Litany of the Sacred Heart
Thirty-three invocations of the Heart of Jesus, one for each year of His earthly life.
Why this practice
The Litany of the Sacred Heart, approved for public use by Pope Leo XIII in 1899, is one of the great prayers of the Church. Each invocation names the Heart of Jesus under a different aspect — "Heart of Jesus, formed by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mother," "Heart of Jesus, burning furnace of charity," "Heart of Jesus, patient and rich in mercy."
There are thirty-three invocations, one for each year of Christ's life on earth. To pray the Litany slowly is to meditate on the whole mystery of the Incarnation through the door of His Heart.
How to begin
Heart of Jesus, in whom the Father was well pleased — have mercy on us. Heart of Jesus, of whose fullness we have all received — have mercy on us.
— From the Litany
A prayer for this practice
O God, who in the Heart of Thy Son, wounded by our sins, dost mercifully bestow upon us the boundless treasures of Thy love, grant, we beseech Thee, that we who render Him the homage of our devotion may also offer the worthy duty of satisfaction. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Amen.