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FAMILY CONSECRATION

TO THE SACRED HEART

What is it?

Family consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a family's response to the love of Jesus poured out upon the world. It is the living out of the call to every family to reflect the life of the Trinity.
It is becoming a 'communion of persons' through the gift of Grace received in Baptism and sharing in the mission of Jesus, that is, to love as God loves in a special way by association with the charism of our Community, the Society Devoted to the Sacred Heart.

Consecrated Families belong to our SDSH community
in a special way:

Each family

	is officially enrolled in the Membership Book of the SDSH Consecrated Family Program
	receives a personalized framed copy of our Sacred Heart picture which we have in our convents
	is included in our perpetual Sacred Heart Novena prayed on three continents by all our Sisters
	is invited to our Consecrated Family Evenings of Prayer, Family Camp Weekend Retreats and Family Camp Reunion
	will have their deceased loved ones enrolled in our Memorial Book of the Dead for whom we pray daily in our Sacred Heart Novena
	takes active part in our various apostolic works

Ways Consecrated Families are encouraged to respond spiritually:

	Allow Jesus to become the center of your family life so that family decisions and all you do as family flows from the values taught to us by Jesus
	Display the image of the Sacred Heart in a place of honor in your home and gather there for prayer frequently
	Choose some form of family prayer, such as, praying with scripture e.g., the Sunday readings, praying the Rosary, praying Stations of the Cross during Lent, or other favorite family prayers
	Regular attendance at Sunday Mass, attending as a family
	Frequent reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation
	Offer Mass and Communion once a month for our SDSH Community and the intentions of all the consecrated families, and pray especially for an increase of vocations
	Choose a way to serve the needs of God's people according to the means and spirit of your family

BRIEF SUMMARY OF S.D.S.H. CHARACTERISTICS

Oneness with God - With joy, we respond to his living presence in the depth of our being every single day. We gratefully receive his healing love in the Sacraments.

Genuine Love - We love Jesus, and therefore we love those whom he loves!

Loving Service for His Church - We love Jesus in his Body, the Church. We are ready to bring his Good News wherever his children need us.

Vivid Faith Life - Our faith leads us to a deep appreciation of each person as someone very precious to the Heart of God whom he loves personally and uniquely.

Humble Reliance on God's Help - He was the one who called us together! Without him, we can do absolutely nothing! His Heart is always moved by need, so we want to serve willingly, joyfully and generously.

Zealous Love - We accept his plans for us readily knoowing that 'in all things God works for the good of those who love him’. Our houses are homes where everyone is loved; we rejoice in each other's accomplishments and share in each other's sufferings.