Act of Reparation to the Sacred Heart

Act of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I adore You, I love You, and I give myself to You. I am truly sorry for all the sins I have committed, for the neglect and ingratitude of my heart, and for all offenses against Your infinite love.

I offer You my prayers, my works, my joys, and my sufferings as reparation for my sins and for the sins of the whole world. Accept this humble act of love and contrition, and grant that I may grow in holiness, faithfulness, and charity.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, may Your kingdom of love and mercy be established in my heart, my family, and the world.

Amen.

The Act of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a Catholic prayer that seeks to atone for sins and offenses committed against Jesus Christ, particularly those directed at His Sacred Heart. This devotion is rooted in the belief that Jesus' Sacred Heart symbolizes His immense love for humanity, a love often met with indifference, ingratitude, and contempt. The prayer expresses sorrow for these offenses and pledges fidelity and love to Jesus, aiming to make amends for both personal sins and the sins of others.

The origin of the Act of Reparation is closely tied to the revelations of Jesus to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 17th century. During these apparitions, Jesus expressed His sorrow over the ingratitude and sacrilege He received, especially in the Sacrament of Love (Holy Communion), and requested acts of reparation. One significant version of this prayer was written by Pope Pius XI and issued in his 1928 encyclical "Miserentissimus Redemptor" (On Reparation to the Sacred Heart) This specific prayer is often recited publicly on the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, which is celebrated on the Friday following the octave of Corpus Christi, typically in June. Reciting this prayer can grant a partial indulgence, and a plenary indulgence if recited publicly on the feast day. The prayer acknowledges human participation in these indignities and seeks pardon, resolving to expiate various offenses, including those against Christian modesty, violations of holy days, blasphemies, insults to the Pope and priests, and the profanation of the Eucharist. It also offers the satisfaction Jesus made to His Eternal Father on the cross, in union with the atonement of the Virgin Mother and all saints, and promises a life of unwavering faith, purity, and charity. The devotion to the Sacred Heart and acts of reparation are seen as ways for believers to unite with Christ's reparative love and help reclaim souls from evil.