Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison is inviting everyone to a special celebration on Friday, June 12.

The bishop will consecrate the Diocese of Madison to the Sacred Heart of Jesus during a 7 p.m. Mass at Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Church, part of Epiphany of the Lord Parish, 221 Columbus St., Sun Prairie.

This consecration will come one day after the bishops of the United States consecrate the country to the Sacred Heart, during this 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. 

The bishops announced this year-long endeavor at their Plenary Assembly last November.

In our diocese, the consecration will be celebrated with the Mass on June 12, along with talks by Bishop Hying around the diocese and other observances during the year. 

In this week’s column, Bishop Hying wrote, “The Lord puts Himself in such a place of vulnerability that He desires and longs for our love, and like the Good Shepherd, comes in search of us when we have strayed away from Him. 

“The heart represents the deepest part of ourselves, the core of our being where we love, desire, rejoice, and grieve.” 

You can read more about Bishop Hying’s thoughts on the devotion to the Sacred Heart in his column on 
Page 3.

Home enthronement

Everyone in the Diocese of Madison is encouraged to enthrone an image of the Sacred Heart in their homes.

The Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a development of the traditional Sacred Heart devotion, which began in the Middle Ages and culminated in the revelations of Jesus to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a French Visitation Nun in the 17th century. 

He revealed to her the ways in which He desires men and women to adore His Sacred Heart. 

He also gave her certain promises which would be granted to those who faithfully adored His Sacred Heart.

Having an image or statue enshrined within our homes serves as a reminder that we are called to love one another and to be witnesses to that merciful love to all who visit us. 

In the 20th century, South American priest Rev. Mateo Crawley-Boevey, SSCC, saw the pressing need for people to honor the Sacred Heart within their homes to counter growing secularism and a rapid decline in morality. 

He became an apostle commissioned by Pope St. Pius X to spread what became known as the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart throughout the world.

In continuing to promote and spread this devotion, the Diocese of Madison desires to expand the message and mission given to St. Margaret Mary by encouraging families to embrace the invitation anf bring the infinite love of Jesus into their hearts and homes.

By placing an image of the Most Sacred Heart in a prominent place within the home, you remind yourself that it is only through the love of Christ that we can hope to be extensions of His love in our broken and wounded world.

There are five steps involved in enthroning the image.

1. Select a Sacred Heart image: Paint, purchase, or otherwise obtain a beautiful image or statue.

2. Select a Sunday: Pick a Sunday to enthrone the image and invite a priest or deacon.

3. Establish a place of dignity: Identify a place to reverently display the image of the Sacred Heart. This will serve as the “throne” of your home.

4. Prepare your hearts: Beginning seven days prior to Enthronement Sunday, pray together as a family. 

The prayers can be found in a booklet prepared by the diocese, which will be available at the Mass on June 12, at talks that Bishop Hying will be giving around the diocese, and as a PDF, available at madisondiocese.org/SacredHeart

Other prayers to the Sacred Heart are also included in the booklet.

5. Enthronement Sunday: Gather after Mass and place Jesus on the throne of your home to reign as King of your hearts.

It is wonderful to prepare your heart and home for the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart. You are inviting Jesus to become the center of your lives as the King of kings, a Divine Guest, and the Friend of the family.