THE DIVINE ORIGINS OF THE DEVOTION TO THE MOST LOVING HEART OF JESUS

 

THE DIVINE ORIGINS OF THE DEVOTION TO THE MOST LOVING HEART OF JESUS

Margaret Mary Alacoque of the Visitation Convent at Paray-le-Monial, was the favourite disciple of the Heart of Jesus, chosen and formed by Him to make known the treasures, manifest the wishes, establish the worship in the Church and to spread the devotion, of His Heart everywhere. Her life was nothing other than the continuous and marvellous intertwining of the many loves of that Heart.

From her cradle she was immersed in gentle and celestial blessings. Already, at the age of three, she wad horrified by any sin, even tiny ones. She instinctively fled from profane conversations, preferring to be alone before God. At nine years old, having made her First Communion, the holy young girl was so drawn to and moved by Jesus Christ, she could think of nothing else. Her relatives tried to oblige her to marry, but the fervent youngster won every fight, and, renouncing the world, became a nun.

She received three incredible visions regarding the worship owed to the Sacred Heart. The first in December 1673, on the day sacred to St John the Evangelist from whom, the same day on which earlier, St Gertrude understood that God had reserved for a later date the devotion to the Heart of Jesus, to call the whole world to conversion. While St Margaret was praying then, before the Blessed Sacrament, Jesus appeared, showing her His Heart, bemoaning human ingratitude, and declaring her chosen by His great mercy.

The second vision happened six months later on the Friday of the octave of Corpus Christi. Jesus showed Himself, with His five glorious wounds shining like five suns and emitting flames of love, especially the wound in His side, and He laid on her the charge of making Him known and loved.

The third came on 16th June 1675, when He showed her the incredible works of His love, which were answered by men with much indifference and coldness, and He confirmed her in the office He had entrusted to her. This is the divine origin of the devotion to the most loving Heart of Jesus, wanted by Him for our good, and promulgated throughout the world.

Homage: Wear on your heart an image of the Heart of Jesus, and holding it with true affection, pray often, "Sweet Heart of my Lord Jesus, be my true love."

(Mons. Nicola Tafuri, Month of the Sacred Heart)