Download the Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus: A Spiritual Preparation for the Solemnity of June 27

June 24, 2025 Andrés Vega0

(ANS – Roma) – The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, celebrated annually 69 days after Easter, will take place this year on June 27, 2025. To prepare for this important feast, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Castro Pretorio, known as the Universal Temple of Devotion to the Sacred Heart and the Salesian headquarters, is offering a novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The Heart of Jesus, pierced on the cross and now risen, opens for humanity a gateway to the Mystery of God. In his encyclical Dilexit Nos, Pope Francis, quoting Saint John Henry Newman, describes the Eucharist as the Heart of Jesus: a heart that is offered daily on the altar for us, becoming the bread for the journey, nourishing both spiritual and everyday life.

The Heart of Jesus: A message for today’s world

In today’s world, the message of the Heart of Jesus carries even deeper meaning, particularly for young people. The value of the body, central to contemporary culture, finds in the Heart of Jesus a clear and visible call: it is a body that must be nourished, cared for, and given to others.

Likewise, the theme of affections, so crucial in today’s society and often subject to radical transformations, finds in the Heart of Christ a guide to being educated, to achieving fulfillment, and to offering a concrete response to the need for meaning that dwells in the heart of every young person.

A Novena rich in spiritual content

The novena to the Sacred Heart offered by the Basilica draws on profound and meaningful texts, chosen to help communities and individuals delve deeply into the mystery of the Heart of Christ, cultivate a passion for Him, and renew their Salesian devotion. The materials included in the novena are

• Passages from the Word of God, illuminating the mystery of the Heart of Christ;

• Excerpts from the encyclical Dilexit Nos, providing a contemporary perspective on the Eucharist;

• Selected passages from the 29th General Chapter, emphasizing the centrality of the Eucharist in Christian life;

• The prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, composed by Pope Leo XIV, inviting the faithful to a deep union with Christ.

The Heart of Jesus and Salesian devotion

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart, envisioned and built by Don Bosco, stands as a powerful symbol of devotion to the Heart of Christ, a devotion that the saint of Valdocco fervently promoted. In the final years of his life, Don Bosco spread this devotion with an energy and passion that continues to inspire the Salesian Family to this day.

Through this novena, the Basilica not only prepares the faithful for the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, but also invites them to rediscover Eucharistic spirituality and to imitate the love Don Bosco had for Christ.

An Invitation to Prayer and Reflection

The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is much more than a liturgical celebration: it is an opportunity to reflect on the value of the Eucharist, to nurture and educate affections, and to live a spirituality that speaks to the heart of every individual, especially young people.

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Castro Pretorio warmly invites everyone to participate spiritually in the novena and to enter into the Heart of Christ, finding in Him not only spiritual nourishment but also a guide and companion on life’s journey.

The novena text, carefully adapted by Fr. Francesco Marcoccio, Rector of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Rome and also Rector of the Salesian Community at the Generalate, is available in six languages: Italian, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, and Polish.