On June 11, 2021, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Polish Episcopate gathered for the Mass celebrated at the Jesuit Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Kraków to renew the act of Consecration of Poland to the Heart of Jesus. When the construction of the basilica was finished it hosted little more than twenty Polish bishops on June 3, 1921 who entrusted Poland to Jesus’ heart. 100 years later the renewal took place in the presence of almost a hundred bishops. The Act was proclaimed by the President of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki. The Jesuit Provincial of South Poland Province, Fr. Jarosław Paszyński SJ delivered the homily in which he outlined the way how the devotion to the Sacred Heart can be of help for the people of XXI century to build “the civilization of the Sacred Heart” of love: 1) adoration of loving God which helps to promote human dignity, 2) communion with God that enables us to build a communion between the people without excluding anyone and 3) satisfaction (expiation) which is particular form of love that opposes human indifference or abuse, and teaches responsibility for wounded, marginalized and those deprived of love.

Six months of preparation

The celebration was the conclusion of a six-month program of preparation. Thanks to the collaboration with the Conference of Polish Bishops the team of Jesuits organized the book with homily outlines, reflections, devotions and prayers distributed to each out of ten thousand parishes in Poland. Through the letter issued by the Polish bishops and read on preceding Sunday, June 6, every parish was also invited to proclaim the act in their own churches.

Young Jesuits organized the artistic contest for youth concluded with the release of the youth song prepared for this occasion: “to live in the rhythm of the heart” by Fr. Jakub Bartczak. 

The theme of Divine Love

At the Basilica itself people were invited to participate in monthly talks and prayers devoted to the theme of Divine Love. Before the Solemnity the 3-day Conference was held in which both Polish Provincials and the members of the Congregation of the Sacred Heart provided reflections about the Sacred Heart.

On the eve of the solemnity the basilica witnessed ecumenical prayer: “at the Heart of Jesus there is a place for everyone”, organized by the students from the Jesuit campus ministry “WAJ”. Scripture and Taizé songs united Christians of different denominations around the Cross that expresses the unlimited love of Christ.

Crucial themes for the Church and the people of our times

The Act centered around crucial themes for the Church and the people in our times: care for families, divisions, pandemic challenges and call for respecting our planet. One of the elements of the act was also to apologize for the sins of sexual abuse of minors. The Jesuits in Kraków are part of the crucial process of making the Church a safe environment. Right next to the basilica is the Jesuit University Ignatianum that runs the institution called “Child Protection Center” with Fr. Adam Żak SJ as the head. Its primary tasks include psychological, pedagogical and spiritual training and education activities on the subject of sexual abuse of minors, and the design and development of prevention programs and models of good practice for various pastoral, formational and educational settings to help them create safe environments for children and young people.

Inspiring strength

Though it may seem that spirituality of the Sacred Heart is not at its peak, the whole process of preparation and the celebration itself provided signals that the power of God’s love which is at the centre of Christ’s heart still has its transforming and inspiring strength. We find that there is no simple coincidence in the fact that the Centennial Jubilee happens around the same time as the Ignatian Year that invites us to see all things new in Christ. Is it not the love of God flowing from the heart of Jesus that allows us to convert and to live in hope and caring love for everyone?