Novena to the Sacred Heart
Feast: Friday after Corpus Christi (next: 4 Jun 2027)
When to pray: Pray the nine days ending on the Thursday before the feast of the Sacred Heart, which falls on the Friday after the second Sunday after Pentecost. A novena is prayed on nine consecutive days.
Prayer for each day
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, your love was opened for me on the Cross. Make my heart like yours: brave, humble and generous. I place this intention in your wounded side and trust in you. Amen.
Day by day
Day 1: A heart pierced for me
But one of the soldiers with a spear opened his side: and immediately there came out blood and water.
John 19:34, Douay-Rheims
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, on the Cross a soldier opened your side with a spear, and blood and water came out. Your Heart was pierced for me. Let me never forget the price of my redemption, and draw me into the wound of your love. Amen.
Day 2: Love that seeks the one who strays
What man of you that hath an hundred sheep, and if he shall lose one of them, doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after that which was lost, until he find it?
Luke 15:4, Douay-Rheims
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, you are the Good Shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to seek the one sheep that is lost. Seek out all who have strayed from you, especially those I love. Bring them home rejoicing, and never let me wander from you again. Amen.
Day 3: Mercy for the worst sins
And then come, and accuse me, saith the Lord: if your sins be as scarlet, they shall be made as white as snow: and if they be red as crimson, they shall be white as wool.
Isa 1:18, Douay-Rheims
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, though our sins be as scarlet, you can make them as white as snow. I bring you every sin of my life, even those I am most ashamed of. Wash me in your mercy, give me true contrition, and lead me to a good confession. Amen.
Day 4: Meek and humble of heart
Take up my yoke upon you, and learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart: And you shall find rest to your souls.
Matt 11:29, Douay-Rheims
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like yours. Take away my pride, my impatience and my harshness, and teach me to be gentle with others and humble before God. Amen.
Day 5: The heart that wept for a friend
And Jesus wept.
John 11:35, Douay-Rheims
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, you wept at the tomb of your friend Lazarus. You know grief from within. Comfort all who mourn, console those who are lonely, and teach me to weep with those who weep and to bring them your consolation. Amen.
Day 6: Rest for the weary
Come to me all you that labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you.
Matt 11:28, Douay-Rheims
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, you call all who labour and are burdened to come to you for refreshment. I come to you tired and weighed down. Take my burdens, give me your rest, and let me find in your Heart the peace the world cannot give. Amen.
Day 7: Reparation for ingratitude
O all ye that pass by the way, attend, and see if there be any sorrow like to my sorrow: for he hath made a vintage of me, as the Lord spoke in the day of his fierce anger.
Lam 1:12, Douay-Rheims
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, so much love is answered with coldness and ingratitude. In reparation for my own sins and the sins of the world, I offer you my love, my prayers and my sacrifices today. Accept them, and let them console your Heart. Amen.
Day 8: The Eucharist: the heart still with us
He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood abideth in me: and I in him.
John 6:57 [John 6:56], Douay-Rheims
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, you remain with us in the Most Holy Sacrament of the altar, and whoever eats your flesh abides in you and you in him. Increase my love for the Holy Eucharist, make me reverent before the tabernacle, and let every Communion unite my heart more closely to yours. Amen.
Day 9: Consecrating my home
But if it seem evil to you to serve the Lord, you have your choice: choose this day that which pleaseth you, whom you would rather serve, whether the gods which your fathers served in Mesopotamia, or the gods of the Amorrhites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord,
Jos 24:15 [Josh 24:15], Douay-Rheims
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, as Josue said, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. I consecrate myself, my family and my home to you. Reign over us, bless all our undertakings, comfort us in our sorrows, and be our refuge in life and at the hour of death. Amen.
Scripture
Douay-Rheims numbering (modern in brackets): Isa 1:18; John 11:35; John 19:34; John 6:57 [John 6:56]; Jos 24:15 [Josh 24:15]; Lam 1:12; Luke 15:4; Matt 11:28; Matt 11:29. Scripture index
Source
Written for The Crusade, 2026. How we check sources