June 10, 2013 THE MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS

 The Catholic world considers the month of June as one dedicated to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus just as it turns its attention to May and October as the seasons when a greater devotion is given to Mary, our Blessed Mother. Pope Pius IX promulgated the Feast of the Sacred Heart in 1856. To devotees of the Sacred Heart, Fridays assume an added aura of "prayerfulness" which can include attendance of Mass, fasting or abstinence and greater zeal for sharing of time, talent and treasure with others particularly, the needy and marginalized. We can safely say that much of the philanthropic activities of the Catholic Church which is recognized worldwide is done by people, young and old, man or woman, who have a unique affinity to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Marguerite Marie Alacoque, a simple Visitation nun in Paray-le-Monial, France was the "messenger" for the propagation of the devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus during the decade of the 1600's. While still a novice in the monastery, she started having visits from our Lord Jesus telling her of His great love for men. During one of such encounters, Jesus showed her His heart which has so much love for mankind but has been so wounded by men. Like the apostle John who laid his head on the heart of Jesus, Marguerite Marie was allowed to do the same. Then she was told of her mission to propagate the devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Thus, her saga of pain and heartaches which characterized her earlier life continued with untold intensity. She accepted opposition and ridicule with unprecedented humility. 

She first relayed the visons to her confessor who at first was struck with disbelief but later on realized the truth of the matter. The coming of the Jesuit priest who later became St. Claude de la Colombiere into the Visitation Community as Spiritual Director was a welcome relief. He was convinced of the truth of the nun's story and helped Mother Superior and the Community to accept and start a devotion to the Sacred Heart. He was instrumental in the spread of the devotion throughout Paray-le-Monial and to other places in the country through the reported healings, reconciliations, peace and love permeating the devotees.

Jesus Christ inspired Sister Marguerite Marie to establish the Holy Hour and to pray lying prostrate with her face on the ground from 11 PM to Midnight on the eve of the First Friday of each month. Also, she was to receive Holy Communion on First Fridays, too. He appointed the Friday after the Octave of the Feast of Corpus Christi as the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart. Jesus called Sister Marguerite the "Beloved Disciple of the Sacred Heart."

Jesus continued to appear to her and towards the end of such visits confided his desire for France to erect a monument in honor of the His Most Sacred Heart. Marguerite dutifully told her superiors about it and through the hierarchy of government reached the ears of the king. The proposal was vehemently denied!

The years that followed saw calamities and untold sufferings of the people of France. A group of influential people  promised that they would build a church dedicated to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus if France emerged victorious during the Franco-Prussian War. On the contrary, Germany won the war. Defeat was seen as a moral condemnation for the sins and excesses of the people. The decision to construct the church was pursued, anyway, through public contributions and a "prayer cycle of atonement" was conceived. The Sacre Couer Basilica, as it is known today, had its foundation stone laid in 1875, consecrated in 1891, fully completed in 1914 and elevated to the status of a Basilica in 1919. A perpetual prayer cycle that began at its consecration on October 16, 1919 continues round the clock to this day! It took more than 200 years for the realization of St. Margaret Mary's dream!

Paray-le-Monial is a quiet little town, so remarkably still that in my three visits there, I saw only two residents in the streets leading to the sanctuary - a man riding a bicycle and a middle aged woman hurrying along with an empty woven basket. And this was in the middle of the day! In fact, I wondered where the gardener was who attended to the small flower-laden gardens that marked each of the street corners. A large "Welcome to Paray-le-Monial" free-standing billboard stood on a bed of multicolored flowering plants. Even the bridge over a narrow river from which one can see the town church had pots full of flowers hanging on its rails at close intervals. What a sight!

The Chapel of the Visitation where Jesus most often appeared to St. Margaret Mary lie attached to the Monastery of the Sisters of the Visitation. The whole wall of the main altar is a mosaic depicting Jesus with His outstretched arms and shining Heart  looking down at St. Margaret Mary who kneels in awe before Him. The communion rail is still in place. As one enters the chapel, the wall on the right rests the reliquary of the incorrupt body of the "Disciple of the Sacred Heart." 

It is reported that after her death on October 17, 1690, her revelations and her teachings on the devotion to the Sacred Heart was subjected to the most severe examination. When her tomb was canonically opened  in July, 1830, two instantaneous cures took place.

She was beatified by Pope Pius IX in 1864 and canonized by Pope Benedict XV as St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1920.


             Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

O, Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in Thee
Whatever may befall me, Lord, though dark 
          the hour may be
In all my joys, in all my woes, though naught  
          but grief I see
O, Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in Thee.


When those I love have passed away and I am 
          sore distressed
O, Sacred Heart of Jesus, I fly to Thee for rest
In all my trials, great or small, my confidence shall be
Unshaken as I cry, "Dear Lord, I place my 
          trust in Thee.

This is my own sweet prayer, dear Lord, my faith,
          my trust, my love
But most of all in that last hour when death
          points up above
Ah, then, sweet Savior, may thy face smile on
          my face set free
Oh, may I cry with rapturous love, "I have
          placed my trust in Thee."

                               (Traditional Prayer)


Add'l Info: In Paray-le-Monial, a small church which houses the incorrupt right arm of St. Claude de la Colombiere lies a short distance away from the Chapel of the Visitation. The entire wall of the main altar is a mosaic "glowing" with colors- blue, orange, red,yellow, etc. and Jesus sitting in the center amidst many believers whose eyes/attention are focused on Him. The reliquary of St. Claude de la Colombiere is on the right wall as one faces the altar.