The heart of Jesus burns with love for each one of us. In the devotion to His Sacred Heart, we find an invitation to draw closer to that love—especially when we are weary, wounded, or longing for renewal.
As we approach the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 27, the Church invites us to prepare our hearts through one of the most beloved Catholic devotions: the Novena to the Sacred Heart. This nine-day prayer is a way to place your heart in union with Christ’s—entrusting Him with your needs, your burdens, and your desire to love Him more deeply.
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In this blog:
- What Is the Novena to the Sacred Heart?
- Why Should You Pray It?
- How to Pray the Novena to the Sacred Heart
- Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Full Text)
What Is the Novena to the Sacred Heart?
The Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a nine-day prayer traditionally prayed in the days leading up to the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, which this year falls on Friday, June 27. This devotion emerged from the 17th-century visions of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, in which Jesus revealed His heart as a wellspring of mercy, love, and grace.
He asked that His Sacred Heart be honored in a special way—and that we turn to Him in trust, especially when we feel lost, anxious, or unworthy.
In praying this novena, we respond to that invitation.
Why Should You Pray It?
The Novena to the Sacred Heart helps us grow in trust, surrender, and personal intimacy with Jesus. It’s especially powerful to pray:
- When you’re burdened by anxiety, fear, or grief
- When you want to pray for healing—for yourself or a loved one
- When you desire a deeper awareness of Christ’s love
- In preparation for the Feast of the Sacred Heart
If you’ve ever struggled to believe that God loves you personally, this novena is for you.
“Behold this Heart which has so loved men.” —Jesus to St. Margaret Mary.
How to Pray the Novena to the Sacred Heart
The traditional dates for the novena are nine days before the feast—beginning on Wednesday, June 18, and ending on Thursday, June 26—but you can pray it anytime.
Here’s a simple structure to follow each day:
- Begin with the daily novena prayer (below).
- Offer your personal intention.
- End with a short prayer of trust or consecration to the Sacred Heart.
You can pray the novena alone or with others. Try to make space for quiet reflection each day—this isn’t just about asking for something but about receiving the love Christ longs to give.
Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Daily Novena Prayer (Days 1–9):
O my Jesus, You have said, “Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you.”
Behold I knock, I seek, and I ask for the grace of [state your intention].
Say: Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory Be…
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You.
O my Jesus, You have said, “Whatever you ask in My Name, I will do so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
Behold, in Your Name, I ask for the grace of [repeat your intention].
Say: Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory Be…
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You.
O my Jesus, You have said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words shall not pass away.”
Encouraged by Your infallible words, I now ask for the grace of [repeat your intention].
Say: Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory Be…
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, for whom it is impossible not to have compassion on the afflicted,
have mercy on us miserable sinners, and grant us the grace we ask of You,
through the sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Your tender Mother and ours.
Amen.
Say: Hail, Holy Queen…
St. Joseph, pray for us.
Amen.
Additional Resources
Go deeper in your prayer life! Check out these guides for simple, powerful prayers to connect with Christ every day:
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