What’s the first thing you’d do if you were elected pope?

It would be a big responsibility! But if I were smart, I’d pray for God’s guidance! And then, only after that, get some gelato nearby.

When Pope Leo XIII became pope, he did something that no pope had ever done before.

In 1878, Pope Leo XIII was elected pope. The world around him was changing rapidly. The second industrial revolution was bringing electricity, factories, and mass production to Europe. Telegraph cables were sending news faster than ever before. And nations were embracing secular ideas and trying to push God out of public life.

Seeing this, Pope Leo XIII turned to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and did something extraordinary: In 1899, he consecrated the entire human race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In the encyclical Annum Sacrum, he writes:

“We must have recourse to Him who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. We have gone astray and we must return to the right path: darkness has overshadowed our minds, and the gloom must be dispelled by the light of truth: death has seized upon us, and we must lay hold of life.”

And what’s more, all popes since Pope Leo XIII have either supported or renewed the consecration! Pope Leo saw that when we do not honor God as Lord of our lives, things fall apart. By entrusting ourselves to the Sacred Heart, we can restore our homes, our countries, and our world.

Now it’s your turn. Expose and honor the Sacred Heart Image. Every time you pass it, say in your heart, “Jesus, you are Lord of this home. Help me to honor you today.” Together, we can build a culture that honors God as Lord of our lives.

PRAY WITH US AT 7 PM CT

Join me tonight on the Family Rosary Across America at 7pm CT!

And now, you can also join our Family Rosary Across America text group by texting “PRAY” to 914914 for updates and reminders to pray with us during this novena.

See you at the Rosary!