On June 11, 2026, in Orlando, Florida, the USCCB had a Mass consecrating the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in conjunction with the celebration of the 250 year celebration of our Nation. Even President Trump commented on the devotion and blessing, saying, “Melania and I join in prayer with Catholic Bishops gathered in Orlando, Florida, as they consecrate the United States of America to the Sacred Heart of Jesus… a powerful moment in our national story and a poignant reminder that America has always been guided by the loving hand of God.” We all know the power of God, especially to His people when they are blessed in His Name, but what is the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and what fruits have come from other nations who have had this same consecration?
Where did the devotion come from?
Starting right from the moment the soldiers pierced His side and water and blood flowed out, there has been a devotion to the Heart of Jesus. The early Church had many devotions to the Heart of Christ. St. Justin Martyr saw the pierced Heart as the fountain of life. St. Irenaeus believed the Heart as the center of Christ’s love. St. Augustine wrote about resting in the Heart of Christ and St. Bernard of Clairvaux preached on the wound in Christ’s side as the doorway to His Heart. It is beautiful imagery of the love that Jesus has for us.
formacioncatolica.org, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Where we get the modern image and symbolism from is when Jesus came to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. Jesus showed her His Heart, surrounded by thorns, burning with love, topped by a cross and with a radiant light being emitted from it. Jesus also asked for a feast day of the Sacred Heart, devotion to the First Friday of every month, a holy hour of reparation, and the consecration of individuals, families and nations.
Image by Yanetzi Ramirez from Pixabay
Nations Consecrated to the Sacred Heart
What nations have been consecrated and what was the fruits, you ask? Many have been since 1874, but here are a few of the more documented ones:
Image by Dorothée QUENNESSON from Pixabay
Ecuador – 1874
Known as “The Republic of the Sacred Heart”, it was the first nation to be consecrated to the Sacred Heart. The nation experienced a nationwide Catholic revival, with a resurgence of Confession and Mass attendance along with increased religious vocations. There was protection from political collapse at the time despite the assassination of their president, Garcia Moreno, who was the one who consecrated the nation. Also, the survival of the Church during anti-Catholic movements that devastated other Latin American nations at the time is attributed to this special blessing.
France – post 1871
While not consecrated in the same way as Ecuador, the Devotion to the Sacred Heart became a national symbol after the Franco-Prussian War. There was a national return to prayer and the building of Sacré‑Cœur Basilica (1875) as an act of national reparation. There also was a renewed Catholic identity after decades of anti-clericalism. There are documented cases where Sacred Heart badge being worn by French soldiers and experiencing unexplained survival in battle, conversions of soldiers and protections from death all documented in military chaplaincy records.
Image by Marc Pascual from Pixabay
Spain – 1919
During Spain’s consecration there was a return of the Catholic identity and a revival of Eucharistic and Sacred Heart devotions. There were enthronements of the Sacred Heart in homes and public buildings and a strengthening of Catholic culture. There are many records of protection of Spanish towns during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), conversions attributed to the Sacred Heart and preservation of Churches that should have been destroyed in the war.
MOs810, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Poland – 1920
Poland was consecrated to both the Sacred Heart and Christ the King, which lead to a surge of Catholic identity during foreign occupation, strengthening of the Church during Communist oppression, and St. John Paul II who personally promoted the Sacred Heart. Just the facts of the survival of the Church under Communism and the peaceful fall of Communism in 1989, is a miracle.
.jpg){kind=link}
Mexico – October 11, 1924
Mexico’s consecration was followed by the violent persecution of Catholics in the 1920-1930’s, but it was a rallying point for them to focus on. There was a massive growth of Catholics and deep devotion to the Sacred Heart and Christ the King, which strengthened the Catholic identity of those being persecuted. During the Cristero War (1926-1929), there were testimonies of soldiers surviving gunfire after invoking the Sacred Heart, apparitions of Christ the King reported by fighters and miraculous escapes of priests and religious peoples.
Nheyob, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
_-_stained_glass,_sacristy,_Sacred_Heart_detail.jpg){kind=link}
United States – June 11, 2026
This is the first time the United Status has been consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The consecration of the United States is performed during a time of deep division between the secular and the devout. Sadly, there are many anti-Catholic, anti-religious movements in the Nation, and the time is right to call upon the Sacred Heart to convert hearts. The United States has been consecrated to Mary (1792), the Immaculate Conception (1846), the Immaculate Heart of Mary (1959) and reconsecration to Mary (May 1, 2020). While we don’t know what the fruits of the Sacred Heart consecration will be, the consecrations to Mary protected our nation by unifying Catholics, strengthening the Catholic identity, the building of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., the Marian devotion during the Cold War, and most recently, brought millions of Catholics together in prayer during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Popular Graphic Arts, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
How Can We Participate
Great question! In our houses, as a family, we can place the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in a place of honor and consecrate our house to Him. You could create a prayer corner, including candles, flowers, Crucifix, Bible, a rosary and other sacred objects and images. You can have the image of the Sacred Heart blessed or bless it yourself with Holy Water, and pray the Act of Consecration by St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. We can also participate in other devotions such as the First Friday devotion, which is receiving Communion on nine consecutive First Fridays.
Participating in the consecration of the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus can bring new revival into our own families, offering the fruits of peace in our homes, healing of relationships, protection from spiritual attacks, unity, deep love for the Eucharist and sense of Jesus’ presence in our daily lives. Many Churches also have asked congregants to document Spiritual Works of Mercy in commemoration of the 250th birthday of the United States and attend Masses dedicated to the Sacred Heart. We know and trust that a nation that blesses God will also be blessed. Please join together with other Catholics across our beautiful nation and celebrate our 250th birthday with a new consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.