Sacred Heart Apostolate, Inc.

A Global Movement for
Creating a Civilization of Love
through the Enthronement

The Enthronement of the Sacred Heart Apostolate was founded in 1907 by Fr. Mateo Crawley-Boevey, SS.CC. It was founded primarily for the benefit of families, but is applicable to any group or institution that desires to enter into an intimate relationship with Jesus through a way of life that honors His most Sacred Heart. This process begins with the enthronement in a place of honor of a blessed image or statue of our Lord that features the pierced Heart of our Savior in His chest, surrounded by thorns, engulfed by flames of love and a Cross implanted in His Heart. Most importantly is the proclamation of a covenant of love with Jesus often expressed as an act of consecration. In reality only God can consecrate, but He respects the words of dedication by the family, individual or institutional leader that proclaim Him as King, Friend and Brother along with the commitment to live out a way of life that honors Him.

What does the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart mean? In the words of Fr. Mateo, it means "the official and social recognition of the loving Kingship of the Heart of Jesus in the Christian family." It recognizes the living presence of our Lord in the home or institution where His Divine Heart, as King of Love is the Center, attracting all the members of the family or group. It is more than a mere veneration of the image of the Sacred Heart or a transient consecration. It is a “way of life”, a permanent state of devotedness and love; full of grace and joy. The image serves as a constant reminder to put our Lord first in our lives and as a reminder of His great sacrifice for we who are sinners.

Our Lord has given His people many promises, spiritual and temporal favor, as recorded in Sacred Scripture for those who are faithful to Him. In the 17th Century He told St. Margaret Mary of Alacoque, "I will bless every dwelling in which an image of my Heart is both exposed and honored." Fr. Mateo believed this with all his heart and with the mandate and approval of St. Pope Pius X, spread the news to twenty-two countries before his death, May 4, 1960.

Welcome the presence of the Heart of Christ, entrusting your home to Him. Before the open Heart of Jesus seek to draw from Him the true love that our families need to build up a civilization of love.