St. Margaret Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque was a French Roman Catholic mystic and religious visionary who lived in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. She is best known for her devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which she said was revealed to her by Jesus himself. Born in 1647 in the Burgundy region of France, she was the daughter of a notary public and the fifth of six children.

Margaret Mary entered the Visitation Convent of Paray-le-Monial at the age of 20 and took her vows in 1671. She was a nun for the last 21 years of her life. She reported a series of apparitions of Jesus Christ to her, which began in 1673 and continued throughout her life. In these apparitions, Jesus is said to have revealed to her the devotion to his Sacred Heart, which is characterized by a love for God and the desire to spread this love to others.

During the apparitions, Jesus showed Margaret Mary his heart, which was surrounded by thorns, representing the sins of humanity. He asked her to make reparations for these sins by promoting devotion to his Sacred Heart, and to spread this devotion through the sacrament of the Eucharist, frequent Communion, and the practice of the nine first Fridays.

Margaret Mary also reported that Jesus promised her several graces and blessings for those who would practice this devotion, including the gift of conversion, the ability to console him in his Passion, and the promise of eternal life. She also reported that Jesus asked her to request from the Pope and bishops the institution of the Feast of the Sacred Heart, which was eventually established in 1899 by Pope Leo XIII.

Margaret Mary’s experiences were not always well received by her superiors and contemporaries. Some of them were skeptical and thought her visions were nothing more than hallucinations. However, her spiritual director, Saint Claude La Colombière, and her confessors believed her to be a true mystic and encouraged her to share her experiences.

Margaret Mary’s writings, including her letters and her autobiography, provide a detailed account of her visions and the messages she received. They are considered important primary sources for the understanding of her mystical experiences and the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Despite the initial skepticism, Margaret Mary’s devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus spread quickly throughout the Catholic Church and remains a popular devotion to this day. Her visions and messages continue to inspire Catholics all over the world, and she is considered to be a significant figure in the history of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

St. Margaret Mary died in the Visitation Convent at Paray-le-Monial on October 17, 1690, at the age of 43. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1920. The Roman Catholic Church celebrates her feast day on October 16.

The Life of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Have you ever wondered how the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus originated? Why do Catholics wear St. Margaret Mary Medals and Sacred Heart of Jesus Medals? The answer is an incredible story about the deep devotion of a holy woman, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque who overcame sickness and many obstacles to devote her life to God. St. Margaret Mary established the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus based on divine visions. In addition to establishing the devotion to the Sacred Heart, St. Margaret Mary is the patron saint of those who suffer of polio and those who lost their parents. Today, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast day of St. Margaret Mary on October 17th

The Biography of St. Margaret Mary

Love of God had grown cold in seventeenth-century France. The great religious fervor of the Middle Ages was gone. The religious unity of the Western world had been shattered by the Protestant Revolt. Thousands of French people who remained in the Church were affected by the teachings of a Catholic bishop named Jansen whose writings had brought about a sort of Puritanism within the Church. As a result of these and other developments, there was no longer the great love of God in France that there had once been God could have let the world suffer the results of its own in difference.

But, in His great mercy, God intervened to rekindle the love of the people for Him. He offered the Sacred Heart of Jesus, overflowing with love for us, as a symbol to the people. As His instruments he used a humble nun, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, and her adviser, Blessed Claude de la Colombiere. (It is worth noting that St. John Eudes, who preached devotion to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, also lived in France at this time.)

 

St. Margaret Mary Patron Saint of Those Who Lost Their Parents

Margaret Alacoque was born at Lautecour, a small town in Burgundy, on July 22, 1647. She was the fifth of seven children of Claude and Philiberte Alacoque. When she was eight years old her father died, and she was sent to a boarding school conducted by the Urbanists. She was attracted by the life of the nuns, and they were so impressed by her piety that they obtained permission for her to make her First Communion at the age of nine, which was early in those days.

 

St. Margaret Mary Patron Saint of Those with Polio

When Margaret was ten, she was stricken with a kind of rheumatic element that rendered her helpless and caused her intense pain. In the course of her illness she was taken back to the family home at Lautecour. She suffered from this illness for four years, during which time her thoughts turned more and more toward God. She was cured of the disease – miraculously it seemed – after she promised to become a nun.

She was cured of her illness only to have another kind of suffering thrust upon her. The family estate came under the management of an in-law. This arrangement was necessary because Margaret’s mother, Philiberte, was physically weak, lacking in initiative, and unskilled in business matters. The result was that Margaret and Philiberte were treated worse than servants in their own house. “The heaviest of my crosses,” Margaret said later, “was my inability to lighten those laid upon my mother.” Philiberte looked forward to the day when her eldest son would take over the management of the estate. But the young man died. Then her second son died, and the third one became a priest.

Margaret grew up to become a very attractive young lady. She was small, slight of build, and graceful. The fine features of her lovely face were set off by a pair of hazel eyes under heavy but beautifully arched eyebrows. She was quick in her movements, sensitive and affectionate, charming and gay.

 

St. Margaret Mary Hears God’s Call

Philiberte urged Margaret to marry so that the two of them could escape what the older woman considered an intolerable situation in the home. To please her mother Margaret entered upon a social life which, to her surprise, she began to enjoy. When Margaret was about twenty-two she was confirmed and took the name Mary. This reminded her that she had not kept her promise to enter a convent. This was a dark period in Margaret’s life. The social activities she once enjoyed were no longer satisfying. She felt that God was calling her to enter the convent, but she could not leave her ailing mother. The situation in the home was still as bad as ever. In addition to all this, her mother was accusing her of selfishness and indifference because she had turned down several proposals of marriage. Things took a turn for the better eventually.

Margaret’s brother Chrysostom – the fourth oldest boy in the family – came of age, married a fine woman, and took over management of the estate To the immense relief of Margaret he said that he was able and willing to take care of the mother. On June 20, 1671, Margaret entered the Visitation Convent in the village of Paray-le-Monial As a novice, Margaret Mary made more than the usual number of mistakes. She broke dishes right and left in her eagerness to handle them carefully. She was so anxious to serve a sick sister properly that she fell down the stairs with a tray. She was sweeping a corridor when the community bell rang; so eager was she to answer promptly that she left a broom and a pile of dust in front of the chapel door, where it promptly fell under the eye of the Mother Superior. A pair of donkeys ran all over the vegetable garden while she was sup. posed to be keeping them out of it.

On the other hand, Margaret was able to kneel for hours at a time when the Blessed Sacrament was exposed, totally oblivious of her surroundings. Her awkwardness in practical matters, combined with her great piety, caused her superior and the older sisters to wonder if she were in the right place. Her profession was delayed, and this caused Margaret Mary great sorrow.

 

St. Margaret Mary’s Devotion to the Sacred Heart

Margaret Mary had been in the convent only two and a half years, and was still considered a newcomer, when she received the first revelation concerning the Sacred Heart. On December 27, 1673 – the Feast of St. John the Beloved Disciple – she was kneeling at the grill before the Blessed Sacrament exposed. Suddenly she felt herself suffused by the presence of God. She heard our Lord in inviting her to take the place that St. John occupied at the Last Supper. Jesus told her that the love of His Heart must spread, and that she should be the instrument by which it would be done. This was the first in a long series of revelations to Margaret Mary.

In all, there were about forty revelations, four of which, including in the first, were major ones.

When Margaret Mary told her superior, Mother de Saumaise, about her mystical experience she was given a sharp reprimand for her presumption. Overwrought by all that had happened, Margaret became desperately ill. Mother de Saumaise said: “If God cures you, will take it as a sign that all you experience comes from Him, and will allow you to do what our Lord wants in honor of His Sacred Heart.”

Her Superiors Doubt Her Visions

Margaret was cured, but this did not end her troubles. The superior decided to have her questioned by a group of theologians. These priests announced that Margaret was the victim of a delusion. The revelations went on, but few in the community believed Margaret. For two years she suffered a lack of understanding from the sisters, from her superior, and from her confessor Our Lord told Margaret Mary that His Heart was to be honored under the form of a Heart of flesh. He showed her His Heart on a throne of flames and surrounded by thorns with a cross above it.

He said that in return for His great love for mankind He received for the most part nothing but indifference. He asked her to make up for this ingratitude as best she could by receiving Communion fre quently especially on the First Friday of each month and by an hour’s vigil every Thursday night before the Blessed Sacrament in memory of His agony and desertion at Gethsemani.

While making these requests our Lord also told Margaret Mary that she was to “do nothing without the approval of those who guide you,” and those who guided her did not believe in the revelations.

This caused Margaret Mary great suffering. At the end of two years a learned Jesuit priest, Claude Colombière, came to the small Jesuit house at Paray-le-Monial. Father Colombière became the confessor of the Visitation nuns. He had been slated to go to the University of Paris as a professor, but someone had persuaded his superior that he needed humbling, so instead of going to Paris he was “buried” in this obscure town. Thus Margaret Mary secured the understanding adviser she so badly needed.

 

Establishing the Feast of the Sacred Heart

While Father Colombiere was still in Paray-le-Monial the final revelation, often called the Great Apparition, took place. This was during the Octave of Corpus Christi, 1675. Our Lord showed Mar garet Mary His Heart and said: “Behold the Heart which has so loved men that it has spared nothing, even exhausting and consuming itself in testimony of its love. Instead of gratitude I receive from most only indifference.”

He asked that a feast of reparation to His Heart be established on the Friday after the octave of Corpus Christi. By way of encouraging His servants in the practice of devotion to the Sacred Heart, our Lord said: “I promise that My Heart shall abundantly shed the gifts of its divine love upon those who render it this homage and induce others to render it.” Claude Colombière did not stay at Paray long, but he was there long enough to be convinced that Margaret Mary’s experiences were genuine. He became an ardent preacher of devotion to the Sacred Heart and deserves the title “Apostle of the Sacred Heart.”

After leaving Paray, Father Colombière went to England where he spent two years as the chaplain of the Queen. King Charles II of England died a Catholic, and perhaps his acquaintance with Father Colombière had something to do with this.

In 1677 Margaret Mary had one of the greatest trials of her life. Our Lord asked her to offer herself as a victim for the shortcomings of some of the nuns in her community and for their ingratitude toward the Sacred Heart. So the sister of only five years’ standing had to kneel before her sisters in religion and tell them that she was appointed to be victim for their failings.

In June, 1678, Margaret Mary wrote to Mother de Saumaise, her former superior: “. .. my whole life, body and soul, is nothing but a cross. Yet I cannot complain, nor do I desire any other consolation than that of not having any in this world and of living hidden away in Jesus Christ crucified, suffering and unknown. . . .”

 

Spreading the Devotion of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

In 1681, Claude Colombière came back to Pray for the sake of my health. He had a few more conferences with Margaret Mary before he died. He has been beatified and we honor him as Blessed Claude Colombière. A private journal that he had written was read aloud to the community, and for the first time all the sisters learned the true story of the revelations. The experience was embarrassing for Margaret Mary, but after that there was little or no opposition to her within the community.

Margaret Mary served for a year as novice mistress 1684-1685. During this time she was permitted to introduce devotion to the Sacred Heart among her charges. The first real triumph of the devotion took place on June 21, 1689, when the Feast of the Sacred Heart was observed for the first time in the Visitation convent at Paray. The Jesuit Father Rolin was in Paray at the time. He helped spread the devotion to the other Visitation convents in France and to the various houses of the Society of Jesus. Margaret Mary wrote: “I shall die happy now that the Sacred Heart of my Savior is beginning to be known.”

Early in 1690 she was heard to say: “I shall not live much longer, since I no longer suffer.” She died in October of that year. No other life shows so clearly the sanctifying power of suffering combined with great love of God.

The feast of the Sacred Heart was extended to the whole world in 1856 by Pope Pius IX. The same pope beatified Margaret Mary in 1864. She was canonized in 1920.

 

OTHER SAINTS OF THE SAME NAME:

• St. Margaret of Antioch. Martyr of the fourth century. Feast Day: July 20.
• St. Margaret, Queen of Scotland, patron saint of mothers and large families, died 1093. Feast Day: June 10.
• St. Margaret of Hungary, died 1270. Feast Day: January 26.
• St. Margaret of Cortona, 12471297 Penitent who became a Franciscan. Feast Day: February 22.

 

Popular St. Margaret Mary Items

A St. Margaret Mary medal or a St. Margaret Mary rosary is a perfect gift to give to a young person who has chosen St. Margaret Mary as their confirmation name or any person who has lost a parent. As the patron saint of those who have lost a parent and those suffering polio, wearing a St. Margaret medal daily is a perpetual prayer for Saint Margaret to intercede on behalf of the wearer. As saints are united closer to God, their prayers are more efficacious, and enriches your own prayer.

Additionally, a Saint Margaret Mary medal pendant is a reminder to emulate the example of the holy saint in your daily life. What a beautiful testament of faith to share with the world, or to keep discretely tucked under your clothes. During the challenging moments of your day, reflect upon the holy life of St. Margaret and pray for their intercession and protection.

Our St. Margaret Mary medal and patron saint products are proudly made in the United States. The Saint Margaret Mary medal pendant depicts a young St. Margaret Mary with her arms outstretched to the symbol of the Sacred Heart of Jesus with rays of sunlight streaming from the Sacred Heart. Surrounding the image are the words “Saint Margaret Pray for Us”

Prayers to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Prayer to recite as you put on a St. Margaret Mary Medal

Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, your life of prayer and devotion to Jesus was that of a prolonged discussion with an intimate friend. Help us to dialogue with Jesus like you, knowing Him and loving Him in the hiddenness of the tabernacle.

---

St. Margaret Mary Prayer of Thanksgiving

My God, I offer Thee Thy well-beloved Son, in thanksgiving for all the benefits I have received from Thee. I offer Him as my adoration, my petition, my oblation and my resolutions; I offer Him as my love and my all. Receive, O Eternal Father, this offering for whatever Thou willest of me, since I have nothing to offer which is not unworthy of Thee, except Jesus, my Saviour, Whom Thou hast given me with so much love. Amen.

---

Prayer to recite when taking off a St. Margaret Mary Medal Pendant

O St. Margaret Mary, permitted by the Sacred Heart of Jesus to become partaker of Its divine treasures, obtain for us, we beseech thee, from that adorable Heart, the graces that we need. We ask for them with boundless confidence; may the divine Heart be willing to grant them to us through thine intercession, so that once again It may, through thee, be glorified and loved. Amen.

---

Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Written by St. Margaret Mary Alacoque)

O Sacred Heart of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, to Thee I consecrate and offer up my person and my life, my actions, trials and sufferings, that my entire being may henceforth only be employed in loving, honoring and glorifying Thee. This is my irrevocable will, to belong entirely to Thee, and to do all for Thy love, renouncing with my whole heart all that can displease Thee.

I take Thee, O Sacred Heart, for the sole object of my love, the protection of my life, the pledge of my salvation, the remedy of my frailty and inconstancy, the reparation for all the defects of my life, and my secure refuge at the hour of my death. Be Thou, O most merciful Heart, my justification before God Thy Father, and screen me from His anger which I have so justly merited.

I fear all from my own weakness and malice, but placing my entire confidence in Thee, O Heart of Love, I hope all from Thine infinite goodness. Annihilate in me all that can displease or resist Thee. Imprint Thy pure love so deeply in my heart that I may never forget Thee or be separated from Thee. I beseech Thee, through Thine infinite goodness, grant that my name be engraved on Thee, for in this I place all my happiness and all my glory, to live and die as one of Thy devoted servants. Amen

Prayer to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque for Graces Received

Dear St. Margaret Mary Alacoque,

I thank you for the graces and blessings you have bestowed upon me. Through your intercession, I have experienced an abundance of love and mercy from our Lord Jesus Christ. Your devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus has inspired me to deepen my own relationship with Him.

I pray that you continue to intercede for me and help me to remain steadfast in my faith. May I always feel the warmth of our Lord’s love and compassion, and may I always be able to share that love with others.

Thank you for all that you have done for me. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque for Inner Peace

Dear St. Margaret Mary Alacoque,

I come to you today in search of inner peace. I am struggling with feelings of anxiety and uncertainty, and I need your help to find a sense of calm and comfort.

Through your devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, you were able to experience deep peace and serenity. I ask that you pray for me and help me to find the same peace and tranquility in my own life.

May the love and mercy of our Lord be a constant presence in my heart, and may I always feel His comfort and support in times of difficulty. Help me to trust in His plan and to know that He is always with me, guiding me towards peace and happiness.

Thank you for your intercession, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque for Love and Devotion

Dear St. Margaret Mary Alacoque,

I thank you for the example you have set for us in your devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Your love and devotion to our Lord is an inspiration to me, and I pray that I may follow in your footsteps.

Through your intercession, I ask for the grace to deepen my own relationship with our Lord. May I experience the love and mercy that you did, and may I always be filled with the joy and peace that comes from a life lived in service to Him.

Thank you for your guidance and support, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque: Patroness of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque was a 17th-century French nun who is venerated as the patroness of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She is best known for her devotion to the Sacred Heart and for spreading this devotion throughout the Catholic Church.

Patroness of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Devotion

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque is recognized as the patroness of the Sacred Heart of Jesus devotion. This devotion, which focuses on the love and compassion of Jesus, was revealed to her through a series of mystical visions and locutions. Through her tireless work, St. Margaret Mary helped to spread this devotion throughout the Catholic Church, and it has since become one of the most popular and beloved devotions within the Church.

Patroness of Adoration and Reparation

St. Margaret Mary is also recognized as the patroness of adoration and reparation. This is due to her emphasis on spending time in quiet contemplation before the Blessed Sacrament, as well as her strong sense of obligation to make reparation for the sins of others. She is therefore invoked by those who seek a deeper understanding of the love and mercy of Jesus, as well as by those who feel called to make reparation for the sins of others.

Patroness of the Sick and Those Suffering

St. Margaret Mary is also known as the patroness of the sick and those suffering. This is due to her own personal suffering, which included physical illnesses and persecution, as well as her compassionate care for the sick and suffering during her lifetime. She is therefore invoked by those who are ill or suffering.” “

Reflection on the feast day of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

The feast day of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque is celebrated on October 16th in the Catholic Church.

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque was a French Roman Catholic nun and mystic, who promoted devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Catholic Church. She claimed to have received visions of Jesus, who revealed to her the devotion of the Sacred Heart, a devotion that includes love for and worship of the heart of Jesus, as the symbol of the love of Jesus for humanity. This devotion was later officially recognized by the Catholic Church, and the feast of the Sacred Heart was established in her honor.

As we celebrate the feast day of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, we are reminded of the importance of love and devotion in our faith. St. Margaret Mary teaches us that true faith is not just about belief, but about a deep, personal relationship with Jesus. She reminds us that the love of God is not distant or abstract, but is something that can be experienced intimately and personally through devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

St. Margaret Mary is also a reminder of the importance of humility and openness in our faith. She was a humble and obedient nun, who was open to the revelations of God and willing to share them with others. She reminds us that true wisdom and understanding come from humbly listening to the voice of God, and being open to His guidance and revelation.

As we celebrate the feast day of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, let us call on her powerful intercession and ask her to guide and protect us on our journey of faith. Let us also remember that just like St. Margaret Mary, we too have the opportunity to develop a deep, personal relationship with Jesus, through devotion to His Sacred Heart. May God bless us all.

In conclusion, the feast day of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque is a powerful reminder of the deep love and devotion that we should all strive to have for Jesus. It is an opportunity for us to reflect on how we can deepen our own relationship with Jesus, and to ask for the intercession of St. Margaret Mary in our journey of faith. May the example of St. Margaret Mary guide us to become more faithful servants of God, living lives of humility, obedience, and deep devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Discover biographies, prayers, and reflections for more than 400 Catholic Saints

Saints Similar to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

You may also be interested in reading the Biography of St. Maria Faustina and the Biography of St. Marianne Cope. These saints were dedicated to healthcare and the care of the sick and suffering. St. Maria Bertilla Boscardin was an Italian nurse and member of the Daughters of St. Camillus. St. Maria Faustina had a deep devotion to the Divine Mercy and worked in healthcare. St. Marianne Cope cared for leprosy patients in Hawaii. Next up: Biography of St. Margaret of Cortona

 

Also check out our handmade St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Medal and St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Rosary and St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Rosary Bracelet.