1. When to pray the Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus?
The novena can be prayed at any time of the year, but it is traditionally prayed for nine consecutive days, often leading up to the Feast of the Sacred Heart, which is celebrated 19 days after Pentecost. Padre Pio would pray this Novena perpetually through entire year!
2. Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus prayers
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O my Jesus, you have said:
“Truly I say to you, ask and it will be given you, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you.”
Behold, I knock, I seek and ask for the grace of (mention your request here).
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Hail Mary, full of grace, The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us sinners, Now and at the hour of our death. Amen!
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
O my Jesus, you have said:
“Truly I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.”
Behold, in your name, I ask the Father for the grace of (mention your request here).
Our Father…
Hail Mary…
Glory Be…
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.
O my Jesus, you have said:
“Truly I say to you, heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away.”
Encouraged by your infallible words, I now ask for the grace of (mention your request here).
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 pity on us miserable sinners and grant us the grace which we ask of you, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, your tender Mother and ours.
Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus, pray for us.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
3. Print your Novena (PDF)
4. Litany to the Sacred Heart
Hail, Heart of Jesus, save me!
Hail, Heart of my Creator, perfect me!
Hail, Heart of my Savior, deliver me!
Hail, Heart of my Judge, grant me pardon!
Hail, Heart of my Father, govern me!
Hail, Heart of my Spouse, grant me love!
Hail, Heart of my Master, teach me!
Hail, Heart of my King, be my crown!
Hail, Heart of my Benefactor, enrich me!
Hail, Heart of my Shepherd, guard me!
Hail, Heart of my Friend, comfort me!
Hail, Heart of my Brother, stay with me!
Hail, Heart of the Child Jesus, draw me to yourself!
Hail, Heart of Jesus dying on the Cross, redeem me!
Hail, Heart of Jesus in all your states, give yourself to me!
Hail, Heart of incomparable goodness, have mercy on me!
Hail, Heart of splendor, shine within me!
Hail, most loving Heart, inflame me!
Hail, most merciful Heart, work within me!
Hail, most humble Heart, dwell within me!
Hail, most patient Heart, support me!
Hail, most faithful Heart, be my reward!
Hail, most admirable and most worthy Heart, bless me!
Lord Jesus,
let my heart never rest until it finds You,
who are its center, its love, and its happiness.
By the wound in Your heart,
pardon the sins that I have committed
whether out of malice or out of evil desires.
Place my weak heart in Your own divine Heart,
continually under Your protection and guidance,
so that I may persevere in doing good
and in fleeing evil until my last breath.
Amen.
5. The 12 Promises of the Sacred Heart
Jesus gave St. Margaret Mary 12 promises for those who honor His Sacred Heart, including:
-
I will give them all the graces necessary for their state in life.
-
I will establish peace in their families.
-
I will comfort them in their troubles.
-
I will be their secure refuge during life and, above all, in death.
-
I will bestow abundant blessings on all their undertakings.
-
Sinners will find in my Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.
-
Tepid souls shall become fervent.
-
Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection.
-
I will bless every place where an image of My Heart is honored.
-
I will give priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.
-
Those who promote this devotion will have their names written in My Heart.
-
I promise you, in the excessive mercy of My Heart, that My all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Communion on the First Fridays for nine consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they shall not die in My displeasure.
6. History of the Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
The Novena to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus has deep roots in the Catholic Church and reflects centuries of devotion to Christ’s divine love, mercy, and sacrifice. This novena, traditionally prayed over nine days, is one of the most beloved devotions among Catholics and is closely tied to the revelations of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 17th century.
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647–1690)
- A French nun of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary, she received a series of visions of Jesus between 1673 and 1675.
- Jesus revealed to her His Sacred Heart as a symbol of His immense love for humanity and expressed sorrow that His love was not returned.
- He asked for:
- A feast in honor of His Sacred Heart
- Communion on the First Fridays of nine consecutive months
- A Holy Hour of reparation
-
A novena leading up to the Feast of the Sacred Heart
In one of these visions, Jesus said:
“Behold this Heart which has so loved men that it has spared nothing, even to exhausting and consuming itself, in order to testify to them its love.”
Devotion to the Heart of Jesus: Early Foundations
-
Though devotion to the Heart of Jesus existed in some form since the early Church Fathers, it began to take clearer shape in medieval mysticism, particularly through saints like:
-
St. Bernard of Clairvaux
-
St. Gertrude the Great
-
St. Mechtilde of Helfta
-
-
These mystics reflected on the pierced side and heart of Christ as a symbol of His love, particularly drawing from John 19:34, where a soldier pierces Christ’s side, and blood and water flow out.
