Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque

+JMJ+
Look at this Heart which has loved men so much, and yet men do not want to love Me in return. Through you My divine Heart wishes to spread its love everywhere on earth."
from Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque’s vision of Jesus

Born at Lehautecour, France, July 22, 1647; died at Paray-le-Monial, France, October 17, 1690; canonized by Pope Benedict XV in 1920.

Margaret Mary was born to virtuous parents, and was herself an uncommonly pious child, being intensly drawn to silent prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. She practiced severe physical mortifications after her first Communion at age nine until she was struck with paralysis and bed-ridden for four years.

After she made a vow to the Blessed Virgin to enter religious life, she was instantly cured. However, in the ensuing years she had become intent on living in the world following a request of her mother.

On returning from a ball one night she had a vision of Jesus during His scourging at the pillar, in which he reproached her for her infidelity to her vow. He had usually appeared to her throughout her childhood as the Crucified or being condemned to death. She decided to fulfill the vow she made to Mary and entered the Visitation Convent at Paray in 1671.

Her life in the convent was marked by intense suffering stemming from the harsh work she opted to do, and also by frequent visions and visits to her by Jesus who soon confided to her the mission to establish devotion to His Sacred Heart.

He promised that, in response to those who consecrate themselves and make reparations to His Sacred Heart, that:

· He will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life.
· He will establish peace in their homes.
· He will comfort them in all their afflictions.
· He will be their secure refuge during life, and above all, in death.
· He will bestow abundant blessings upon all their undertakings.
· Sinners will find in His Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.
· Lukewarm souls shall become fervent.
· Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection.
· He will bless every place in which an image of His Heart is exposed and
honored.
· He will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.
· Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in His
Heart.

· In the excessive mercy of His Heart that His all-powerful love will grant
to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Fridays in nine
consecutive months the grace of final perseverance; they shall not die in
His disgrace, nor without receiving their sacraments. His divine Heart
shall be their safe refuge in this last moment.

The initial opposition and criticism she received from her congregation at the outset of this mission eventually turned into support due to her heroic example of obedience and charity, especially to the sisters most opposed to her. The devotion was violently opposed by the Jansenist heretics (who rejected the truth of God’s merciful love), but it is credited as having decisively defeated Jansenism in France.

When the tomb was opened after Margaret Mary’s death, miracles immediately took place, and she has obtained countless graces from the millions of pilgrims who have visited her resting place in the chapel of Paray-le-Monial since her death.

This divine heart is an abyss filled with all blessings, and into the poor should submerge all their needs. It is an abyss of joy in which all of us can immerse our sorrows. It is an abyss of lowliness to counteract our foolishness, an abyss of mercy for the wretched, an abyss of love to meet our every need.
Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque