On Friday, September 25, the University of Notre Dame will be consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. All are welcome to join the celebration at the 5:15 p.m. Mass in the . The Most Rev. Kevin C. Rhoades, bishop of the Diocese of Fort Wayne鈥揝outh Bend, will preach and preside, and University President , will serve as concelebrant.
After the Mass, there will be a procession to the Sacred Heart of Jesus statue for the consecration, where Bishop Rhoades and University leaders will pray for healing, for an end to divisions, and for strength to follow Christ鈥檚 call to selfless love.
鈥淪ince my days as an undergraduate student, one of my favorite places on campus is the area around the statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in front of the Main Building at the center of campus,鈥� Father Dowd said. 鈥淛esus is depicted with open arms and an open heart. I have always found that area to be a place of peace and inspiration. Under the statue are the words, 鈥楥ome to me, all!鈥� This flows from Fr. Sorin鈥檚 founding vision for Notre Dame to create a place where God鈥檚 love is at the center of our life and who we strive to be.
鈥淟ike Jesus, we are called to have a heart that is wide open to God and to others, especially those who are most vulnerable and on the margins of our society. And, at Notre Dame, it is important that head and heart are always working together to address the world鈥檚 most important challenges.鈥�
What it means to be consecrated
The concept of a consecration is simple, said , vice president in the Office of Mission Engagement and Church Affairs.
鈥淚t means to set something apart to be sanctified or to be made holy鈥攁nd individuals consecrate themselves all the time,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 a consecrated religious in the Congregation of Holy Cross, which means that by my vows, I attempt to set myself apart and try to be a priest who has a heart like the Sacred Heart of Jesus.鈥�
Individuals, institutions, or countries can also be consecrated to the Blessed Mother or to a particular saint, Father Haake noted, but the Sacred Heart holds special significance for the University because the priests of Holy Cross have a devotion to it.
鈥淭he Sacred Heart is a devotion that focuses on love, mercy, forgiveness, and sacrifice,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 focused on the offering that the Lord made for us on the cross鈥攁nd we鈥檙e called to imitate that for God and for our neighbors, just as any Christian would.鈥�
A student-led devotion
The consecration, which was inspired by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops鈥� decision to consecrate the United States to the Sacred Heart in June, is a student-led initiative鈥攚hich makes it all the more meaningful, Father Haake said. It is also the first time in living memory that the University has been consecrated.
鈥淪tudents from a variety of groups and backgrounds came together to focus on this devotion,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd, if they are called to the Sacred Heart, to me that means they want to bring God closer to them and to feel more tangibly the abundant love of God and to imitate it.鈥�
The DeBartolo Performing Arts Center will host (Sacred Heart: His Reign Has No End) at 6:30 p.m. Friday, October 2; the film is free, but ticketed.