The Litany of the Sacred Heart is a Catholic prayer consisting of invocations to Jesus, honoring His divine love for humanity symbolized by His heart. Originating from devotions popularized by St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 17th century, it seeks reparation for sins and a deeper union with Christ's merciful love.
Devotion to the Sacred Heart grew from the visions of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 17th century. While several versions existed, the current text was approved for public use by Pope Leo XIII in 1899. In his encyclical Annum Sacrum, he consecrated the entire world to the Sacred Heart, establishing this litany as a powerful and official prayer of the Church for seeking Christ's mercy and acknowledging His kingship over all creation.
This litany is a deep meditation on the person of Christ, expressed through the symbol of His heart. Each title, from "burning furnace of charity" to "propitiation for our sins," explores a different facet of His divine and human love. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, Christ's human heart expresses the divine love He bears for us (CCC 478). The prayer draws us into this mystery of redemptive love, making reparation for human indifference.
This litany is central to devotions on the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and throughout the month of June. It is traditionally prayed as part of the First Friday devotion in reparation for sins against the Blessed Sacrament. It is also fitting to pray when seeking consolation, a deeper understanding of Christ's love, or for the intention of making one's own heart more like His.
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