Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus – Origin
In 1899 Pope Leo XIII approved this Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus for public use. This litany is actually a synthesis of several other litanies dating back to the 17th century. Father Croiset composed a litany in 1691 from which 17 invocations were used by Venerable Anne Madeleine Remuzat when she composed her litany in 1718 at Marseille. She joined an additional 10 invocations to those of Father Croiset, for a total of 27 invocations. Six more invocations written by Sister Madeleine Joly of Dijon in 1686 were added by the Sacred Congregation for Rites when it was approved for public use in 1899. This makes a total of 33 invocations, one for each year of life of our Lord Jesus Christ. A partial indulgence is attached to this litany.
The Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a deep reflection on the compassion, wisdom, justice, and strength of the Heart of Jesus.
The Litany of the Sacred Heart captures very well, the reasons are:
- Son of the Eternal Father
- Formed by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mother
- Substantially united to the Word of God
- Of Infinite Majesty
- Sacred Temple of God
- Tabernacle of the Most High
- House of God and Gate of Heaven
- Burning furnace of charity
- Abode of justice and love
- Full of goodness and love
- Abyss of all virtues
- Most worthy of all praise
- King and center of all hearts
- In whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge
- In whom dwells the fullness of divinity
- In whom the Father was well pleased, of whose fullness we have all received
- Desire of the everlasting hills
- Patient and most merciful, enriching all who invoke you
- Fountain of life and holiness
- Propitiation for our sins
- Loaded down with opprobrium
- Bruised for our offenses
- Obedient to death
- Pierced with a lance
- Source of all consolation
- Our life and resurrection
- Our peace and reconciliation
- Victim for our sins
- Salvation of those who trust in you
- Hope of those who die in you
- Delight of all the Saints
- Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world
