The Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Order of Prémontré

Today marks the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Readers will recall that we have previously written of the devotion of St. Hermann Joseph, a priest of our Order, to the Sacred Heart and his hymn ‘Summi regis cor, aveto’ which is credited with being the first hymn composed to honour this devotion.The Order as a whole was solemnly consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus at the General Chapter of 1889.The prayer below – from ‘The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary according to the Premonstrant Rite’ (De Pere, 1951) – was used for the act of consecration.

Almighty and eternal God, we sons and daughters of St. Norbert, whom Thou didst call to be so devoted an apostle of the Blessed Sacrament that he founded the Premonstratensian Order to promote devotion to the holy Eucharist, cast ourselves humbly before the throne of Thy Divine Majesty and Goodness. We are conscious of our calling, for which we consider ourselves entirely unworthy, and we are animated by the desire to render childlike devotion and love to Thy Sacred Heart which is present amongst men in the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar; which offers Itself daily to His Heavenly Father; which is deeply wounded by indifference, even contempt, of those who are especially consecrated to It.We are also mindful of the wish of Thy Most Loving Heart, which Thou didst manifest to Thy servant, St. Margaret Mary, that the entire world may be consecrated to Thee – not only individual souls but entire societies and congregations - therefore we sons and daughters of St. Norbert, here gathered together, consecrate our entire Order and every member of the Order forever to Thy Sacred Heart. We promise that it is our firm purpose and desire to promote devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and to Thy Loving Heart, in us and in those entrusted to our care, and to render Thy Eucharistic Heart all possible praise and adoration.We beseech Thee, O Lord Jesus, that Thy blessing may always abide with, guide, and protect our Order, which solemnly and forever dedicates itself to Thee. Grant it fresh life and renewed strength that it may prosper in the future for the honour of Thy name, for the glory of Mother Church, and for the salvation of our own souls and the souls of others. Amen.