Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque

Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, a French nun of the Visitation Order, was born on July 22, 1647, in Janots, France, and died on October 17, 1690. Pope Benedict XV canonized her on May 13, 1920, and the Church celebrates her feast day on October 17.

Margaret Mary grew up in a devout Catholic family. After her father's death, she attended a convent school despite facing illness and family difficulties. She joined the Visitation Order at Paray-le-Monial in 1671. During her time as a nun, she experienced several mystical visions of Jesus Christ, who revealed His Sacred Heart to her and asked her to promote devotion to it.

In December 1673, Jesus allowed her to rest her head upon His heart, revealing the wonders of His love. In 1674, He showed her His heart surrounded by flames, crowned with thorns, and surmounted by a cross, asking her to spread this devotion and establish a feast day. He also requested a special devotion on the first Friday of each month and the Holy Hour for meditating on His Passion. In June 1675, during the octave of Corpus Christi, Jesus asked her to request the King of France to consecrate the nation to His Sacred Heart and establish a feast day.

Despite facing significant opposition and skepticism from her fellow nuns and superiors, Margaret Mary, with the support of her confessor Saint Claude de la Colombière, persevered in spreading the message of the Sacred Heart. Her efforts led to the establishment of the Feast of the Sacred Heart and the First Fridays devotion.

Margaret Mary's courage, perseverance, and deep love for Jesus continue to inspire many Catholics. Her life and works had a lasting impact on the Church, particularly through the widespread devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The miracles associated with her, including instantaneous cures and the incorrupt state of her body when her tomb was opened, further supported her sainthood.

Margaret Mary's visions had a profound impact on the Catholic Church, particularly in promoting the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Her visions led to the widespread adoption of this devotion, which became one of the most beloved expressions of Catholic spirituality, emphasizing the love and mercy of Jesus and the importance of reparation for sins. The establishment of the Feast of the Sacred Heart, celebrated on the Friday following the second Sunday after Pentecost, and the practice of the First Fridays devotion, where Catholics dedicate the first Friday of each month to the Sacred Heart of Jesus through acts of devotion and penance, both stem from her visions. Another practice that emerged is the Holy Hour, where people meditate on the Passion of Jesus, particularly on Thursdays to commemorate the Last Supper and the agony in Gethsemane.

Despite initial skepticism, her spiritual director, Father Claude de la Colombière, recognized the authenticity of her experiences and became a key advocate for the spread of the Sacred Heart devotion. His support helped gain acceptance within the Church hierarchy, solidifying Margaret Mary's influence on Catholic spirituality and practices, leading to a deeper understanding and appreciation of the love and mercy of Jesus.