We celebrate Christ's amazing love in a special way on the Feast of the Sacred Heart, which falls on June 12 this year. Since it is the Year of Consecrated Life, this could be a time for all of us, whatever our vocation, to consecrate ourselves anew to the Sacred Heart. 

What is consecration to the Sacred Heart? Pope Leo XIII defined it as "an offering and a binding of oneself to Jesus Christ" (Annum Sacrum 8). In 1899, he consecrated the entire world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. As individuals, we can consecrate ourselves to the Sacred Heart by giving ourselves in love to Jesus and seeking to live as he did. We may prayerfully enthrone the image of the Sacred Heart in our homes. We help consecrate the world to the Sacred Heart by praying for the Heart of Christ to be King of the world, and working for the day when Christ's love may rule every person's heart. Today, so many people are suffering in violence and poverty, and so many do not recognize the love and mercy of Jesus. We desperately need consecration to the Sacred Heart, perhaps even more than in the time of Pope Leo XIII.

It is easy to say a prayer of consecration, but living in surrender to the Heart of Jesus is a challenge every day! We find help and strength especially in the Eucharist, in which the Sacred Heart gives himself to us. By receiving and adoring his consecrated Body and Blood, we receive the grace to consecrate ourselves to him. To prepare for the Feast of the Sacred Heart this year, let us respond to Christ's desire to unite with us in the Eucharist. We could attend weekday Mass, visit an adoration chapel, or pray for spiritual communion with him.