Your Faith Journey with EWTN
As we deepen our relationship with the Eternal Word, Jesus Christ, we grow in grace and are transformed by His love and mercy.
July 22, 1647–October 17, 1690
Patron Saint of devotees of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, those suffering from polio, and orphans
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque is remembered as the “Apostle of the Sacred Heart” because of her role in making known one of the Church’s most beloved devotions to the loving Heart of Jesus.
Born in France in 1647, Margaret Mary showed a strong devotion to the Holy Eucharist from childhood. After the death of her father, her family experienced financial difficulties, and she endured years of suffering and poor health. Forced to spend time away from her family’s care due to difficult circumstances within her household, she made a vow to give her life to Christ.
In 1671, she entered the Visitation Monastery at Paray-le-Monial, France. During her religious life, she experienced several profound visions of Jesus, especially between 1673 and 1675. In these revelations, Christ revealed that the image of His Sacred Heart was a symbol of His immense love for humanity and His desire that people respond with love, repentance, and devotion.
Jesus entrusted Margaret Mary with the mission of promoting devotion to His Sacred Heart. Among the practices associated with her revelations are the celebration of the Feast of the Sacred Heart, the devotion of receiving Communion on First Fridays for nine consecutive months, and the Holy Hour of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.
At first, her experiences were met with skepticism by some within her community and some priests with whom her superior consulted. However, she received important spiritual direction from St. Claude de la Colombière, a Jesuit priest, who helped discern the authenticity of her experiences and supported her mission.
St. Margaret Mary died in 1690, and the Sacred Heart Devotion as she received it from Jesus was officially recognized 75 years later. She was canonized by Pope Benedict XV in 1920. Today, the Sacred Heart of Jesus remains one of the most recognizable symbols of Christ’s love.
Although St. Margaret Mary Alacoque was instrumental in spreading devotion to the Sacred Heart, the devotion itself is rooted in Scripture and the earliest Christian reflection on Christ’s love. The image of Jesus’ pierced Heart recalls the Gospel account of the soldier piercing Christ’s side during the Crucifixion, from which blood and water flowed. Early Church Fathers reflected on this passage as a sign of Christ’s saving love. Over the centuries, Christian mystics like St. Gertrude the Great developed devotion to Christ’s Heart, and Margaret Mary’s revelations helped establish it as a widespread devotion throughout the universal Church.
St. Claude de la Colombière was a Jesuit priest who served as Margaret Mary’s spiritual director and played a crucial role in supporting her mission. When some questioned the authenticity of her visions, Fr. Claude carefully examined her experiences and recognized the spiritual value of her devotion to the Sacred Heart. He encouraged her to remain faithful to the message she believed Christ had entrusted to her. As a gifted preacher and writer, he also helped spread devotion to the Sacred Heart beyond the Visitation community, thereby overcoming skepticism. He was later canonized in 1992.
The First Friday devotion comes from St. Margaret Mary’s accounts of Christ’s desire that the faithful receive the Blessed Sacrament on the first Friday of each of nine consecutive months, as an expression of love and reparation for the sins committed against His Sacred Heart. Through the First Friday devotion, Jesus asks believers to honor His Sacred Heart by atoning for sins and expressing gratitude for His infinite love. The devotion includes twelve promises, one of which is the “grace of final preservation,” which promises a secure refuge through the Sacraments at the end of life.
Get the free eBook, Sharing in Our Lord’s Passion: Stories of St. Francis of Assisi and Others Who Bore the Stigmata.
St. Francis of Assisi is the first recorded stigmatist in Church history. Since then, many holy men and women have experienced this mystical gift. In this free eBook, you’ll discover the stories of Sts. Francis, Catherine, Rita, and Pio of Pietrelcina, along with Servant of God Rhoda Wise. You’ll also learn more about the stigmata in a special Q&A with “Miracle Hunter” Michael O’Neill, host of several EWTN programs.
Sign up below to receive your copy. We hope the witness of these holy men and women inspires you to seek a deeper relationship with Jesus, especially as you reflect on His Passion.
An introduction to the Act of Enthronement. This devotion, given to Margaret Mary Alacoque, was accompanied by twelve promises of special graces given to families who place Jesus at the center of their lives and homes.
Journey to Paray-le-Monial, where Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary, and explore its stunning Romanesque basilica, a powerful symbol of devotion to the Sacred Heart.
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As we deepen our relationship with the Eternal Word, Jesus Christ, we grow in grace and are transformed by His love and mercy.
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