This year (2026) marks the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding. In preparation for this historic moment, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will consecrate the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 11.
All are invited to join in the Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which the USCCB and people from across the nation will be praying from June 3-11, in preparation for the consecration. All are invited to pray then, or anytime between now and July 4.
As we prepare for this incredible occasion, let us turn to the Sacred Heart which reminds us that Christ’s love is not abstract or distant; His Heart beats for us.
A novena is a series of prayers repeated over nine consecutive days, aimed at asking for a special grace, making a specific petition, or simply deepening one’s devotion to God, the Virgin Mary, or the saints. The word “novena” comes from the Latin “novem,” meaning “nine,” and has deep roots in the history of Christianity.
The biblical origin of the novena can be found in the Acts of the Apostles, when Jesus’ disciples, along with the Virgin Mary, gathered to pray during the nine days between Jesus’ Ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. This event is seen as the first Christian novena, as the apostles, following Christ’s instructions, persevered in prayer while waiting for the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:12-14).
Since then, this practice has been adopted by the Church for times of special need, preparation for important feasts, or as a form of intercession before God through the saints.
When creating this novena, the USCCB drew inspiration from Pope Leo XIV’s apostolic exhortation, Dilexi Te (I Have Loved You), and Pope Francis’ encyclical, Dilexit Nos (He Loved Us).
On October 4, 2025, Pope Leo XIV released Dilexi Te — the first apostolic exhortation, or pastoral letter to encourage the faithful, of his pontificate. His message was shared to encourage and guide the faithful in love for each other, especially the poor.
On October 24, 2024, Pope Francis released Dilexit Nos — his fourth and final encyclical, which is a formal letter from the pope issued to communicate important teachings, guidance or pastoral messages to the Church.
The encyclical was issued during the 350th anniversary of the first apparition of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in France in 1673, one of four visions which led to the wide-spread devotion to the Sacred Heart.
In his encyclical, Pope Francis emphasized that nothing can separate humanity from Christ’s love. He also explored topics such as the heart as the core of our being, Jesus’ Heart as both human and divine, and concrete actions for living out Christ’s love in daily life.
Read Dilexi Te here:
https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/apost_exhortations/documents/20251004-dilexi-te.html
Read Dilexit Nos here: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/20241024-enciclica-dilexit-nos.html
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.
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.
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.
Amen.
(Meditations and Devotions,
London, 1912, Part III [XVI], par. 3, pp. 573-574).
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.
(Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul, 950).
Lord Jesus, Savior 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 glorifified in us and we may reflflect
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.
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.
Amen.
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.
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.” (Mt. 11:29)
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…
To obtain this grace of Your infifinite mercy I will very often repeat:
“O Jesus, gentle and humble of heart, make my heart like Yours!”
Amen.
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 the United States of America.
Who live and reign with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.
Amen.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!
