Novena
Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Nine-day novena · begins The nine days before the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Friday after the Second Sunday after Pentecost
Nine days of prayer in preparation for the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. The received prayer appeals to the promises made to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque and asks one particular favour with confidence, ending in perfect resignation to whatever the Heart of Jesus decides.
Background
Devotion to the Sacred Heart was spread from the apparitions to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque at Paray-le-Monial between 1673 and 1675, and received its fullest magisterial exposition in Pius XII's encyclical Haurietis Aquas of 15 May 1956, which grounds the devotion in the wounded side of Christ rather than in private revelation. This novena is a private devotion prepared for the solemnity; its received form repeats the one prayer on each of the nine days, and the printed text adds a daily Offering of one's prayers, works, joys and sufferings in union with the Sacred Heart. The day-by-day subjects below are editorial and are not part of the prayer.
Days
Intention
confidence in the Sacred Heart of Jesus and one particular petition
Usually begun
The nine days before the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Friday after the Second Sunday after Pentecost
Structure
nine_days
Duration
9 days