This Act of Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is recited on the Feast of Christ the King—in the current calendar, the last Sunday of the liturgical year (that is, the Sunday before the First Sunday of Advent), and, in the traditional calendar (still used in the Traditional Latin Mass), the last Sunday in October (the Sunday immediately before All Saints Day).

Traditionally, the Act of Consecration was preceded by exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (which remained exposed during the Act of Consecration) and followed by the recitation of the Litany of the Sacred Heart and benediction.


This form of the Act of Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is occasionally incorrectly ascribed to Pope Pius XI, who, in his encyclical Quas Primas (1925), established the Feast of Christ the King. While Pius XI commanded in that same encyclical that the Act of Consecration be made on the Feast of Christ the King, the text presented here was sent by Pope Leo XIII to all the bishops of the world in 1899, when he promulgated his encyclical Annum Sacrum. In that encyclical, Leo asked that such a consecration be made on June 11, 1900. Whether Leo himself wrote the text of the prayer, however, is not clear.

While the text is meant to be recited publicly in a church, if your parish does not make the Act of Consecration on the Feast of Christ the King you can recite it privately or with your family, preferably in front of an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. (You can learn more about the history of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in The Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.)

A shortened form of the Act of Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, omitting the penultimate paragraph with its prayers for the conversion of non-Christians, is often used today.

Act of Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Most Sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before Thine altar. We are Thine, and Thine we wish to be; but to be more surely united to Thee, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to Thy Most Sacred Heart.

Many indeed have never known Thee; many too, despising Thy precepts, have rejected Thee. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to Thy Sacred Heart.

Be Thou King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken Thee, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned Thee; grant that they may quickly return to their Father’s house, lest they die of wretchedness and hunger.

Be Thou King of those who are deceived by the erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof, and call them back to the harbor of truth and unity of faith, so that soon there may be but one flock and one Shepherd.

Be Thou King of all those who are still involved in the darkness of idolatry or of Islamism; refuse not to draw them all into the light and kingdom of God. Turn Thine eyes of mercy toward the children of that race, once Thy chosen people: Of old they called down upon themselves the Blood of the Saviour; may it now descend upon them a laver of redemption and of life.

Grant, O Lord, to Thy Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give peace and order to all nations, and make the earth resound  from pole to pole with one cry: Praise to the Divine Heart that wrought our salvation: To It be glory and honor forever. Amen.