Nineteen days after Pentecost, a Friday, we celebrate the feast (solemnity in the Novus Ordo calendar) of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Our Lord’s Heart, most often depicted as burning, wounded, bleeding, wreathed with thorns, represents His love and compassion for us. Devotion to His Sacred Heart goes back many centuries, but it really took off after the Visitandine St Margaret Mary Alacoque (d 1690) received private revelations from the Lord. Speaking of St Margaret Mary, she wrote an “Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart”. The language is flowery and archaic, but there is nothing wrong with flowery or archaic. As a matter of fact, it does us good to be flowery and archaic, even more than once in a while. Our forebears were pretty sharp, after all. Lest any of you go through life never seeing this, never praying this as a kneeling congregation in church, here it is. Kneel right now and pray it (which might surprise fellow bus passengers): O Sacred Heart of Jesus, to Thee I consecrate and offer up my person and my life, my actions, trials, and sufferings, that my entire being may henceforth only be employed in loving, honouring and glorifying Thee. This is my irrevocable will, to belong entirely to Thee, and to do all for Thy love, renouncing with my whole heart all that can displease Thee. I take Thee, O Sacred Heart, for the sole object of my love, the protection of my life, the pledge of my salvation, the remedy of my frailty and inconstancy, the reparation for all the defects of my life, and my secure refuge at the hour of my death. Be Thou, O Most Merciful Heart, my justification before God Thy Father, and screen me from His anger which I have so justly merited. I fear all from my own weakness and malice, but placing my entire confidence in Thee, O Heart of Love, I hope all from Thine infinite Goodness. Annihilate in me all that can displease or resist Thee. Imprint Thy pure love so deeply in my heart that I may never forget Thee or be separated from Thee. I beseech Thee, through Thine infinite Goodness, grant that my name be engraved upon Thy Heart, for in this I place all my happiness and all my glory, to live and to die as one of Thy devoted servants. Amen.