In the 17th century, Jesus appeared four times to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a French Visitation nun. In these apparitions, Jesus asked that Catholics receive Holy Communion on the First Fridays of the month, adore Our Lord in the Eucharist, and celebrate a feast in honor of the Sacred Heart. In addition to these requests, Jesus revealed Twelve Promises for those who honor His Sacred Heart.
From, The Devotion to the Sacred Heart, by Fr. Jean Croiset, the spiritual director to St. Margaret Mary.
The 12 Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
1. I will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life.
Prayer – O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I ask that You grant me the grace to live my vocation as You would have me live it. Always lead me in your path. Show me how to serve others in my actions and in my words and help me to lead others to you. Through my state of life, please show me how to love you more each day. Amen
2. I will establish peace in their homes.
Prayer – O Heart of Jesus, only You can give true peace. I ask that You bestow your peace in my heart, in the heart of my family members, and upon all who seek You. When I am anxious, calm my heart. When I am grieving, comfort me. Just as St. Margaret rested her head on Your Sacred Heart, let me rest too on Your Precious Heart. Amen
3. I will comfort them in all their afflictions.
Prayer – O Sacred Heart, I ask that You comfort me when I am suffering. Through the unending love of Your Sacred Heart, bring me solace in my sorrow and joy throughout my pain. And, in Your goodness, please show me how to unite my suffering with Yours for the salvation of souls and for the release of the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Amen
4. I will be their secure refuge during life, and above all, in death.
Prayer – Most Precious Sacred Heart, I ask that You guide me on the path to heaven so that I can live with You throughout eternity. Nothing on this earth is worth more than being with You eternally, so I ask that you “Make me to know your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths” (Psalm 25:4). Amen
5. I will bestow abundant blessings upon all their undertakings.
Prayer – O Heart of Jesus, may I never forget that You care so deeply for me individually, among the billions of people on this earth. I humbly ask that you bless everything that I do, as long as it is within Your Will. And I ask that You guide me in Your Will so that I only want what You want. Amen
6. Sinners will find in my Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.
Prayer – O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I know that we do not deserve your great mercy, but you grant us your mercy out of Your love for each of us. Thank you for Your love and Your forgiveness. Help me to grant mercy to others, just as readily as You give Your mercy to me. Amen
7. Lukewarm souls shall become fervent.
Prayer – O Heart of Jesus, I believe in You, but guide me closer to You so that I might never be lukewarm in my faith. I love You but ask that You show me how to love You even more, and inspire others to grow in their love for You, as well. Amen
8. Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection.
Prayer – O Heart of Jesus, I ask that You inspire me to love You more. Even though I am unable to love You the way that I should, show me how to love you more each day. Your love for me is the greatest gift, O Lord. Amen
9. I will bless every place in which an image of my Heart is exposed and honored.
Prayer – O Sacred Heart, as I gaze on Your image, I ask that You show me how to love You with a deep burning love. As I honor You, bless my home and my family and guide all of us to You, that we may love and honor You for eternity. Amen
10. I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.
Prayer – O Heart of Jesus, I ask that You bless all priests, and infuse them with a great desire to reach their flocks with love and truth. Send more priests to us and help us to appreciate this beautiful gift by which they exercise Your priesthood on our behalf. Amen
11. Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in my Heart.
Prayer – O Sacred Heart, I ask that You shine your light through me so that I can share Your love with the world. I might not have the right words or the right manner, but You can make up for where I am lacking. I want others to know You and honor Your Sacred Heart. Work through me to share Your love with all whom I meet in daily life. Amen
12. I promise you in the excessive mercy of my Heart that my all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Fridays in nine consecutive months the grace of final perseverance; they shall not die in my disgrace, nor without receiving their sacraments. My divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.
Prayer – My dear Lord, thank you for offering Your heart to me and the Twelve Promises of the Sacred Heart. I ask that You help me to honor Your Sacred Heart by devoutly making my First Friday Devotion. You ask so little from us, but You always give so much in return. I love You, dear Lord, and I ask that You always guide me closer to Your Precious Heart. Amen.
Can you imagine living life with the certainty that at your final moments, God’s own Heart will be your refuge? That’s basically a promise that you’ll be in Heaven on earth. You will receive the Sacraments – guaranteed – or at least their equivalent in divine grace. God will give you all the graces needed to persevere to the end and not to fall into disgrace and eternal loss at the end, provided, of course, that you freely surrender to and cooperate with that grace in the depths of your heart. Indeed, you will be given all the graces you need at the moment of death to die in a state of grace and make it to Heaven. The gift is guaranteed: All we need to do is freely receive and surrender to the graces offered.
