NATIONAL SHRINE OF THE SACRED HEART MINISTRY: ASH WEDNESDAY 2023 AT THE NSSH

Sunday, February 19, 2023

ASH WEDNESDAY 2023 AT THE NSSH

"Have mercy on me, O God, in Your goodness;

in the greatness of Your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me."
[Psalm 51:3-4]

Ash Wednesday at the National Shrine of the Sacred Heart.
Let us start our journey to the Holy Mountain of Lent.

12 SACRED HEART PROMISES

Every First Friday of each month, devout and faithful Catholics consecrate to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the spirit of reparation.

Jesus Christ Himself made the following promises to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, in favor of those who fervently practice and promote this devotion.

1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.

2. I will give peace in their families.

3. I will comfort them in all their afflictions.

4. I will be their security and refuge during life, and above all, in death.

5. I will bestow abundant blessings upon all their undertakings.

6. Sinners will find in My Heart the Source, and Infinite Ocean of Mercy.

7. Lukewarm souls shall become fervent.

8. Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection.

9. I will bless every place in which an Image of My Heart is exposed and honored.

10. I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.

11. Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart.

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.

NOVENA PETITION PRAYER TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS

Divine Jesus, You have said, "Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you." Behold us kneeling at your feet, filled with a lively faith and confidence in the promises dictated by your Sacred Heart and pronounced by Your adorable lips, We come to ask this favor: [Here silently mention your petitions].

To whom can we turn to if not to You. Whose Heart is the source of all graces and merits? Where should we seek if not in the treasure which contains all the riches of Your kindness and mercy? Where must we knock if not at the door through which God gives Himself to us and through which we go to God? We have recourse to You, Heart of Jesus. In You we find consolation when afflicted, protection when persecuted, strength when burdened with trials, and light in doubt and darkness.

Dear Jesus, we firmly believe that You can grant us the grace we implore, even though it should require a miracle. You have only to will it and our prayer will be granted. We admit that we are most unworthy of your favors, but this is not a reason for us to be discouraged. You are the God of Mercy and You will not refuse a contrite heart. Cast upon us a look of mercy we beg of you, and Your kind Heart will find in our miseries and weaknesses a reason for granting our prayer.

O Sacred Heart, whatever may be Your decision with regard to our request, we will never stop adoring, loving, praising and serving You. Lord Jesus, be pleased to accept this our act of perfect resignation to the decrees of Your adorable Heart which we sincerely desire may be fulfilled in and by us and all Your creatures forever.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, we know that there is but one thing impossible to You; to be without pity to those who are suffering or in distress. Look upon us, we beg of You, dear Jesus. and grant us the grace for which we humbly implore You through the Immaculate Heart of Your most sorrowful Mother. You have entrusted us to Her as Her children, and Her prayers are all powerful with You, Amen.

PRAYER TO OUR HEAVENLY FATHER

Heavenly Father, as we honor and cherish our earthly father, we give you grateful thanks and praise for giving us one of the most important persons in our earthly life.

For it is in the person of our very own father, that we are able to understand and experience the true meaning of fatherly love. Because of him and through him, we are able to comprehend the essence of your Divine Fatherly love.

We thank you for being such a wonderful Heavenly Father to all of mankind. We are most eternally grateful for your Divine Virtues of Mercy, Compassion, Benevolence and Providence.

We praise your Holy Name for your Divine Love for us, for You are so gracious and merciful that You didn't withhold from us Your very own Son our Lord Jesus Christ, who willingly offered His own life so that all of mankind might be saved through Him and that through Him, we are reconciled to You.

We are always grateful that You continue to provide for our daily temporal and spiritual needs and that You are always compassionately forgiving us for our many faults and sins.

We acknowledge with human humility, that we came into this world with nothing and shall also leave with nothing.

For who we are and all that we have comes to us from the abundant grace of Your Divine Providence, to sustain our needs and those of our neighbors.

Thank You for Your Divine Patience with us, Your prodigal children who at times, neglect and are indifferent to the many great things You lovingly do for us.

Because of Your inexhaustible Divine Mercy, we are always assured of a warm welcome upon our return to our Eternal Home to You.

Almighty God and Divine Father, we ask that You grant us Your Fatherly Blessings and send us Your Holy Spirit as You continuously watch over and provide for us in perfect accordance with Your Divine Will.

We ask this in the Holy Name of Your Son, Jesus Christ with the Maternal Intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, Amen!