ENTHRONEMENT OF THE SACRED HEART
"I will bless every place in which an image of My
Heart shall be exposed and honored."
The Ninth Promise of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The
devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a devotion of love. His love to us and
we respond to that love by offering our love to Him in return, first, by
consecrating ourselves and our family to Jesus.
But
to some, “consecrating” their selves to Jesus, may be too “holy” a term to use.
Many of us dread “holiness” because we immediately think it is unreachable.
But
as beautifully explained by Fr. Vic, “consecrating” ourselves to Jesus simply
means that we dedicate ourselves and our family to Jesus”. We “offer” ourselves
to Jesus.
Where
else will we start to respond to the love of the Sacred Heart and dedicate
ourselves to Jesus than in our very home. A Christian home where a throne of
love is installed in a prominent place for the Sacred Heart of Jesus, where His
supreme rights over our family is recognized and honored.
When we enthrone the image of the
Sacred Heart in our homes we restore our family to Jesus Christ. It is an
external recognition that our Lord is the real head of our home and no one
else.
Our Lord Himself has asked St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, to whom He revealed
His Sacred Heart, that He be allowed to reign over in our homes. He has
promised that He will bless every
place in which an Image of His Heart shall be exposed and honored.
And He is faithful to His promises.
But
enthronement of the Sacred Heart is just the first step and certainly not the
last. As devotees of the Sacred Heart, we get inspired to stay in love. Always
in love with Him. And if we are in love with Him, we will learn to forgive. For
what good is dedicating ourselves to Jesus and staying in love with Him if we
do not know how to forgive?
Along
the way of the devotion, because of many distractions, we may stumble and get
lost. Yes many times we will. But it is okay, we journey in the devotion fully
equipped.
The devotion is never without the Sacraments. It disciplines us to
regularly make good confessions and prepares us to receive the Blessed Sacrament
that makes beautiful our Sunday obligation. The sick is assured of the graces
of Final Sacrament.
The First Friday novena continually readies us to receive
the graces and sacraments necessary for our state of life. Countless couples
were bonded in matrimony or their shaky marriage fixed because of the devotion.
Many priests started out as devotees of the Sacred Heart and have deepened
their devotion now that they are priests.
Enthronement
is a simple solemn ceremony of love. Visit the parish office now and schedule
an enthronement in your home. Better yet, group yourselves with your neighbors
and together receive and install Jesus Christ as King of your homes, of your
neighborhood, of your street.
NOEL M. DAVID
Parish Pastoral Council
Makati City, Philippines
