SACRED HEART OF JESUS ✦Consecration of the United States of America

June 11, 2026  ·  Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

At the Initiative of Pope Leo XIV

250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence

A Comprehensive Guide for American Catholics and the Global Church

I. What Is a Consecration — and Why Does It Matter?

On June 11, 2026 — the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus — the bishops of the United States will formally consecrate the United States of America to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This marks the first such consecration in American history, undertaken at the initiative of Pope Leo XIV and timed to coincide with the nation's 250th anniversary.

The word consecration comes from the Latin consecrare — to make holy, to set apart for God. In the Catholic tradition, a consecration is an act of entrusting a person, family, nation, or even the whole world to God's love and care, placing that reality under divine protection and sovereignty. It is not a political declaration, nor does it impose a religious test on citizens. Rather, it is a solemn spiritual act performed by the Church on behalf of — and for the benefit of — all who dwell within a nation's borders.

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Archbishop Alexander K. Sample (USCCB Committee for Religious Liberty): "In the history of our nation, it's undoubtable and irrefutable that the faith — and our reliance on God — really was the foundation that our Founding Fathers placed this nation on. So at this time, as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, it's to remind all of us that — whatever civil government we might have — we are all under, ultimately, the kingship of Christ."

The devotion to the Sacred Heart — the physical, glorified heart of Jesus, symbol of His boundless love for humanity — traces its roots to the second century. It grew profoundly through the Middle Ages and was elevated to universal Catholic practice following the apparitions experienced by Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, a Visitation nun in Paray-le-Monial, France, in the 1670s. Jesus, she reported, revealed His heart as an image of His love for humanity and expressed a desire to be especially honored through it.

National consecrations to the Sacred Heart are not new in the global Church. Colombia, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, Portugal, Spain, and many other nations have been consecrated at various points in history. What is unprecedented is the formal consecration of the United States — a country founded, in part, on the principle of religious pluralism — by its Catholic bishops.

II. The Papal Initiative: Pope Leo XIV and His Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi Te

This consecration does not arise in a vacuum. It is embedded in a powerful convergence of recent papal teaching and a new pontifical chapter for the Church.

Pope Francis: Dilexit Nos (2024)

In October 2024, Pope Francis issued his final encyclical, Dilexit Nos — "He Loved Us" — entirely devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In it, he described the Sacred Heart as "the very core" of the Gospel and "a wellspring" for the whole Christian life. He called for a revival of Sacred Heart devotion for the modern era, arguing that a world increasingly numbed by technology, materialism, and political disillusionment has a desperate need to encounter the tenderness of the heart of Christ.

Pope Leo XIV: Dilexi Te (I Have Loved You)

Building upon Pope Francis's encyclical, the newly elected Pope Leo XIV issued his apostolic exhortation Dilexi Te — "I Have Loved You" — which provided the theological and pastoral framework that directly inspired the U.S. bishops' initiative. In Dilexi Te, Pope Leo XIV emphasizes that God has a special place in His heart for those who are discriminated against and oppressed, and he calls the Church to make a "decisive and radical choice in favor of the weakest."

In an address to the French bishops, Pope Leo XIV articulated the vision behind such consecrations: "There could be no more beautiful and simple program of evangelization and mission for your country: to help everyone discover the tender and devoted love that Jesus has for them, to the point of transforming their lives." The U.S. bishops explicitly heeded this call.

Pope Leo XIII: Annum Sacrum (1899)

Precedent for national and global consecrations dates to 1899, when Pope Leo XIII — at the urging of Saint Mary of the Divine Heart — consecrated all of humanity to the Sacred Heart in his encyclical Annum Sacrum. The present Pope Leo XIV, in taking that name, consciously invokes this heritage.

Pope Pius XII: Haurietis Aquas (1956)

Pope Pius XII's great encyclical on the Sacred Heart wrote that consecration is a way to recognize Christ's kingship — a "source and symbol of unity, salvation, and peace" — and that it is "altogether impossible to enumerate the heavenly gifts this devotion has poured out on the souls of the faithful." Bishop Kevin Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend cited this teaching when leading the USCCB vote in November 2025.

III. Why Now? The Three Pillars of the Consecration

Archbishop Sample articulated three essential reasons for the consecration, each with deep spiritual and civic significance:

1. Placing the Nation Under the Kingship of Christ

While the United States is a democratic republic and a civil society — intentionally pluralistic in its founding — the bishops affirm that no civil order can long endure without being ordered, ultimately, to God. This is not a theocratic claim; it is a theological one: that human dignity, the foundation of American democracy, is rooted in the fact that every person is made in the image of God. The consecration places the nation under divine providence and care.

2. Reparation for National Sins

The act of consecration includes an element of reparation — making amends to the heart of Christ for offenses committed across 250 years. Archbishop Sample was candid: "We are a great and blessed nation — but there are mistakes that we have made as a people over these 250 years." This is an invitation to national moral examination — acknowledging historical wrongs such as slavery, racial injustice, the treatment of indigenous peoples, and the exclusion of the vulnerable — and offering these to the merciful heart of Jesus for healing and reconciliation.

3. A Call to Greater Love for the Poor and Suffering

The third pillar is perhaps the most urgent for the present moment: that devotion to the Sacred Heart cannot remain a private piety. The heart of Christ burns with compassion for those who suffer. The consecration is a corporate commitment to allow that compassion to shape public life — in policy, in charity, in the daily choices of individuals, families, parishes, and institutions.

IV. What the Consecration Means for American Citizens

It is essential to understand what this consecration is and is not. It is a spiritual act of the Catholic Church — not a government proclamation, not a mandate, and not an imposition of religion. The United States remains a secular republic. What the consecration does is:

For Catholic Americans

• Formally entrust the nation to the Sacred Heart's protection and care, acknowledging collective dependence on God.

• Call every Catholic to renewed personal devotion to the Sacred Heart — not as nostalgia, but as a living encounter with Christ's love.

• Invite deeper engagement with the Church's social teaching: love of neighbor, care for the poor, defense of human dignity.

• Offer an opportunity for personal and communal examination of conscience — both for sins of commission and omission as citizens.

• Serve as an anchor of spiritual unity across an intensely polarized political landscape. According to a CNN/SSRS poll released April 2026, 77% of Americans believe the political system needs major changes or complete reform.

For Non-Catholic Americans

While this consecration is a formal act of the Catholic Church, its spiritual fruit extends beyond denominational lines. Historically, consecrations have been associated with healing, reconciliation, and renewed civic virtue. The USCCB is explicit that the act seeks to "perfect the temporal order with the spirit of the Gospel" — a goal shared, in various forms, by people of many faith traditions.

• Americans of all faiths — and even none — benefit when their neighbors are renewed in love, generosity, and commitment to the common good.

• The consecration does not subordinate civil law to Church authority; it asks Catholics to be better citizens, better neighbors, and more compassionate members of society.

• For non-Catholics who value moral renewal, reconciliation, and justice, the accompanying resources — particularly works of mercy and adoration hours — are an open invitation to parallel action within their own traditions.

The 250th Anniversary Context

The timing is deliberately significant. As Archbishop Sample notes, the founding ideals of the Republic — human dignity, liberty, justice — are themselves inseparable from a broadly theistic moral framework. The Founding Fathers, whatever their diverse personal beliefs, built the nation on the assertion that rights are endowed by a Creator. The consecration does not contradict American pluralism; it deepens the spiritual soil from which that pluralism grows.

V. Global Implications: Why the World Is Watching

The consecration of the United States carries profound significance for the universal Church and for the world community, for several reasons:

The United States as a Global Catholic Hub

With approximately 70 million Catholics — roughly 21% of the population — the United States is one of the largest Catholic communities on earth. The spiritual renewal of American Catholicism reverberates globally through missionary activity, philanthropic investment, media influence, diplomatic presence, and theological scholarship.

Pope Leo XIV's Broader Vision

Pope Leo XIV's apostolic exhortation Dilexi Te is addressed not to America alone but to the universal Church. The U.S. consecration is the first major expression of his pontificate's devotional emphasis, and it sets a template other episcopal conferences may follow. Several countries, including those in Latin America and Africa, have already renewed or expressed interest in their own Sacred Heart consecrations in response to Dilexi Te.

A Model for Renewal in Secular Democracies

Many Western democracies — France, Germany, the United Kingdom — face similar crises of political dysfunction, social fragmentation, and spiritual disorientation. The American consecration models a pathway: not theocracy, not cultural Christianity, but a spiritually grounded humanism rooted in the love of Christ's heart.

Healing and Reconciliation Across Nations

History offers striking precedents for the efficacy of national consecrations. When the Great Plague struck Marseille in 1720, the city's bishop consecrated it to the Sacred Heart — and residents attributed the plague's end to that act of trust. Nations in the Catholic tradition have long seen consecrations as turning points in periods of crisis. Whether viewed through a theological or sociological lens, the collective moral commitment embodied in a consecration has measurable effects on communities.

Solidarity with the Global Poor

Both Pope Leo XIV in Dilexi Te and the USCCB in its resources make explicit that the consecration must move beyond devotion to action. The Sacred Heart's love for the poor is not optional. The 250 hours of adoration and 250 works of mercy accompanying the consecration are designed to generate concrete, measurable solidarity — a movement that, if embraced globally, represents a significant mobilization of Catholic charitable energy.

VI. The Nine-Day Novena: June 3–11, 2026

The USCCB has provided an official Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, running from June 3 to June 11, each day drawing on the Litany of the Sacred Heart and offering a theme for prayer, learning, and action. The Novena is framed by Pope Francis's Dilexit Nos and Pope Leo XIV's Dilexi Te.

Each day follows a structure of Pray → Learn → Act, grounding devotion in both contemplation and concrete engagement with the world.

Below is a comprehensive guide to all nine days, with the official USCCB themes and key prayer content:

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Day 1  Heart of Jesus, Aflame with Love for Us
FOCUS Encounter with the living love of Christ. The Sacred Heart reveals Jesus's desire for personal relationship. VERSE "My heart is moved with pity for the crowd." — Mark 8:2	PRAYER 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. Grant all Your children the grace of encountering You. Amen. ACT OF LOVE Pray for one person in your life who is suffering today. Send them a message of care.

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Day 2  Heart of Jesus, Source of Justice and Love

FOCUS Christ's love moves us to care for the poor, the marginalized, and those living in fear. VERSE "Our best response to the love of Christ's heart is to love our brothers and sisters." — Pope Francis, Dilexit Nos

PRAYER Lord Jesus, You gave Your life for us. Your Sacred Heart is ablaze with love. Your hand extends toward me, 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. ACT OF LOVE Volunteer at or donate to your local Catholic Charities, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, or a justice organization.

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Day 3  Heart of Jesus, Worthy of All Praise

FOCUS Adoration of the Eucharistic heart of Jesus — the highest form of praise. VERSE "Heart speaks unto heart." — Cor ad cor loquitur (St. John Henry Newman's motto)

PRAYER O most Sacred, most loving Heart of Jesus, Thou art concealed in the Holy Eucharist, and Thou beatest for us still. I worship Thee 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 — let me not forget it. Amen. ACT OF LOVE Offer fifteen minutes of silent prayer before the Blessed Sacrament today.

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Day 4  Heart of Jesus, Patient and Full of Mercy
FOCUS Christ's patience and mercy toward sinners, modeled for us to extend to one another. VERSE "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." — Luke 6:36	PRAYER Sacred Heart of Jesus, fountain of mercy and patience, teach me to bear wrongs with grace. Where I have judged harshly, grant me understanding. Where I have been quick to anger, grant me peace. Let Your patience flow through me to those who have wounded me. Amen. ACT OF LOVE Practice one act of intentional forgiveness today — in thought, word, or deed — toward someone who has hurt you.

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Day 5  Heart of Jesus, Fountain of Life and Holiness

FOCUS The Sacred Heart as the source of all grace, sanctifying both persons and nations. VERSE "From his heart shall flow rivers of living water." — John 7:38

PRAYER O Heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing, I adore You, I love You, and with a lively sorrow for my sins, I offer You this poor heart of mine. Inflame it with that burning love for You which animated the hearts of the saints. Fix my heart in You alone. Amen. ACT OF LOVE Enthrone an image of the Sacred Heart in your home. Resources are available from the USCCB and the Knights of Columbus.

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Day 6  Heart of Jesus, Atonement for Our Sins

FOCUS The reparative dimension of the consecration — making amends for national and personal sins. VERSE "He was wounded for our transgressions... the chastisement that brought us peace was upon him." — Isaiah 53:5

PRAYER Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, to whom so many offenses have been committed, I desire to make reparation for the sins of my nation and my own life — for violence, injustice, the exploitation of the vulnerable, the silencing of the poor, and the worship of power over people. Have mercy on us, Lord. Amen. ACT OF LOVE Offer a fast, sacrifice, or act of penance today in a spirit of national reparation.

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Day 7  Heart of Jesus, Source of All Consolation
FOCUS The Sacred Heart as refuge for a nation exhausted by division, grief, and cynicism. VERSE "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." — Matthew 11:28	PRAYER O Jesus, my heart is troubled and the heart of my nation is deeply wounded. Into Your Sacred Heart I pour the griefs of families torn by poverty, illness, loneliness, and despair. Let Your consolation flow like a river into every broken heart in this land. Amen. ACT OF LOVE Reach out to someone isolated, grieving, or discouraged. Be a vessel of the Sacred Heart's consolation.

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Day 8  Jesus, Gentle and Humble of Heart

FOCUS Countercultural humility — the antidote to a culture of pride, power, and celebrity. VERSE "Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart." — Matthew 11:29

PRAYER Jesus, meek and humble of Heart, make my heart like unto Thine. Lord, I am not great; my nation is not always great in the ways it imagines itself to be. Grant us the courage to be small, to serve, to stoop — as You did at the Last Supper when You washed the feet of Your disciples. Amen. ACT OF LOVE Perform an act of humble service today that goes unrecognized: serve a stranger, clean something that others dirtied, give anonymously.

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Day 9  Consecration of the United States — The Final Day

FOCUS The culmination: bishops lead the nation in formal entrustment to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. VERSE "Behold this Heart which has so loved men." — Jesus to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

PRAYER O Sacred Heart of Jesus, to You we consecrate the United States of America. Receive this nation into Your love, shield it in Your mercy, and transform it by Your grace. May all who dwell within its borders — of every faith and no faith — know the dignity You gave them and the love You have for them. May our laws reflect Your justice, our culture reflect Your compassion, and our lives reflect Your love. Sacred Heart of Jesus, we trust in You. Amen. ACT OF LOVE Make a personal or family Act of Consecration. Enthrone the Sacred Heart. Commit to one ongoing work of mercy in the year ahead.

VII. Official Prayers of the Consecration

Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

(Official USCCB Prayer for the Consecration — usccb.org)

O Most Sacred Heart of Jesus,

King and center of all hearts,

dwell in our hearts and be our King;

grant us by Your grace

to love each other as brothers and sisters,

to be all for You and nothing for self,

to see You in all people

so that all our actions may redound to Your greater glory.

Amen.

Act of Consecration of the United States to the Sacred Heart

(Prayed at parishes on June 11, 2026)

O Sacred Heart of Jesus,

You who are Love itself —

infinite, tender, and faithful —

we consecrate to You this nation,

the United States of America:

its people, its families, its communities,

its leaders, its laws, its culture, and its future.

We place before You our history —

its glory and its shame,

its generosity and its injustice,

its courage and its cowardice —

and we ask for Your mercy upon us all.

May the fire of Your love

renew us as a people:

to choose dignity over division,

compassion over contempt,

justice over self-interest,

and truth over comfort.

Sacred Heart of Jesus,

protect all who dwell in this land.

Heal the wounds that divide us.

Stir within us a love

worthy of the love You have shown us.

We hold these truths —

that all are created in Your image,

that all are loved beyond measure by Your Heart —

and we entrust them to You now and always.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, we trust in You.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, reign in our hearts.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, make our nation new.

Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

(The prayer foundation of the Novena — to be prayed each day)

Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.

God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Son of the Eternal Father — have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, formed by the Holy Spirit in the womb of Mary — have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, substantially united to the Word of God — have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, of infinite Majesty — have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, holy temple of God — have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, tabernacle of the Most High — have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, house of God and gate of Heaven — have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, aflame with love for us — have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, source of justice and love — have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, worthy of all praise — have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, king and center of all hearts — have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, patient and full of mercy — have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, generous to all who invoke You — have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, fountain of life and holiness — have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, atonement for our sins — have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, overwhelmed with reproaches — have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, broken for our sins — have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, obedient even to death — have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, pierced by a lance — have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, source of all consolation — have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, our life and resurrection — have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation — have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, victim for our sins — have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, salvation of those who hope in You — have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, hope of those who die in You — have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, delight of all the saints — have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world — spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world — graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world — have mercy on us.

V. Jesus, meek and humble of Heart.

R. Make our hearts like unto Thine.

Let us pray: Almighty and eternal God,

look upon the Heart of Your most beloved Son

and upon the praises and satisfaction

which He offers You in the name of sinners;

and to those who implore Your mercy,

in Your great goodness, grant forgiveness

in the name of the same Jesus Christ, Your Son,

Who lives and reigns with You forever and ever. Amen.

VIII. How Everyone Can Participate — A Complete Guide

The USCCB, the Knights of Columbus, the Pope's Prayer Network, and dioceses across the country have developed an extensive array of participation opportunities. Below is a comprehensive and practical guide organized by audience.

A. American Catholics — Direct Participation

At Your Parish

1. Attend a Consecration Mass on June 11(the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart). Find your local parish at usccb.org/mass-times.

2. Pray the Novena daily from June 3–11, either personally, as a family, or in a parish group. A printable version is available at usccb.org/novena-sacred-heart-jesus.

3. Participate in a Holy Hour or Eucharistic Adoration focused on the consecration during the novena week. The USCCB invites a collective commitment to 250 hours of adoration nationwide.

4. Take part in parish-organized works of mercy. The USCCB has specifically invited 250 acts of mercy as a national offering.

5. Attend any local consecration ceremony organized by your diocese or cathedral.

In Your Home

6. Enthrone the Sacred Heart in your home using the rite provided by the USCCB and Knights of Columbus. This involves placing an image of the Sacred Heart in a prominent place and formally inviting Christ's reign into your domestic life.

7. Pray the Litany of the Sacred Heart as a family prayer during the novena week.

8. Make a personal Act of Consecration — offering yourself, your family, and your daily life to the Sacred Heart.

9. Read Pope Leo XIV's Dilexi Te and discuss it as a family or in a small group.

In Your Community

10. Perform works of mercy in your neighborhood — visit the sick, feed the hungry, clothe the poor, comfort the sorrowful.

11. Engage with the USCCB's Catholic Social Teaching Mustard Seed Commitments — small, sustainable pledges to care for neighbors and uphold human dignity.

12. Pray for elected officials and civic leaders at every level, using the USCCB's Intercessory Prayers for Public Servants.

13. Volunteer with Catholic Charities USA, the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, or a Catholic Campaign for Human Development–funded organization.

B. American Catholics — Indirect and Digital Participation

• Share the USCCB novena and consecration resources on social media with the hashtag (check usccb.org for the official tag).

• Watch or livestream the consecration ceremony from Orlando on June 11through EWTN, Catholic TV, or your diocese's media channels.

• Download and distribute the prayer card for the Sacred Heart consecration from the USCCB website.

• Listen to Sacred Heart consecration content on the USCCB's Catholic Current Podcast.

• Read the USCCB's "We Hold These Truths — America 250" video and article series, which highlights Catholic contributions to American history.

• Encourage your parish staff, deacons, and lay leaders to integrate Sacred Heart catechesis into June programming.

C. People Around the World — How to Participate

This consecration is explicitly framed within Pope Leo XIV's universal apostolic exhortation Dilexi Te. Catholics and people of goodwill around the world are invited to join in the following ways:

Catholics in Other Countries

• Pray the same USCCB Novena (June 3–11) in solidarity with American Catholics. It is freely available in English and Spanish at usccb.org.

• Organize a parallel Sacred Heart devotion or novena in your own parish, diocese, or community in the same week.

• Pray specifically for the healing, renewal, and just governance of the United States — a nation whose policies, culture, and leadership have global impact.

• Contact your own bishop to ask about a similar consecration for your country, in response to Dilexi Te.

• Participate via livestream in the June 11Consecration Mass.

Non-Catholic Christians

• Join in prayer for the renewal of the United States, even outside the specific framework of Catholic consecration.

• Read and reflect on the theological content of Dilexi Te and Dilexit Nos — both offer profound meditations on divine love accessible to all Christians.

• Coordinate a parallel week of prayer for national renewal within your own church or denomination during June 3–11.

• Perform works of mercy and charitable service in your community as an expression of shared Christian solidarity.

People of Other Faiths

• Offer prayers for the United States within your own tradition during the week of June 3–11.

• Join in local interfaith works of mercy — food drives, homeless outreach, care for refugees — as a parallel expression of solidarity.

• The moral vision animating this consecration — human dignity, care for the poor, reconciliation, justice — resonates across religious traditions.

Secular and Non-Religious Persons

• Even without a faith framework, the period of June 3–11 offers an invitation to reflect on what it means to love one's neighbors, to serve one's community, and to stand for human dignity.

• Acts of generosity, civic engagement, volunteering, and simple kindness are meaningful expressions of the values the consecration upholds.

IX. Complete Resource List

Official USCCB Resources

• Main consecration page: usccb.org/consecration-united-states-sacred-heart-jesus

• Novena (English and Spanish): usccb.org/novena-sacred-heart-jesus

• Prayer to the Sacred Heart: usccb.org/prayers/prayer-sacred-heart-jesus

• Litany of the Sacred Heart: usccb.org/prayers/litany-sacred-heart-jesus

• Printable Novena PDF: available at usccb.org (Sacred Heart Novena Full PDF)

• We Hold These Truths – America 250: usccb.org/weholdthesetruths

• Local parish celebrations: usccb.org/local-celebrations-consecration

• Dilexit Nos resources: usccb.org/dilexit-nos

• Dilexi Te resources: usccb.org/dilexi-te

Partner Organizations

• Knights of Columbus — Sacred Heart Pilgrim Icon and Enthronement resources: kofc.org/what-we-do/programs/faith/pilgrim-icon/

• Knights of Columbus Enthronement Booklet: available at files.kofc.org

• Pope's Prayer Network (USA): popesprayerusa.net/preparing-our-hearts-2026/

• Catholic Charities USA: catholiccharitiesusa.org

• Society of Saint Vincent de Paul: svdpusa.org

Papal Documents

• Dilexit Nos (Pope Francis, 2024): vatican.va— full text in multiple languages

• Dilexi Te (Pope Leo XIV): available via Vatican News and USCCB

• Haurietis Aquas (Pope Pius XII, 1956): papalencyclicals.net

• Annum Sacrum (Pope Leo XIII, 1899): papalencyclicals.net

X. A Final Word: What We Are Asking For

The Consecration of the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is, at its heart, a collective act of trust. It is the U.S. Catholic bishops — and, through them, the millions of American Catholics who join in prayer — saying to Christ: we cannot do this alone. We cannot heal our divisions by political cleverness. We cannot repair our injustices by legislation alone. We cannot restore hope to a cynical nation by our own ingenuity. We entrust this nation — its greatness and its failures, its potential and its wounds — to Your heart, which alone knows how to love without limit.

For those who are not Catholic, or not Christian, this act asks nothing of you except perhaps this: to consider whether the hunger for unity, dignity, and compassion that animates this consecration is one you share. If so, the next nine days are an invitation to act on it in whatever way your own conscience and tradition invite.

The Sacred Heart, in the Catholic tradition, is not a sentimental image. It is the symbol of a God who loved to the point of death, who took on flesh to be near us in our suffering, and who continues to offer, in every age and to every nation, the same inexhaustible gift: Come. I have loved you. Let me heal you.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, we trust in You.