter with the living heart of Jesus.
Pope Francis reflects in Dilexit Nos that it is in the Eucharist that the ever-present love of the Sacred Heart invites us into union with Christ. The Holy Father warns that in the frenetic pace of today's world, "we forget to nourish our lives with the strength of the Eucharist," and recommends spending an hour in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament every Thursday.
Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque once saw Christ in meditation before the Blessed Sacrament: "Opening his robe, he revealed his most loving and lovable heart, which was the living source of those flames" (Autobiography, no. 55).
Seek to deepen your relationship with the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Eucharist. Consider taking up Pope Francis' challenge to hold weekly adoration on Thursday.
Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself. Amen.
— St. Faustina Kowalska, Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul, 950Saint John Paul II reflects that when we draw close to the heart of Christ, it is revealed that the "merciful love of the Father constituted the central content of the messianic mission of the Son of Man" (Dives in Misericordia, 1980).
Saint Gregory the Great instructs us to "learn the Heart of God in the words of God" — and we see the heart of God revealed when Jesus quotes the prophet Hosea: "Go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice'" (Matthew 9:13).
Pope Leo XIV points to the parable of the Good Samaritan as the ultimate example of Christ's merciful love: "The final words of the Gospel parable — 'Go and do likewise' (Lk 10:37) — represent a mandate that every Christian must daily take to heart" (Dilexi Te, no. 107).
Pope Francis reminds us that "even in our slightest works of mercy, his heart is glorified and displays all its grandeur" (Dilexit Nos, no. 203).
Lord Jesus, Saviour of the world and source of holiness, look with kindness on all whom you have chosen to be Missionaries of your loving Heart. Ask your heavenly Father to keep us in your love, and sanctify us in the truth so that you may be glorified in us and we may reflect your goodness. Ask your Father to keep us from evil that we may always be united in bonds of love. As you are one with your Father, so may we be one with each other in your divine Heart, whose sentiments shall forever be ours and to which we consecrate ourselves in time and for eternity. Amen.
— Servant of God Fr. Jules Chevalier, founder of the Missionaries of the Sacred HeartThe devotion of the wounds of Christ as the fountain of life and holiness dates to the earliest Christians. Origen of Alexandria wrote: "Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water" (In Num. homil. 12, 1).
In the 13th century, Saint Bonaventure connected the salvation flowing from Christ's pierced heart to the sacramental life of the Church, reflecting that the price of our salvation flows "from the hidden wellspring of his heart, enabling the Church's sacraments to confer the life of grace" (Lignum Vitae).
Pope Francis taught that "in contemplating the pierced heart of the Lord, who 'took our infirmities and bore our diseases,' we too are inspired to be more attentive to the sufferings and needs of others" (Dilexit Nos, no. 171).
Among Our Lord's Twelve Promises to those who venerate his Sacred Heart: "I will bless the home in which the image of my Sacred Heart shall be exposed and honored."
My Jesus, I love You with my whole heart. I am sorry for having so many times offended Your infinite goodness. With the help of Your grace, I purpose never to offend You again. And now, unworthy though I am, I consecrate myself to You without reserve. I renounce and give entirely to You my will, my affection, my desires, and all that I possess.
— St. Alphonsus Liguori, founder of the RedemptoristsPope Pius XI connects our love for Christ with the realization that the wounds we inflict on others are the same wounds inflicted on Our Lord on the cross: "Anyone possessed of great love for God, and who looks back to the past, can dwell in meditation on Christ, and see him laboring for man, sorrowing, suffering the greatest hardships, 'for us men and for our salvation'" (Miserentissimus Redemptor, no. 13).
A central element of devotion to the Sacred Heart is reparation — the practice of making amends for the wrongs we have done, asking Christ to forgive our sins and convert our hearts to love as he loves.
We also take this moment to repent as a nation for the sins of our country's past, asking Christ to forgive the offenses against human dignity that have taken place in this land.
Pope Pius XI recommends making a Communion of Reparation or a Holy Hour for the atoning of sins (Miserentissimus Redemptor, no. 12).
I believe, O Lord, but strengthen my faith... Heart of Jesus, I love Thee; but increase my love. Heart of Jesus, I trust in Thee; but give greater vigor to my confidence. Heart of Jesus, I give my heart to Thee; but so enclose it in Thee that it may never be separated from Thee. Heart of Jesus, I am all Thine; but take care of my promise so that I may be able to put it in practice even unto the complete sacrifice of my life. Amen.
— Blessed Miguel Pro, S.J.In Dilexit Nos, Pope Francis describes the consoling nature of devotion to the Sacred Heart as "flesh and blood in the Church's pilgrimage through history" — a mutual sharing of suffering between Christ and us (no. 157).
Saint Francis de Sales teaches that all our names are written on the heart of God: "Surely it is a source of profound consolation to know that we are loved so deeply by our Lord, who constantly carries us in his heart" (Sermon for the Second Sunday of Lent, 1622).
Pope Francis tells us: "The grief that we feel in our hearts gives way to complete trust and, in the end, what endures is gratitude, tenderness, peace; what endures is Christ's love reigning in our lives" (Dilexit Nos, no. 161).
Every day, Padre Pio would pray the Efficacious Novena to the Sacred Heart for the intentions of all who asked him to pray, ending each intention with "Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you."
O Jesus! When You were a Pilgrim on earth, You said: "Learn of Me for I am gentle and humble of heart and you will find rest for your souls." O Mighty Monarch of Heaven, my soul finds rest in seeing You, clothed in the form and nature of a slave, humbling Yourself to wash the feet of Your apostles… I beg You, my Divine Jesus, to send me a humiliation whenever I try to set myself above others. I know that You humble the proud soul but to the one who humbles one's self, You give an eternity of glory… "O Jesus, gentle and humble of heart, make my heart like Yours!"
— St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the Little FlowerSaint John Paul II notes that only once in Scripture does Jesus refer to his own heart — when he instructs us to learn from his humility and gentleness in Matthew 11. The Holy Father concludes that Our Lord stresses these features "as if to say that only in this way does he wish to win us to himself" (Catechesis, June 20, 1979).
Saint Claude de La Colombière reflected on Christ's heart during his greatest hours of suffering: during the Passion, his heart remained firmly directed to God. Despite the betrayal of Judas and the abandonment of his apostles, Christ responded not with hatred or indignation — but forgiveness.
Saint Vincent de Paul teaches: "We should remember that [Christ] himself said that by gentleness we inherit the earth. If we act on this, we will win people over so that they will turn to the Lord" (Common Rules of the Congregation of the Mission, 1658).
Devotion to the Sacred Heart allows us to put aside our pride and respond to the challenges of life with gentleness and grace.
O Most Sacred Heart of Jesus: You know the longings of our hearts, and you desire that we enjoy friendship with you. From your pierced side, you have poured out the wellspring of life, for which we thirst. Your heart burns with a love for all people to return to a right relationship with you. We celebrate the abundant gifts you have given this nation, founded on the self-evident truths that our Creator has endowed all people with the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We make reparation for the offenses against you and against human dignity that have taken place in this nation. May our hearts be united to yours, so that our families and communities enjoy peace and happiness; may broken relationships be reconciled, injustices repaired, and the wounds of our land be healed. May your holy Catholic Church serve as a sign, pointing all people to your infinite love. O Desire of Nations and Center of History, we ask you to bless these United States of America. Who live and reign with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Why do we consecrate to the Sacred Heart of Jesus? In the first such act in 1899, Pope Leo XIII wrote in Annum Sacrum: "Since there is in the Sacred Heart a symbol and the express image of the infinite love of Jesus Christ that moves us to love one another, it is fit and proper that we should consecrate ourselves to his most Sacred Heart."
Saint John Paul II reflected on consecration as inseparable from mission: "Consecration thus understood is to be joined to the missionary activity of the Church herself, because it answers the desire of Jesus' Heart to propagate in the world, through the members of his Body, his total dedication to the kingdom."
The message of consecration, he said, is "necessary for humanity today": only in Christ's love can we discover the gentleness and forgiveness needed to heal the conflicts that wound our world (Angelus, 2002).
As we conclude this novena, Pope Francis invites us: "There are moments when [Jesus] speaks to us inwardly, calls us and leads us to a better place. That better place is his heart. There he invites us to find fresh strength and peace: 'Come to me, all who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest'" (Dilexit Nos, no. 43).
Traditional · For Families, Marriages & Vocations
"Jesus, Mary, and Joseph — in you we contemplate the splendor of true love. To you we turn with trust."
— Pope Francis, Amoris Laetitia
O Holy Family of Nazareth — Jesus, Mary, and Joseph — you are the model of every Christian family. In your home, God Himself was loved and served. In your simple daily life — the work, the meals, the prayer, the silence — the Kingdom of Heaven was present. Holy Family, I place my family before you today. Make our home a little Nazareth — a place of love, faith, and peace.
O Blessed Virgin Mary, you are the most perfect of all mothers — tender and strong, joyful and sorrowful, always turned toward your Son. You carried God in your arms. You taught Him to walk, to pray, to love. Intercede for all mothers — those who are tired, those who are grieving, those who are raising children alone. Cover them with your mantle. Give them your patience, your love, your faith.
O St. Joseph, silent and strong, faithful and just — you protected the Holy Family at every turn. You rose in the night when God called. You carried your family into exile to keep them safe. You worked with your hands to provide for them. Intercede for all fathers — that they may be present, faithful, courageous, and tender. Raise up holy fathers for a wounded world.
Holy Family, you know what it is to suffer. You fled as refugees. You lost Jesus for three days in Jerusalem — and Mary's heart was pierced with grief. You know estrangement and reunion, loss and consolation. Bring healing to families that are broken — by addiction, by divorce, by estrangement, by death. Where there are wounds, bring Your mercy. Where there is bitterness, bring forgiveness.
Lord Jesus, You were once a child in Mary's arms. You grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man. Protect all children — those who are loved and those who are unloved; those who are safe and those who are in danger. Holy Family, watch over every child. May every child know that they are seen, loved, and precious in God's sight.
Holy Family, you lived the fullness of vocation — Mary and Joseph in holy marriage, consecrated to God; Jesus as the Eternal Word poured out for the salvation of the world. Help all who are discerning their vocation: to marriage, to priesthood, to religious life, to consecrated celibacy. May every person find and live the vocation God has prepared for them from the beginning.
The family is the domestic church — the first school of prayer, the first community of faith, the first place where the Gospel is lived. Holy Family, renew this vision in our hearts. Help parents to pray with their children, to make the home a place where God is spoken of naturally and freely. May our homes be places of encounter with the living God.
O Holy Family, for thirty years you lived hidden in Nazareth — washing clothes, preparing meals, working at the carpenter's bench, praying together at day's end. In this ordinary life, the Son of God was glorified. Teach me to find God in the ordinary — in the routine, the repetition, the small sacrifices of daily life. Let nothing be "merely" ordinary when it is offered to God.
O Holy Family of Nazareth, at the end of this novena I entrust to you all that I have asked for in these nine days — my family, my loved ones, my own vocation, and the families of the world. You are our model and our hope. In you we see that love is possible, that fidelity is beautiful, that the ordinary life, lived for God, is the greatest life of all. May we one day be united with you in the joy of the Father's house. Amen.