First Friday

Normally at lunchtime we say the Angelus. But today is First Friday, so instead we made a devotion to the Sacred Heart in the following manner:

First, we moved our Sacred Heart icon to the center of the mantelpiece, which serves as our altar. We lit votive candles either side, which will remain burning -- well, they should burn all day, but I have to go out to a doctor's appointment this afternoon, and we don't do fire when grownups aren't home, even for sacred purposes.

We said the Litany of the Sacred Heart**, as follows:

(* denotes the response)

Lord, have mercy.
*Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.
*Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.
*Lord, have mercy.

Christ, hear us.
*Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven,
*Have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the World,
*Have mercy on us.

God the Holy Ghost,
*Have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God,
*Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Son of the Eternal Father,
*Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, formed by the Holy Ghost in the Womb of the Virgin Mother,
*Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, united hypostatically to the Word of God,
*Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, infinite in majesty,
*Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, holy Temple of God,
*Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Tabernacle of the Most High,
*Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, House of God and Gate of Heaven,
*Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, glowing furnace of Charity,
*Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Abode of Justice and Love,
*Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, full of kindness and love,
*Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Abyss of all virtues,
*Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, worthy of all praise,
*Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, King and Center of all hearts,
*Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, wherein are all the treasure of wisdom and knowledge,
*Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, wherein abides all the Fullness of the Godhead,
*Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, in which the Father was well pleased,
*Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, of whose Fullness we have all received,
*Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Desire of the eternal hills,
*Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, patient and abounding in mercy,
*Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, rich unto all that call upon Thee,
*Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Source of life and holiness,
*Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Atonement for our iniquities,
*Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, glutted with reproaches,
*Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, bruised for our sins,
*Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, made obedient unto death,
*Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, pierced by the lance,
*Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Source of all consolation,
*Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, our Life and Resurrection,
*Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, our Peace and Reconciliation,
*Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Victim of sin,
*Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, Salvation of all who trust in Thee,
*Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, hope of all who die in Thee,
*Have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, delight of all the saint,
*Have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
*Spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
*Graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world,
*Have mercy on us.

Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
*Make our hearts like unto Thy heart.

Let us pray:

Almighty and everlasting God, look upon the heart of Thy well-beloved Son, and upon the praise and satisfaction that be rendered to Thee on behalf of sinners; and, being thus appeased, grant them the pardon that they seek from Thy mercy, in the name of the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who lives and reigns with Thee forever and ever. Amen.

** from The Book of Catholic Prayer: Prayers for Every Day and All Occasions, Sean Finnegan, Loyola Press, Chicago, 2000.