Ireland was reconsecrated to the Sacred Heart on Sunday in the town of Knock on the feast of Corpus Christi. Source: CNA.
Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh, who presided at the events, urged the people of Ireland to “feel inspired and courageous” by the renewed consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
“Do not be afraid – today’s consecration will give you a new heart – a heart of love that can in turn give fresh heart to our troubled world.”
Ahead of the consecration, Archbishop Martin received an apostolic blessing from Pope Leo XIV, a “pledge of joy and peace” for all who were present.
The archbishop told the faithful in Knock Basilica not to be surprised if they felt a call to go out and confront those “weighty evils that are pressing on the Church of God throughout the world” and “the many dangers encompassing and threatening ourselves near home”.
Ireland was previously consecrated to the Sacred Heart on Passion Sunday in 1873, and for decades afterward, the people of Ireland held a particular devotion to it with the image of the Sacred Heart commonplace in virtually every Irish home.
Archbishop Martin spoke to the desire to reconsecrate the country and its people now.
“We are living in a time of great need for God – for faith, for hope, and for love. Our age presents many challenges to our faith, to our families, and indeed to the deepest core of our humanity,” he said.
“But as a pilgrim people filled with great love and hope in this jubilee year of graces, while recalling the promises of the Sacred Heart made known 350 years ago to St Margaret Mary, we have chosen to renew the consecration of our country to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus as its secure refuge from all dangers – visible and invisible.”
On display at the consecration Mass were four pilgrim Sacred Heart statues blessed by the late Pope Francis at the Vatican, symbolising Ireland’s historic four provinces.
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Ireland reconsecrated to the Sacred Heart on feast of Corpus Christi (By Patrick Passmore, CNA)
