Catholic Bishops of Croatia Make Historic 125th Consecration of the Nation and People to the Sacred Heart of Jesus - VIDEO

The historic act of consecration of the Croatian people and homeland to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
The dedication began at 7 p.m in churches (and chapels) across Croatia, and will begin with the ringing of bells for five minutes. The population of Croatia is about 3.86 million (2023) with about 79% being Catholic.

The Act of Consecration of the Croatian people and homeland to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the jubilee year of 2025 took place on the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, on Friday, June 27 at 7 p.m., in churches (and chapels) throughout Croatia, and began with the ringing of bells for five minutes. After the ringing, a solemn Eucharistic celebration will begin. After the Communion Prayer, the Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus followed, it was announced on the website of the Croatian Bishops' Conference.

We are in the year in which they celebrate the 125th anniversary of the consecration of Croatian people to the Sacred Heart of Jesus .

In 1900, more than 160,000 young people throughout Croatia participated in the solemn act of consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In Zagreb alone, about 5,000 young people gathered. This created a powerful image of the unity and faith of young people at the very beginning of the 20th century. The consecration of Croatian youth to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1900 was a direct, solemn and deeply symbolic response of the Catholic Church in Croatia to the jubilee call of Pope Leo XIII for spiritual renewal at the turn of the new century.

Therefore, the bishops of the Croatian Bishops' Conference prepared a commemorative prayer of consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which was approved at the 70th plenary session of the Croatian Bishops' Conference on April 30 in Zagreb.

Interpreting devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Directory on Popular Piety and Liturgy (no. 166) recalls that “on the Friday after the second Sunday after Pentecost, the Church celebrates the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In addition to liturgical celebrations, many other expressions of devotion have the Heart of Christ as their subject. 

There is no doubt that devotion to the Heart of the Savior was and is one of the most widespread and beloved expressions of ecclesiastical piety.”

As one of the many expressions of devotion to the Heart of Christ (along with the litany, the act of satisfaction, the nine first Fridays, etc.), the Church particularly emphasizes personal consecration and the consecration of the family. The aforementioned Directory emphasizes this (n. 171): "There are numerous forms of devotion to the Heart of the Savior. Some are expressly approved and often recommended by the Apostolic See. Among them, it is worth mentioning:

– personal consecration which, according to Pius XI, 'among all the exercises relating to the devotion to the Sacred Heart, is undoubtedly the principal';

– the consecration of the family by which the family nucleus – already a participant in the mystery of unity and love between Christ and the Church by the power of the sacrament of marriage – is consecrated to the Lord, so that he may reign in the hearts of each of its members'".

The Directory specifically emphasizes in No. 172 that "devotion to the Sacred Heart represents the great historical expression of the Church's devotion to Jesus Christ, her Spouse and Lord. It requires a fundamental attitude consisting of conversion and satisfaction, love and gratitude, apostolic commitment and dedication to Christ and his saving work . For this reason, the Apostolic See and the bishops recommend it, promoting its renewal: in linguistic and iconographic expressions: in the awareness of its biblical roots and its connection with the greatest truths of the faith; in the affirmation of the primacy of love for God and neighbor, as essential to the content of this devotion."
The prayer consecrated Croatian families, clergy, religious communities, parishes, married couples, children and young people, the sick and elderly, and workers across various fields to the Sacred Heart.

Source: https://laudato.hr/