Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus: A June Tradition

June is traditionally dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This is a beautiful opportunity for Catholic families to deepen their love for Him. One powerful way to do this is by enthroning the Sacred Heart in your home, declaring: ‘Jesus is King of our home and family life.’

What is the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart?

To ‘enthrone’ the Sacred Heart means to give Our Lord a place of honour in our home. This is done through a special ceremony in which a blessed image or statue of the Sacred Heart is placed in a prominent location, followed by prayers of consecration and commitment.

The Enthronement is an outward sign of an inward reality: Jesus is King of your family and home.

How to prepare for the Enthronement

Here are some steps you can take to prepare:

Invite a priest: In order to gain the indulgences attached to the Enthronement, the family should invite a priest to lead the ceremony. If this is not possible, the head of the household may lead the prayers.
Choose an image: If you do not already have one, find a picture or statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. If possible, have it blessed beforehand.
Create a prayer space: If you have an image, you can hang it on the wall. If you have a statue you can set up a small ‘throne’ or altar, e.g. a shelf, mantel, or table. Cover it with a cloth and decorate with flowers, candles or any other symbols of faith.
Gather the family: Make this a special occasion by having the whole family present. Encourage children to participate; they can place the flowers, light candles, or read a short prayer.
Attend Mass: If possible, attend Mass as a family and receive Holy Communion that day or in the days leading up to the ceremony.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

The ceremony

Begin with the Sign of the Cross.
If not already done, the Priest may bless the image or statue with Holy Water.
Place the image or statue of the Sacred Heart in the place of honour.
Recite the Apostles’ Creed together. This can be followed by an optional reading of a Scripture passage (John 15:9-17 or Matthew 11:28-30).
All kneel. Then, the Priest or head of household leads the family in the official Consecration of the Family to the Sacred Heart [link]. This is a form approved by St. Pius X on 19 May 1908, and is required to gain the indulgences.
Finish with prayers of thanksgiving and intercession, asking Jesus to bless your family.

You may also want to write down the date and frame a certificate of your family’s consecration as a lasting reminder.

Below is a printable PDF of the Consecration of the Family to the Sacred Heart, which you can use.

This prayer expresses your family’s desire to love Jesus more deeply, to live according to His will, and to allow His peace to reign in your home.

Make it a celebration

After the ceremony, take time to celebrate! Plan a small party or prepare a special meal or dessert, play joyful music, and spend time together as a family. You can find our how-to instructions for this beautiful Sacred Heart of Jesus Cake that the kids will love!

Living the Enthronement daily

The enthronement is not a one-time gesture. It’s a way of life. To keep this devotion alive in your family, consider:

Praying together daily, especially before the image of the Sacred Heart.
Observing the First Fridays of each month by attending Mass and making acts of reparation.
Honouring the month of June by keeping flowers by the ‘throne’ in the month of June and celebrating the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart with renewed prayer and thanksgiving.
Renew your Consecration yearly on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart or anniversary of enthronement.

A Source of Grace and Peace

In a world filled with distractions and fear, the Sacred Heart offers a refuge of mercy, love, and peace. You can find the 12 Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus here: