ST. MARGARET MARY ALACOQUE
Tuesday, October 16 is the Feast day of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Apostle of the Sacred Heart and the secondary Patron Saint of our Shrine.
Born on July 22, 1647 in Versovres, Autun, France to a pious family of good standing, St. Margaret Mary was the fifth of seven children, who since childhood had already manifested great sorrow for committing sin and a deep desire for a life of prayer. At the tender age of 4, she had consecrated herself to holiness.
In 1671, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, entered the convent of the Visitation founded by St. Jane Chantal and St. Francis Sales in Paray-le-Monial. Here she suffered great humiliation, pain and misery for many years as postulant and sister which the Sacred Heart said was part of her mission.
It was here that in the years between 1647-1690; she received many visions of our Lord, three of which Jesus specifically revealed Himself as the Sacred Heart. It was through her that He revealed His Great Love and Passion for Man and His anguish at the coldness, indifference and insults He has received from them.
From these Great Visions, we find the Source of the Church's great Devotion to the Sacred Heart endorsed by our Popes starting from Pope Clement XIII, Pope Pius XII to Pope John Paul II, and our present Pope Benedict XVI.
To her was also revealed the abundant blessings contained in the 12 Promises given to those who have a Devotion to His Sacred Heart.
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque was canonized in 1926.
