Margaret Mary was born in 1647. She spent almost
her entire life in prayer and seclusion as a nun of the Order of the
Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, at Paray-le-Monial in
Burgundy, France. In 1673 Our Lord appeared to her in a vision in
which He revealed to her His Sacred Heart — a heart pierced,
enthroned in flames, surrounded by a crown of thorns and surmounted
by a cross. Our Lord told her:
“My Divine Heart is so full of love for men, and especially for you, that, unable any longer to keep within Itself the flames of its burning love, It needs must spread them abroad through means of you, and It must make Itself known unto them in order to enrich them with the treasures which It contains. I make known to you the worth of these treasures. They contain the graces of sanctification and of salvation which are needful to free them from the abyss of perdition. I have chosen you, who are an abyss of unworthiness and ignorance, to carry out this great work, so that it may be seen that every thing has been done by Me.”
Jesus also told Margaret Mary that He desired that
the first Friday after the Octave of the Feast of Corpus Christi be
observed in a special manner as a feast of His Heart, by the offering
of Holy Communion with a reparation of honour for all the insults and
indignities His Heart had received since the institution of the Holy
Eucharist. He appeared to Margaret Mary another two times and made
the following promises to those who practice devotion to His Sacred
Heart:
- I will grant them the graces necessary for their state of life.
- I will establish peace in their families.
- I will comfort them in their afflictions.
- I will be their safe refuge during life, and especially at death.
- I will give abundant blessings on all their undertakings.
- Sinners will find a fountain and a boundless ocean of mercy in My Heart.
- Tepid souls will become fervent.
- Fervent souls will quickly achieve great perfection.
- I will bless every place where the picture of My Sacred Heart is exposed and honoured.
- I will give to priests the power to touch the hardest hearts.
- I will grant to all those who receive Communion on the First Fridays, for nine consecutive months, the grace of final repentance.
- They will not die in my displeasure, nor without receiving the sacraments, and my Heart will be their secure refuge in that last hour.
With the help of Margaret Mary’s
confessor, the Jesuit priest Father Claude de la Colombière, the
devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus quickly took roots and began to
spread. Father Claude died in 1682. Margaret Mary died in 1690. She
was beatified by Blessed Pius IX in 1864 and was canonised by Pope
Benedict XV in 1920.
Also on this day according to the ROMAN
MARTYROLOGY:
At Antioch, the birthday of St. Heron, a disciple
of blessed Ignatius. Being made bishop after him, he religiously
followed his master’s footsteps,
and, as a true lover of Christ, died for the flock entrusted to his
keeping.
The same day, the martyrdom of the Saints Victor,
Alexander and Marian.
In Persia, St. Mamelta, martyr, who, being
converted from idolatry to the faith by an angel, was stoned by
Gentiles and cast into a deep lake.
At Constantinople, during the reign of Constantine
Copronymus, St. Andrew of Crete, a monk, who was often scourged for
the worship of holy images, and finally, after having one of his feet
cut off, breathed his last.
At Orange in France, St. Florentinus, bishop, who
died leaving a reputation for many virtues.
At Capua, St Victor, a bishop, distinguished for
erudition and sanctity.
And in other places, many other holy martyrs,
confessors and virgins.
Thanks be to God.
