Catholic bishops from around the nation will gather Thursday to perform a historic religious ceremony dedicating America to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in honor of the country’s 250th anniversary.
The religious ceremony will take place during the bishops’ spring assembly meeting in Orlando, Florida, and is rooted in an ancient Catholic tradition that emphasizes Jesus’ loving sacrifice for all people. Many Catholic families and business owners perform similar dedications for their homes and companies.
However, this religious devotion has sparked political debate and controversy in various locations. In some instances, it has been linked to Catholic nationalism, while others have promoted it as a counter to state worship.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops plans to use Thursday’s ceremony to encourage devotion to God, nation and those in need, according to Archbishop Alexander Sample of Portland, Oregon, who leads the bishops’ religious liberty committee.
“As we reflect with gratitude on the blessings God has bestowed on our country, our devotion to the Sacred Heart demands that we consider how we might foster truth, justice and charity in American life,” Sample said in a video promoting the service.
This marks the first occasion American Catholic leadership has conducted such a ceremony, though similar events have occurred elsewhere.
Catholic bishops in multiple European and Latin American nations have performed similar dedications of their countries to the Sacred Heart, sometimes with government officials participating. Ecuador initiated this practice in 1874. Most of these ceremonies occurred in predominantly Catholic nations, which differs from the United States.
Pope Leo XIII — who shares a name with the current pope — dedicated the entire world to the Sacred Heart in 1899.
Multiple popes have endorsed devotion to the Sacred Heart. The late Pope Francis emphasized the Sacred Heart as motivation for service and justice. Pope Leo XIV encouraged followers to look “to the Sacred Heart, model of true humanity.”
This devotion has generated political tension in certain nations. It has been used to support a combination of Catholic faith and nationalism.
The famous Basilica of Sacre-Coeur (Sacred Heart) in Paris has historically represented Catholic opposition to secularism during France’s revolutionary period.
Recently, a French movie called “Sacre Coeur” depicts a 17th century French nun’s religious visions that inspired the contemporary devotion.
The film attracted large audiences in France last year despite criticism from secular and Catholic critics. One progressive Catholic group, writing in La Croix, criticized the movie for being used “to further a political agenda obsessed with reaffirming France’s Christian identity.”
The film started showing in American movie theaters Tuesday.
Additionally, a Catholic organization launched a billboard campaign this month highlighting June as the designated month of the Sacred Heart. A Republican candidate for Florida governor, James Fishback, officially consecrated his campaign to the Sacred Heart.
History shows that devotional practices can develop controversial political associations, even when they begin as neutral spiritual expressions.
The declaration “Christ is king” has become more common in American political contexts, sometimes connected with Christian nationalist statements or even anti-Zionist or antisemitic rhetoric.
Catholic researcher Robert Fastiggi, who has studied the extensive history of Sacred Heart devotion, believes the American bishops’ consecration ceremony should be viewed as a unifying action during divisive times.
It opposes any tendency to worship the state — instead promoting Jesus as “a king with a heart,” he explained.
“There’s such polarization or infelicitous language even coming from the president of the United States, threatening violence and annihilation on a whole civilization,” Fastiggi said in an interview. “Pope Leo was correct in saying this is unacceptable.”
Performing a Sacred Heart consecration, Fastiggi explained, means “reminding ourselves we’re answerable to the law of God and of love.”
Sacred Heart devotion has ancient origins, but it developed its contemporary form during the 17th century, Fastiggi documented in the academic journal Religions in 2025.
During that period, a French nun, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, claimed to have visions of Jesus showing “the marvels of His love and the inexplicable secrets of His Sacred Heart.”
Many religious communities and fraternal groups formed to promote this devotion. Churches and schools adopted the Sacred Heart name.
A 19th century German nun, Blessed Marie of the Divine Heart, encouraged then-Pope Leo XIII to dedicate the world to the Sacred Heart. She predicted he would recover from a serious illness.
Leo XIII agreed, documenting the healing in a papal letter that promoted the devotion.
Currently, many Catholic homes, businesses and churches display images of Jesus with his Sacred Heart visible, typically showing flames, a cross and a crown of thorns representing sacrificial love. This devotion often pairs with honoring the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
