St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

On my drive home today, the speaker on the radio made reference to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, so I thought she would be a good Saint to feature today.

Margaret was born in Burgundy, France, in 1647. She was sent to the Poor Claires school upon the death of her father when she was eight years old. As a child she was confined to bed for several years with rheumatic fever, Having made a vow to the Blessed Virgin to consecrate herself to religious life, she was healed - it was at this time that she added "Mary" to her given name in recognition of this favor.

Margaret had visions of Jesus from a young age, which she thought was a normal part of the human experience. As a young woman, her family encouraged her to socialize in hopes that she would find a suitable husband. Out of obedience, and believing her youthful vow was not binding, she started to attend balls and social functions. One night, she received another vision of Christ and then renewed her vow.

At the age of 24, she entered a Visitation Convent. In the Monastery she received several private revelations of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The visions revealed to her the form of the devotion, the chief features being reception of Holy Communion on the first Friday of each month, Eucharistic adoration during a "Holy hour" on Thursdays, and the celebration of the Feast of the Sacred Heart. She was initially discouraged from following the instructions she received in her visions, she was eventually able to convince her Mother Superior. She was unable, however, to convince theologians of the validity of her visions - nor many of her own community. The convent's confessor did find her visions to be genuine and supported her - and eventually the opposition ended when a new superior was elected and devotion to the sacred heart was observed in the monastery. The practice was not officially recognized until 75 years after Margaret Mary's death.

St. Margaret Mary is known as one of the "Saints of the Sacred Heart" along with St. John Eudes, and Blessed Claude La Colombiere (her confessor). Her feast day is October 17.