St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Friends in Christ, among the saints on the calendar today, is St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. Margaret Mary was born in 1647 in France. She had a difficult childhood in her family, and also poor health, yet from the age of 7 she felt an intense love for Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. The Lord appeared to her often, usually as the Crucified Christ; not knowing any better, she thought that Jesus appeared to many people.

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Once, as she was returning from a dance, Jesus appeared and asked her why she had not taken Him as her Spouse. At age 23 she entered the Visitation Order of Sisters, and so she DID take Jesus as her Spouse.

She was sickly, and also rather clumsy, but she had a heart of gold. Sister Margaret Mary often chose the most menial tasks by which to offer her humility to God. Gifted with intelligence and common sense, she made great progress in holiness. Jesus appeared to her more, and he also asked her to spread devotion to his Sacred Heart; this is how the 1st Friday Devotion began.

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Today we had our monthly time of adoration with the students. The whole school is here, before the Eucharistic Lord. Even the little children like it very much: to honor Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. But it is because they know His Heart.

Among the prayers we say, are excerpts from the Litany of the Sacred Heart:

‘Heart of Jesus, full of goodness and love, have mercy on us.

‘Heart of Jesus, worthy of all praise, have mercy on us.

‘Heart of Jesus, patient and most merciful, have mercy on us.

Heart of Jesus, salvation of those who trust in you. Have mercy on us.

The children perhaps more easily than us, see the love of the Heart of Christ. The Heart of Jesus, is the source of all happiness.