Tuesday 17 October 2023

17 OCTOBER – SAINT MARGARET MARY ALACOQUE (Virgin)

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 Marys 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 masters 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.