A Heart Set Apart: My Journey with the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Not long after I moved to Northwest Indiana 30 years ago, I had my home consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. At the time, I agreed mostly because my mother-in-law wanted it and set it up. I didn’t fully grasp what it meant or why it mattered. But I thought, “Why not?” We invited family and friends, and a priest came to lead the consecration prayers. Afterwards, we shared a meal in celebration.

I didn’t expect anything extraordinary, but something happened! During the consecration, I was deeply moved—caught off guard, really—by the presence of Jesus and the overwhelming love I felt. It was as if the Holy Spirit cracked open my heart, and I understood. That moment lit a fire in me. I wanted to change everything. I wanted to be a better person and live for God.

Of course, life doesn’t freeze in those mountaintop moments. Back then, I had three young children (eventually five) and life was loud, beautiful, and sometimes chaotic. Faith was always a cornerstone of our family—we never missed Sunday Mass, not even on vacation. We prayed together. We tried. But still, I look back and wish we had done more, especially when it came to cultivating a true devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Now, I’m still learning, still growing in this devotion.

If you’ve ever seen a depiction of the Sacred Heart, you know how powerful the image is: a heart on fire, pierced by a lance, and encircled with thorns. It’s a stunning symbol of both suffering and unshakeable love. It reminds us that Jesus doesn’t love us in some abstract way—He loves us with a human heart. A heart that feels. A heart that broke. A heart that still burns with love for you and me.

Every June, the Church invites us to reflect more deeply on this devotion, culminating in the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. It’s celebrated on the Friday after Corpus Christi, which falls on June 27 this year—my birthday! I couldn’t make that up if I tried. What a gift.

And yet… I still wish I knew more.

The roots of this devotion stretch back to December 27, 1673, when a French nun named Sister Margaret Mary Alacoque (who has since been canonized) began receiving visions of the Sacred Heart. Over the next 18 months, Jesus revealed to her His desire for humanity to know the depth of His love and to honor His Sacred Heart. Through her obedience and prayer, a global devotion began. 

[It also has ties to a new devotion that has captivated my heart---honoring the Holy Face of Jesus. This spiritual practice, which focuses on making reparation for blasphemies and other offenses against Jesus Christ, emanates from the Sacred Heart. (More on the Holy Face of Jesus in a future blog.)]

One powerful fruit of the Sacred Heart devotion is the Efficacious Novena to the Sacred Heart, a prayer made popular by Saint Padre Pio, who prayed it daily for those who asked for his intercession. I now pray it (almost) every day too—especially for the reconversion of my family.

A key line of that prayer is: “O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You.”

That simple sentence sums up what I’ve learned, and everything I’m still reaching toward. The Sacred Heart isn’t just an image or a feast day. It’s an invitation—a lifeline—to deeper love, trust, and healing.

So if your faith feels dry, or if you’re longing for something more, let this be your nudge. Consecrate your home. Start a devotion. Learn from Jesus' Heart, which also honors the Immaculate Heart of His mother. Remember, God loves you with all of His!