Novena in Honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

THE FIRST DAY

With the Blessed Virgin, the Seraphim, and the Holy Patriarchs.

Adore often the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ in the most Holy Sacrament, humble yourself before the infinite majesty of God the Father, and offer continually to Him the purest and most profound homages.

Practice--Renew in your soul the most lively sentiments of respect and adoration for God, and frequently make these acts.

Prayer of St. Alphonsus Liguori to the Sacred Heart

O Adorable heart of my Jesus, heart created expressly for the love of men! Until now I have shown towards Thee only ingratitude. Pardon me, O my Jesus. Heart of my Jesus, abyss of love and of mercy, how is it possible that I do not die of sorrow when I reflect on Thy goodness to me and my ingratitude to Thee? Thou, my Creator, after having created me, hast given Thy blood and Thy life for me; and, not content with this, Thou hast invented a means of offering Thyself up every day for me in the holy Eucharist, exposing Thyself to a thousand insults and outrages. Ah, Jesus, do Thou wound my heart with a great contrition for my sins, and a lively love for Thee. Through Thy tears and Thy blood give me the grace of perseverance in Thy fervent love until I breathe my last sigh. Amen.

THE SECOND DAY

With the Blessed Virgin, the Cherubim, and the Holy Prophets.

Adore the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which solicits, night and day, the mercy of God in our favour, and incessantly offers itself in sacrifice for the expiation of our sins.

Practice--Recall to your mind, in the bitterness of your soul, the enormity of your sins; implore this Sacred Heart to give you a true contrition for them, and unite the sorrow which you endeavour to conceive with that which our Lord experienced in His adorable Heart.

Prayer of St. Alphonsus Liguori to the Sacred Heart

O Adorable heart of my Jesus, heart created expressly for the love of men! Until now I have shown towards Thee only ingratitude. Pardon me, O my Jesus. Heart of my Jesus, abyss of love and of mercy, how is it possible that I do not die of sorrow when I reflect on Thy goodness to me and my ingratitude to Thee? Thou, my Creator, after having created me, hast given Thy blood and Thy life for me; and, not content with this, Thou hast invented a means of offering Thyself up every day for me in the holy Eucharist, exposing Thyself to a thousand insults and outrages. Ah, Jesus, do Thou wound my heart with a great contrition for my sins, and a lively love for Thee. Through Thy tears and Thy blood give me the grace of perseverance in Thy fervent love until I breathe my last sigh. Amen.

THE THIRD DAY

With the Blessed Virgin, the Thrones, and the Holy Apostles.

Adore the Sacred Heart of Jesus, presenting to the Eternal Father our good works and our prayers, and supplying our deficiences towards the infinite Majesty of God.

Practice--Thank God for having given you so powerful a Mediator, and endeavour to conform daily more and more to the sentiments of this Sacred Heart.

Prayer of St. Alphonsus Liguori to the Sacred Heart

O Adorable heart of my Jesus, heart created expressly for the love of men! Until now I have shown towards Thee only ingratitude. Pardon me, O my Jesus. Heart of my Jesus, abyss of love and of mercy, how is it possible that I do not die of sorrow when I reflect on Thy goodness to me and my ingratitude to Thee? Thou, my Creator, after having created me, hast given Thy blood and Thy life for me; and, not content with this, Thou hast invented a means of offering Thyself up every day for me in the holy Eucharist, exposing Thyself to a thousand insults and outrages. Ah, Jesus, do Thou wound my heart with a great contrition for my sins, and a lively love for Thee. Through Thy tears and Thy blood give me the grace of perseverance in Thy fervent love until I breathe my last sigh. Amen.

THE FOURTH DAY

With the Blessed Virgin, the Dominations, and the Holy Martyrs.

Adore the Sacred Heart of Jesus burning with love for you, and asking as a favour that you love it.

Practice--Pay some visits to this Sacred Heart, to return it thanks for the love it bears towards you, and to testify your love for it.

Prayer of St. Alphonsus Liguori to the Sacred Heart

O Adorable heart of my Jesus, heart created expressly for the love of men! Until now I have shown towards Thee only ingratitude. Pardon me, O my Jesus. Heart of my Jesus, abyss of love and of mercy, how is it possible that I do not die of sorrow when I reflect on Thy goodness to me and my ingratitude to Thee? Thou, my Creator, after having created me, hast given Thy blood and Thy life for me; and, not content with this, Thou hast invented a means of offering Thyself up every day for me in the holy Eucharist, exposing Thyself to a thousand insults and outrages. Ah, Jesus, do Thou wound my heart with a great contrition for my sins, and a lively love for Thee. Through Thy tears and Thy blood give me the grace of perseverance in Thy fervent love until I breathe my last sigh. Amen

THE FIFTH DAY

With the Blessed Virgin, the Virtues, and the Holy Doctors.

Adore the Sacred Heart of Jesus, endowed with all the virtues, and making their practice easy to you, by the efficacy of its merits and the force of its example.

Practice--Meditate on that virtue which you particularly require; apply yourself to practise it, and let not the day pass without making some acts of this virtue.

Prayer of St. Alphonsus Liguori to the Sacred Heart

O Adorable heart of my Jesus, heart created expressly for the love of men! Until now I have shown towards Thee only ingratitude. Pardon me, O my Jesus. Heart of my Jesus, abyss of love and of mercy, how is it possible that I do not die of sorrow when I reflect on Thy goodness to me and my ingratitude to Thee? Thou, my Creator, after having created me, hast given Thy blood and Thy life for me; and, not content with this, Thou hast invented a means of offering Thyself up every day for me in the holy Eucharist, exposing Thyself to a thousand insults and outrages. Ah, Jesus, do Thou wound my heart with a great contrition for my sins, and a lively love for Thee. Through Thy tears and Thy blood give me the grace of perseverance in Thy fervent love until I breathe my last sigh. Amen.

THE SIXTH DAY

With the Blessed Virgin, the Powers, and the Holy Confessors.

Adore the Sacred Heart of Jesus, containing within itself the plenitude of graces, and opening to diffuse them abundantly on those who address themselves to it.

Practice--Humble yourself in the presence of your Saviour for having so often abused his mercies, and with new ardour and perfect confidence implore Him to grant you grace.

Prayer of St. Alphonsus Liguori to the Sacred Heart

O Adorable heart of my Jesus, heart created expressly for the love of men! Until now I have shown towards Thee only ingratitude. Pardon me, O my Jesus. Heart of my Jesus, abyss of love and of mercy, how is it possible that I do not die of sorrow when I reflect on Thy goodness to me and my ingratitude to Thee? Thou, my Creator, after having created me, hast given Thy blood and Thy life for me; and, not content with this, Thou hast invented a means of offering Thyself up every day for me in the holy Eucharist, exposing Thyself to a thousand insults and outrages. Ah, Jesus, do Thou wound my heart with a great contrition for my sins, and a lively love for Thee. Through Thy tears and Thy blood give me the grace of perseverance in Thy fervent love until I breathe my last sigh. Amen.

THE SEVENTH DAY

With the Blessed Virgin,
the Principalities, and the Holy Virgins and Widows.

Adore the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which delights to be with the children of men, and which with tenderness pities our miseries and our wants.

Practice--Esteem the happiness you enjoy in being able to converse with Jesus Christ in the most Holy Sacrament; and avail yourself of this advantage as often as you can, without neglecting the duties of your state.

Prayer of St. Alphonsus Liguori to the Sacred Heart

O Adorable heart of my Jesus, heart created expressly for the love of men! Until now I have shown towards Thee only ingratitude. Pardon me, O my Jesus. Heart of my Jesus, abyss of love and of mercy, how is it possible that I do not die of sorrow when I reflect on Thy goodness to me and my ingratitude to Thee? Thou, my Creator, after having created me, hast given Thy blood and Thy life for me; and, not content with this, Thou hast invented a means of offering Thyself up every day for me in the holy Eucharist, exposing Thyself to a thousand insults and outrages. Ah, Jesus, do Thou wound my heart with a great contrition for my sins, and a lively love for Thee. Through Thy tears and Thy blood give me the grace of perseverance in Thy fervent love until I breathe my last sigh. Amen.

THE EIGHTH DAY

With the Blessed Virgin,
the Archangels, and the Holy Innocents.

Adore the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which is sensibly afflicted with the outrages and impieties of those who are rebels to the Church and good morals, and which desires to find faithful Christians who will endeavour to repair these disorders.

Practice--Perform some penance, some generous act of virtue, in reparation of the outrages which He receives.

Prayer of St. Alphonsus Liguori to the Sacred Heart

O Adorable heart of my Jesus, heart created expressly for the love of men! Until now I have shown towards Thee only ingratitude. Pardon me, O my Jesus. Heart of my Jesus, abyss of love and of mercy, how is it possible that I do not die of sorrow when I reflect on Thy goodness to me and my ingratitude to Thee? Thou, my Creator, after having created me, hast given Thy blood and Thy life for me; and, not content with this, Thou hast invented a means of offering Thyself up every day for me in the holy Eucharist, exposing Thyself to a thousand insults and outrages. Ah, Jesus, do Thou wound my heart with a great contrition for my sins, and a lively love for Thee. Through Thy tears and Thy blood give me the grace of perseverance in Thy fervent love until I breathe my last sigh. Amen.