Family Consecration

Our families are under attack by a world that has succumbed to errors and evils. Family Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary strengthens our families! The devotion of Enthronement of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts in our homes is an excellent way of living our consecrations and it teaches, by powerful example, our children to grow in a deep, personal faith and the security of love of Jesus and Mary.

Christian families are under attack today as never before in the history of the world and the remedy is an elegantly simple devotion. The Enthronement and Consecration is nothing but living our lives as if Jesus and His loving Mother mattered. Inviting Our Lord Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother to reign in the midst of our homes, our families is a practice which is unfailingly rewarded with many graces and joys. Try it and see for yourselves!

PROTECT AND STRENGTHEN OUR FAMILIES

The devotion of the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary in the home helps to provide a solid foundation for saving the faith of our families in these confusing times. It is a simple enough devotion but helps provide a focus for the Family Rosary and other devotional practices. Optimally, it is performed by a priest, but can be done by the head of the family. The information here is drawn from several sources, among them, Catholic Tradition and Our Lady of the Rosary Library, all are good sites for resources.

When looking online for resources, it is best to avoid any site that is Novus Ordo, since they strip this devotion of all reparation and diminish or delete the sacrificial nature of this devotion.

NOTE: Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary are inseparably linked and the heart of both devotions is reparative. Without reparation, penance and daily devotion through the Rosary, we cannot honor Our Lord and His Blessed Mother as we have been called to do.

May the most Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary reign in our hearts and in our home forever!

THE CEREMONY OF THE ENTHRONEMENT

All gather around the images of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts. Priest blesses the image. If priest is not available, the images should be blessed beforehand.

The Blessing of the Pictures or Statues
V. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
R. Who hath made heaven and earth.
V. The Lord be with thee.
R. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray. Almighty, everlasting God, Thou dost not forbid us to represent Thy saints in stone or paint, so that, as often as we look upon their likenesses with the eyes of the body, we may with the eyes of the mind meditate upon their holiness and be led to imitate their deeds. In Thy kindness, we beg Thee to bless and sanctify these pictures (statues), meant to honor and call to mind the Most Sacred Heart of Thy only-begotten Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, His Most Holy Mother. May all who in their presence humbly strive to serve and honor Thy only-begotten Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Blessed Virgin Mary, by Their merits and intercession gain from Thee grace in the present life and eternal glory in the life to come. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

(The priest here sprinkles the images with holy water.)

Then the father of the family enthrones the images in the place of honor prepared for them. This is the symbolic act of Enthronement. This place should, ideally, be in the main living area of the family and form a family shrine, the heart of the home.

All stand while the Apostles’ Creed is recited as an act of faith on the part of the family.

THE APOSTLES CREED

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.

Everyone is seated while the priest addresses a few words to those present, reminding the members of the family of what the Sacred Heart expects from families which have acknowledged Him as King; recalling the magnificent promises of the Sacred Heart; urging the family to live its Enthronement, and frequently to renew the act of consecration which they are about to make.

All kneel, while the priest and the father (or father alone, or his representative) recite the official “Act of Consecration.”

Act of Consecration of the Family
to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, Who didst make known to St. Margaret Mary Thine ardent desire to reign over Christian families, behold us assembled here today to proclaim Thine absolute dominion over our home.
Henceforth we purpose to lead a life like unto Thine so that amongst us may flourish the virtues for which Thou didst promise peace on earth, and for this end we will banish from our midst the spirit of the world which Thou dost abhor so much.

Thou wilt reign over our understanding by the simplicity of our faith. Thou wilt reign over our hearts by an ardent love for Thee; and may the flame of this love be ever kept burning in our hearts by the frequent reception of the Holy Eucharist.

Deign, O Divine Heart, to preside over our meetings, to bless our undertakings both spiritual and temporal, to banish all worry and care, to sanctify our joys and soothe our sorrows. If any of us should ever have the misfortune to grieve Thy Sacred Heart, remind him of Thy goodness and mercy towards the repentant sinner.

Lastly when the hour of separation will sound and death will plunge our home into mourning, then shall we all and every one of us be resigned to Thine eternal decrees, and seek consolation in the thought that we shall one day be reunited in heaven, where we shall sing the praises and blessings of Thy Sacred Heart for all eternity.

May the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the glorious Patriarch St. Joseph offer Thee this our Consecration and remind us of the same all the days of our life.

Glory to the Divine Heart of Jesus, our King and our Father!

The priest here leads those present in saying with him one Our Father and one Hail Mary for the absent members, living and dead, so that all may share in the graces of the Enthronement.

Then all say:

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Glory be to Thee, O Sacred Heart of Jesus, for the infinite mercy Thou hast bestowed upon the privileged members of this family. Thou hast chosen it from thousands of others, as a recipient of Thy love and a sanctuary of reparation wherein Thy most loving Heart shall find consolation for the ingratitude of men. How great, O Lord Jesus, is the confusion of this portion of Thy faithful flock as we accept the unmerited honor of seeing Thee preside over our family! Silently we adore Thee, overjoyed to see Thee sharing under the same roof the toils, cares and joys of Thy innocent children! It is true we are not worthy that Thou shouldst enter our humble abode, but Thou hast already reassured us, when Thou didst reveal Thy Sacred Heart to us, teaching us to find in the wound of Thy Sacred Side the source of grace and life everlasting. In this loving and trusting spirit we give ourselves to Thee, Thou Who art unchanging Life. Remain with us, Most Sacred Heart, for we feel an irresistible desire to love Thee and make Thee loved.

May our home be for Thee a haven as sweet as that of Bethany, where Thou canst find rest in the midst of loving friends, who like Mary have chosen the better part in the loving intimacy of Thy Heart! May this home be for Thee, O beloved Savior, a humble but hospitable refuge during the exile imposed on Thee by Thine enemies.

Come, then Lord Jesus, come, for here as at Nazareth, we have a tender love for the Virgin Mary Thy sweet Mother Whom Thou hast given us to be our Mother. Come, to fill with Thy sweet presence the vacancies which misfortune and death have wrought in our midst.

O most faithful Friend, hadst Thou been here in the midst of sorrow, our tears would have been less bitter; the comforting balm of peace would then have soothed these hidden wounds, which are known to Thee alone. Come, for even now perhaps, there is drawing near for us the twilight of tribulation, and the decline of the passing days of our youth and our illusions. Stay with us, for already it is late, and a perverted world seeks to envelop us in the darkness of its denials while we wish to adhere to Thee Who alone art the Way the Truth and the Life. Repeat for us those words Thou didst utter of old “This day I must abide in this home.”

Yes, dear Lord, take up Thy abode with us, so that we may live in Thy love and in Thy presence, we who proclaim Thee as our King and wish no other! May Thy triumphant Heart, Jesus, be forever loved, blessed, and glorified in this home! Thy Kingdom Come! Amen!

The Immaculate Heart of Mary should be honored alongside of the Sacred Heart of Jesus as Our Lord requested it of Sister Lucia of Fatima.

Act of Consecration of the Family
to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Queen of the most Holy Rosary, and tender Mother of men, to fulfill the desires of the Sacred Heart, and the request of the Vicar of your Son on earth, we consecrate ourselves to you, and to your Immaculate Heart, and recommend to you, all the families of our nation, and of all the world.

Please accept our consecration, dearest Mother, and use us and all our families as you wish, to accomplish your designs upon the world.

O Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of heaven and earth, and of our family, rule over us, together with the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, our King. Save us from the spreading flood of heresy and apostasy, kindle in our hearts and homes, the love of purity, the practice of the Christian life, and an ardent zeal for souls, and for the holiness of family life.

We come with confidence to you, O Throne of Grace and Mother of Fair Love; inflame us with the same divine fire which has inflamed your own Immaculate Heart. Make our hearts and homes your shrine, and through us make the Heart of Jesus rule and triumph in every family in the world. Amen.

Hail, Holy Queen

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus, O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

†. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus: Have mercy on us! (3 times)

†. Immaculate Heart of Mary: Pray for us
†. St. Joseph: Pray for us.
†. Holy Family, protect our family.
†. St. Margaret Mary: Pray for us.
† Glory to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus forever and ever! Amen

CONSECRATION TO ST. JOSEPH
AND TO THE HOLY FAMILY

(Optional, but recommended at least as part of ongoing devotion to maintain Family Consecration. For private use only)

O Jesus, sweetest and most adorable Savior! True God and true man, I adore Thee profoundly in the most Holy Trinity during eternity; and I adore Thee also in the virginal bosom of Mary, Thy most immaculate Mother, and in the arms of St Joseph, Thy virginal Father.

I give Thee thanks that Thou hast delivered me from the cruel slavery of the devil. On earth, Thou didst submit Thyself to Mary and Joseph in all things; grant that I may be Thy faithful slave through humble submission to them. My sweet Jesus, I have failed Thee many times, but now I beg Thee the grace to submit myself in all things to Thy foster father St. Joseph and to Thy most pure and merciful Mother.

O most tender and sweet Mother; I love thee with my whole soul and my whole strength. I leave in thy pure hands all that I possess and shall possess – my heart, my soul, my merits, my acts, thoughts and desires; even my defects and my sins. All is thine and always will be thine, my most dear Mother. Love thou Jesus on my behalf and intercede for me. Alas, dearest, sweetest Mother, I have failed thee often in the past, but now I beseech thee to direct my heart and my mind to consecrate myself this day to thy most chaste spouse St. Joseph, that I might love thee through him; console thee through him; repair the offenses against thine Immaculate Heart through him; so that once I am living in his arms he may offer on my behalf all that I have given to thee, and all that I have not been able to give thee.

Dear Father St. Joseph! To thee do I turn, asking thee to take thy child, this poor sinner, under the protection of thy most chaste heart; I entrust to thee my Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, thy beloved Spouse and my consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, thy Son, my Savior. I am but a weak and foolish sinner, but I trust in thee, for I am thy child as well, dear Father.

I deliver and consecrate to thee, as thy slave, my body and soul, my goods, both interior and exterior, and even the value of all my good actions, past, present and future; leaving to thee the entire and full right of disposing of myself and of all that belongs to me, without exception, according to thy good pleasure, for the greatest glory of God and the greatest joy of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in time and in eternity.

Receive, O Virgin Father, this little offering of my slavery, in honor of and in union with that subjection which our Lord and Savior deigned to have to Mary and to thee, in homage to the power which this thy Holy Family has over this poor sinner, and in thanksgiving for the privileges with which the Holy Trinity has favored thee and thine Immaculate Spouse. I declare that I wish henceforth, as thy true slave, to seek thine honor and to obey thee in all things.

O most loving Father, preserve me from all blight of error and corruption. Protect me from the powers of darkness. Shield me ever under thy patronage, that, imitating thine example and strengthened by thy help, I may lead a holy life, die a happy death, and attain to everlasting bliss in Heaven. Amen.

The priest then gives his blessing:

Benedictio Dei omnipotentis, Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti, descendat super vos et maneat semper. Amen.

May the blessing of Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, descend upon you and remain forever. Amen.

Then the members of the family and the priest sign the Certificate of the Enthronement.

Note: The ceremony of the Enthronement is only the beginning: the following practices of devotion will help you and your family to live the Enthronement. Thus, the true reign of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary begin in your family.

CONSECRATION OF A CHILD
TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

Blessed Virgin Mary * Queen of Heaven and Earth, * to your Immaculate Heart, * the channel of all graces, * we consecrate this child, * _________ * whom we have received from God’s goodness.

We offer him to You * that you may present him to your Divine Son, * that you may take him under your loving maternal protection, * that you may preserve him from dangers, * that you may keep him from all sin, * that you may lead him to grow in piety * and in all virtue * so that he may always be worthy * to call himself your child.

May he grow daily in wisdom and grace, * may he go through life having you always as his refuge and Mother. * May all virtues shine in him * and may he never offend your maternal Heart.

May the Eternal Father always look upon him with delight * and see in him * a ray and reflection of your Immaculate Beauty. And as today he gladdens our home, * so may he one day gladden the Eternal Home * which we pray will be his. Amen.

Note: The asterisks above help those reciting the prayer to pace themselves together in prayer.

It is suggested that the Consecration of a Child be carefully prepared, keeping in mind the example of the Holy Family. St. Joseph and the Blessed Mother offered a sacrifice of two turtledoves; perhaps you would like to make a sacrifice: offering a Holy Mass and an alms for your sacrifice. The consecration of a child is a formal recognition that you are, by this act, begging the Immaculata to accept your child as her own property in the faith that Our Lady will enfold your child(ren) in her maternal protection through life and death.

Bear in mind as well your own grave obligation to raise your child with a strong and tender love for and trust in Our Lady, and devotion for her Holy Rosary. The daily family Rosary is essential to success, for your child will thereby learn day by day, as you demonstrate your own devotion. As you meet the invariable spiritual challenges together, the child gradually becomes comfortable with the concept of working through problems with Our Lady’s help, through her Holy Rosary.

Devotional Practices to Continue the Family Enthronement

Daily or frequent Mass and Communion of Reparation is always the goal, but when it is not possible, consider beginning the day with Spiritual Mass and Communion (see below) and repeating it during the day, especially after evening prayers.

Observance of the First Friday of each month. (Holy Mass, Communion of Reparation: renewal of act of consecration before enthroned image.)

Make the five First Saturdays in reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and for the Consecration of Russia; Holy Mass and Communion of reparation; confession within eight days, five decades of the Rosary plus a fifteen minute meditation on the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary. All must be done in a spirit of reparation.

Daily Family Rosary before the enthroned images of the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart, with renewal of the act of consecrations.

Family celebration of the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Friday following the 2nd Sunday after Pentecost) with attendance at Mass, Follow up with family gathering and celebration at home, with renewal of Enthronement.

Likewise, family celebration of the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the 22nd of August. Mass, Communion; and renewal of consecration of family to Immaculate Heart.

Observe the month of May for the Immaculata and the month of June for the Sacred Heart; keep flowers before the family shrine. Mass and Communion as often as possible.

Assist at Eucharistic Holy Hour in Church, if possible.

Night Adoration in the home. Any hour between 9 pm and 6 am, by anyone or all the members of the family at least once a month.

Practice devotion to the Holy Ghost.

Additionally, devotion to St. Joseph is a most salutary way to maintain the fervor of all your devotions and completes the living consecration to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

RENEWAL OF CONSECRATION

To be said at night prayers in union with all families in which the Sacred Hearts have been enthroned.

Most sweet Jesus, humbly kneeling at Thy feet, we renew the consecration of our family to Thy Divine Heart. Be Thou our King forever. In Thee we have full and entire confidence. May Thy spirit penetrate our thoughts, our desires, our words and our works. Bless our undertakings, share in our joys, in our trials and in our labors. Grant us the grace to know Thee better, to love Thee more, and to serve Thee without faltering.

By the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of Peace and beloved Queen of our family, set up Thy kingdom in our country. Restore the faith in our Church. Enter closely into the midst of our families and make them Thine own through the solemn enthronement of Thy Sacred Heart, so that soon one cry may resound from home to home: “May the triumphant Heart of Jesus be everywhere loved, blessed and glorified forever!”

†. Honor and glory to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary!

†. Sacred Heart of Jesus, protect our families.

†. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.

CONSECRATION TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS

by St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

O Sacred Heart of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, to Thee I consecrate and offer up my person and my life, my actions, trials and sufferings, that my entire being may henceforth only be employed in loving, honoring and glorifying Thee.

This is my irrevocable will, to belong entirely to Thee, and to do all for Thy love, renouncing with my whole heart all that can displease Thee. I take Thee, O Sacred Heart, for the sole object of my love, the protection of my life, the pledge of my salvation, the remedy of my frailty and inconstancy, the reparation for all the defects of my life, and my secure refuge at the hour of my death. Be Thou, O most merciful Heart, my justification before God Thy Father, and screen me from His anger which I have so justly merited.

I fear all from my own weakness and malice, but placing my entire confidence in Thee, O Heart of Love, I hope all from Thine infinite goodness. Annihilate in me all that can displease or resist Thee. Imprint Thy pure love so deeply in my heart that I may never forget Thee or be separated from Thee. I beseech Thee, through Thine infinite goodness, grant that my name be engraved on Thee, for in this I place all my happiness and all my glory, to live and to die as one of Thy devoted servants. Amen

Special Occasions on Which to Renew the Enthronement

Feast of Sacred Heart; Christ the King, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Immaculate Conception.
Anniversary of the Enthronement.
Anniversary of parents and children.
At births; after Baptism in the Church, consecrate the children to the Sacred Heart before the “throne” in the home.
At First Communion: prepare the children before the image of the Sacred Heart in the home. Then, when they return from Church, let the children renew the act of consecration made for them by parents at birth.
Similarly, with Confirmation.
Before leaving home to join military, convent, seminary, before marriage.
On the return of an absent member of family.
On days of great family joys and in times of sorrow, sickness and death.
(Taken from “Jesus King of Love” by Father Mateo Crawley-Boevey, SS.CC., with additions by editor)

For Holy Hours before your family shrine, we offer this Prayer of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Act of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, animated with a desire to repair the outrages unceasingly offered to Thee, I kneel before Thy throne of mercy and on behalf of my family and Church, pledge love and fidelity to Thee.

† The more Thy mysteries are blasphemed, the more firmly I will believe them, O Sacred Heart of Jesus!

† The more hearts despise and ignore Thy love, the more I will love Thee, O loving Heart of Jesus!

† The more that scientistic unbelief attacks Thy Divinity, the more humbly and profoundly I shall adore Thee, O Divine Heart of Jesus!

† The more Thy sacraments are despised and blasphemed, the more frequently I will receive them with love and reverence, most generous Heart of Jesus!

† The more Thy holy laws are transgressed and ignored, the more I will take care to observe them, most holy Heart of Jesus!

† The more that Thou art blasphemed and scorned in the Holy Eucharist, Thy Sacrament of Love, the more ardently i will adore Thee, Most Sacred Heart of Jesus!

† The more the imitation of Thy virtues is scorned and forgotten, the more I will endeavor to practice them, most obedient Heart of Jesus.

† The more the devil strives to destroy souls, the more I will be inflamed to save them by penances and prayers to Thee, most zealous Lover of Souls!

† The more sins of impurity deface and destroy Thy divine image in man, the more I shall try by purity of life to be a living temple of the Holy Spirit, Most Sacred Heart of Jesus!

† The more Thy Holy Church is scorned and compromised, the more I will endeavor to be her faithful child, Most Loving Heart of Jesus!

† The more that hubris, heresy and apostasy threaten our Holy Church, the more I will turn to Thy Sacred Heart and to the Immaculate Heart of Thy Mother to save us, O Sacred Heart of Jesus!

† The more Thy Immaculate Mother is blasphemed, the more I will increase my fervent devotions to her, Most Devoted Heart of Jesus!

† The more Thy Church is persecuted, the more I will pray and sacrifice for for her triumph and exaltation, Most Sacred Heart of Jesus!

Let us pray:

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, always obedient to the Eternal Father, teach us to be ever obedient and humble in the face of the diabolical disorientation that has sown such chaos in the Church and disheartened so many. Suffer us not to be scandalized by this long, dark night of the soul of our Church, but to persevere in loving obedience trusting always in Thy Sacred Heart and in Mary’s Immaculate Heart. Amen.

Spiritual Mass and Holy Communion

This is similar to Father Mateo Crawley-Boevey’s “Mass of St. John”. We may attend spiritually, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass wherever it is being said throughout the world and make our Spiritual Communion. This can be done throughout the day. Consider incorporating it into your morning and evening prayers. Perhaps prefacing it with the Angel of Fatima’s Prayer:

“Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, I adore Thee profoundly, and I offer Thee the Most Precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of the same Son Jesus Christ present in all the Tabernacles of the world, in reparation for all the sacrileges, outrages, and indifferences by which He Himself is offended. Through the infinite merits of His Most Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of Thee the conversion of poor sinners.”

Offering of the Host

Receive, O holy Father, almighty, eternal God, this spotless host, which I, Thine unworthy servant, offer unto Thee, my living and true God, for my own countless sins, offenses, and negligences, and for all here present: as also for all faithful Christians, living or dead, that it may avail for my own, and for their salvation unto life eternal. Amen.

Offering of the Chalice

We offer unto Thee, O Lord, the chalice of salvation, beseeching Thy clemency, that, in the sight of Thy Divine Majesty, it may ascend with the savor of sweetness, for our salvation, and for that of the whole world. Amen.

The Consecration

“For this is my Body.”

“For this is the chalice of my Blood of the new and eternal testament, the mystery of faith; which shall be shed for you and for many unto the remission of sins.”

Minor Elevation

Through † Him and with † Him and in † Him, be to Thee, God the Father † Almighty, in the unity of the Holy † Ghost, all honor and glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Domine, Non Sum Dignus

Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldst enter under my roof; but only say the word, and my soul shall be healed. (x3)

The Communion Prayers

May the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ preserve my soul unto life everlasting. Amen.

Close with an act of thanksgiving

Our Lady’s Thanksgiving and Adoration:

O Most Holy Trinity, I adore Thee! My God, my God, I love Thee in the most Blessed Sacrament!

Saint Pius X Prayer of Resignation to the Divine Will

O Lord, my God, from this moment do I accept from Thy hands with burning love and sincere contrition, with a calm and willing disposition, whatsoever death Thou shalt choose to send me, with its pains and griefs. Amen.

(Plenary indulgence applied at the moment of death, (even when prayed in good health) after Confession and Holy Communion.)

We hope to add additional devotions for families to live their enthronement and consecrations. Every Catholic home should have a shrine to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary in a prominent place to serve as the focus of family devotions such as the Angelus as well as for discussions on the faith, catechism lessons and of course, family rosary.

On a personal note, our family shrine is on the mantle above the fireplace, which is the focus of our living room. When we have visitors, they always notice it and usually are reverent, especially delivery men and repairmen. When someone is made uncomfortable by it, we usually find that they are not a good fit for our home. At times, our shrine serves as a “teaching moment” not only for visitors, but for us as well.

We enthroned our statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus just before the birth of our first son, and soon added the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Soon, they were joined by St. Joseph and by the Holy Infant of Prague. We have gold wire-worked crowns for our Immaculata and for the Sacred Heart. Our Lord’s crown is embellished with small garnet chips in honor of His crown of thorns and Precious Blood. And now we have our St. Joseph statue crowned as well. It is good for the whole family, especially the children! to be involved in embellishing the family shrine with as much beauty and reverence as possible.

Your comments or suggestions are most welcome to help others. My email is: evensong (at) returntofatima (dot) org. . Thank you for reading! I pray for you always.

We must prepare our homes to be our churches. Much is said about preparing for disasters and civil unrest, but now is the time to prepare our souls, and our homes are our spiritual havens.