Today
the Church celebrates the feast of the
Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Born
in France in 1647, Margaret Mary Alacoque was crippled by a disease at age
8. After promising to give her life to Jesus’ service, she was
miraculously healed through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. At 23,
she entered the Visitation Order of Nuns.
Sister
Margaret Mary loved our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament—the consecrated Body of
Christ from Holy Communion, which is kept in the tabernacles of Catholic
churches—very much. The world had grown cold and unresponsive to God and His
offer of salvation through the grace His Son won for us all on the Cross. Over
the course of a few years, Jesus appeared to Margaret, revealing to her His
Sacred Heart.
The flames coming forth from
Jesus’ Heart remind us of His burning love for us and His desire that we love
Him in return. The crown of thorns around His Heart reminds us of His sacrifice
for us and His invitation that we offer our sufferings to Him, as Saint Paul
teaches us: “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am
filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body,
which is the church” (Colossians 1:24).
Jesus
made at least twelve promises to Sister Margaret Mary, revealing the abundance
of His love and telling her how He would help those who honor His Sacred Heart.
He said, “Behold this Heart which has loved men and women so much, and
yet they do not want to love Me in return. Through you My divine Heart wishes
to spread its love everywhere on earth.” He further promised, “I will bless every
home in which an image of My Heart will be honored.”
Sister
Margaret Mary died in 1690, and was canonized a saint in 1920.
