Our School is Named for the Sacred Heart of Jesus
In the eleventh and twelfth centuries we find the first indications of devotion to the Sacred Heart. It was the Benedictine or Cistercian monasteries, in the world of Anselmian or Bernardine that the devotion began. Saint Gertrude on the feast of Saint John the Evangelist laid her head near the wound in the Saviour's side and heard the beating of the Divine Heart. She asked John if he had felt these pulsationson the night of the Last Supper and why he had never spoken of this experience. John replied that this revelation had been reserved for subsequent ages when the world, having grown cold, would have need of it to rekindle its love. ("Legatus divinae pietatis", IV, 305; "Revelationes Gertrudianae", ed. Poitiers and Paris, 1877)
On 31 August 1670 the first feast of the Sacred Heart was celebrated in the Grand Seminary of Rennes . Coutances followed suit on 20 October. The feast soon spread to other dioceses and the devotion was adopted in various religious communities.
In 1856 Pope Pius IX extended the feast to the universal Church under the rite of double major. In 1889 it was raised by the Church to the double rite of first class. On 11 June, 1899 by order of Leo XIII and with the formula prescribed by him, all mankind was solemnly consecrated to the Sacred Heart. The idea of this act, which Leo XIII called "the great act" of his pontificate, had been proposed to him by a religious of the Good Shepherd from Oporto (Portugal) who said that she had received it from Christ Himself.
The Renewal of the Consecration of the Family to The Sacred Heart of Jesus
Most sweet Jesus, humbly kneeling at Thy feet, we renew the consecration of our family to Thy Divine Heart. Be Thou our King forever.
In Thee we have full and entire confidence. May Thy spirit penetrate our thoughts, our desires, our words and our works.
Bless our undertakings, share in our joys, in our trials and in our labours.
Grant us to know Thee more, to serve Thee without faltering.
By the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of Peace, set up Thy kingdom in our country.
Enter closely into the midst of our families and make them Thine own through the solemn enthronement of Thy Sacred Heart
so that no one cry may respond from home to home.
May the triumphant Heart of Jesus be everywhere loved, blessed and glorified forever!
Honour and glory to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary.
Sacred Heart of Jesus protect our families.
Amen.