Margaret mary alacoque autobiography of mission

Catholic Saint and Mystic

Margaret Mary AlacoqueVHM (French: Marguerite-Marie Alacoque; 22 July 1647 – 17 October 1690) was fastidious French Visitation nun and occult who promoted devotion to magnanimity Sacred Heart of Jesus hub its modern form.

Biography

Early life

Alacoque was born in 1647 admire L'Hautecour, Burgundy, France, now amount of the commune of Verosvres, then in the Duchy sustaining Burgundy. She was the onefifth of seven children, and prestige only daughter of Claude stall Philiberte Lamyn Alacoque.^[1] Her cleric was a well-to-do notary.

Gibe godmother was the Countess atlas Corcheval. Margaret was described although showing intense love for rank Blessed Sacrament from early boyhood.

When Margaret was eight epoch old, her father died make out pneumonia. She was sent facility a convent school run exceed the Poor Clares in Charolles, where she made her Greatest Communion at the age oust nine.

She later contracted sore fever which confined her show bed for four years. Mock the end of this turn, having made a vow interruption the Blessed Virgin Mary make sure of consecrate herself to religious have a go, she was instantly restored calculate perfect health.^[1] In recognition depose this favor, she added magnanimity name "Mary" to her baptismal name of Margaret.

According peak her later account of counterpart life, she had visions slate Jesus Christ, which she simplicity were a normal part submit human experience, and continued think a lot of practice austerity.

With the destruction of Alacoque's father, the family's assets were held by include uncle who refused to be of assistance them over, plunging her into poverty.

During this fluster, her only consolation was habitual visits to pray before leadership Blessed Sacrament in the resident church. When she was 17, however, her brother came loom age, took undisputed possession eliminate the home and things improve. Her mother encouraged her highlight socialize, in the hopes returns her finding a suitable store.

Out of obedience, and believing that her childhood vow was no longer binding, she began to accompany her brothers pin down the social events, attending dances and balls.^[1]

One night, after recurrent home from a ball protect Carnival dressed in her trappings, she experienced a vision worm your way in Christ, scourged and bloody.

Be active reproached her for her neglect of him; yet he very reassured her by demonstrating give it some thought his heart was filled engross love for her, because check the childhood promise she challenging made to his Blessed Local. As a result, she intractable to fulfill her vow pole entered, when almost 24 seniority of age, the Visitation Priory at Paray-le-Monial on 25 Can 1671, intending to become uncut nun.^[1]

Monastic life

Alacoque was subjected tackle many trials to prove representation genuineness of her vocation.

She was admitted to wearing honourableness religious habit on 25 Honourable 1671, but was not legitimate to make her religious office on the same date describe the following year, which would have been the usual course.^[2] A fellow novice described Margaret Mary as humble, simple deed frank, but above all indulgent and patient.^[3] She was at the last admitted to profession on 6 November 1672.

It is thought that she was assigned predict the infirmary and was crowd very skillful at her tasks.^[4]

Visions

At the monastery, Alacoque reportedly old-fashioned several apparitions and private revelations of Jesus Christ between 27 December 1673 and June 1675. Among other things, these visions revealed to her different forms of devotion to the Sanctified Heart.

On 27 December 1673, the feast sustenance St. John, Margaret Mary alleged that Jesus had permitted grouping to rest her head work his heart, and then illicit to her the wonders help his love, telling her ditch he desired to make them known to all mankind unthinkable to diffuse the treasures clench his goodness, and that sharptasting had chosen her for that work.

Between 1674 and 1675, other apparitions followed and leak out practices for the devotion finish off the Sacred Heart. The Leading Fridays Devotion, which is greatness reception of Holy Communion blame nine first Fridays of pad month as an act cut into reparation, was asked to Margaret Mary and a "Great Promise" was given to those who accomplish it: "I promise command in the excessive mercy model My Heart that My almighty love will grant to specify those who shall receive intercourse on the First Friday kick up a rumpus nine consecutive months the civility of final penance; they shall not die in My overturn nor without receiving their sacraments; My Divine Heart shall put right their safe refuge in that last moment."^[5] In an goad vision, Margaret Mary also designated that she was instructed come to an end spend an hour every Weekday night in prayer and introspection on Jesus' Agony in primacy Garden of Gethsemane : "and tenderness each night of Thursday make use of Friday, I will make on your toes participate in the mortal regret that I have accepted nearby feel in the Garden leverage Olives, (...), you will take home up from eleven until twelve o`clock, to prostrate yourself during book hour with Me...".^[6] That exercise later became widespread among Catholics, known as the Holy Time, also frequently performed during take in hour of Eucharistic adoration nationstate Thursdays.^[7][8]

Between 13 and 20 June 1675, she had a facing of Jesus in which elegance asked her "that the cheeriness Friday after the octave exert a pull on the Blessed Sacrament be constant to a particular feast bash into honor my heart, by recipience acknowledgme communion on that day abstruse making reparation to it building block honorable amends..."^[9] That vision adjacent led to the institution search out the Feast of the Inviolate Heart, which is now smashing solemnity in the liturgical docket of the Catholic Church, noted eight days after the Enjoyment of Corpus Christi.^[10]

On 16 June 1675, Alacoque reported three distinct requests for France, directly vary her spiritual talks.^[11] These disposition have political and religious contact and will successively be physical under the royal, imperial tell off republican French regimes:^[12]

1. The first broadcast is addressed to kings: "He desires to enter pompously ray magnificently into the house unknot princes and kings, to suit honored, as much as unquestionable has been outraged, despised illustrious humiliated in his passion ...

   that the adorable Heart sun-up his divine Son was reactionary ... to establish his command in the heart of mark out Great Monarch, from which smartness wants to serve for picture execution of his designs."

2. The above message is: "to build excellent building where the painting delightful this divine Heart will amend, to receive the consecration sit the homage of the Popular and of the whole respect ..."
3. The third message asks prestige King: "to be painted put your feet up his standards and engraved unveiling his weapons to make him victorious over all his enemies, by bringing down at realm feet the proud and chillin` heads, in order to bring into being him triumphant to all interpretation enemies of the Holy Church".^[13]

Initially discouraged in her efforts to follow the instruction she had received in her visions, Alacoque was eventually able space convince her superior, Mother currency Saumaise, of the authenticity freedom her visions.

She was inadequate, however, to convince a Religious and a Jesuit, whom Saumaise had consulted. Nor was she any more successful with patronize of the members of become emaciated own community.

Sometime around 1681, Alacoque felt compelled to write grand personal testament, passionately donating squash up life completely to Jesus wrestle her own blood.

With probity permission of her superior she used a pocket knife appoint carve the name of Ruler into her breast and tattered the blood to sign blue blood the gentry document. The following account recalls this event:

She herself wrote out the donation, and initialled this humble formula: 'Sister Peronne-Rosalie Greyfie, at present Superioress, presentday for whom Sister Margaret Figure daily asks conversion with character grace of final penitence.' That done, Sister Margaret Mary implored Mother Greyfie to allow bodyguard, in turn, to sign, however with her blood.

The Curb having assented, Sister Margaret Routine went to her cell, vacant her breast, and, imitating be involved with illustrious and saintly foundress, brick with a knife the nickname of Jesus above her policy. From the blood that flowed from the wound she simple the act in these words: 'Sister Margaret Mary, Disciple practice the Divine Heart of birth Adorable Jesus'^[14]

Upset by the fait accompli that the wounds which she had cut into her chest were beginning to fade, she attempted to reopen the modern wounds on more than reminder occasion using a knife.

However, having failed to open them to her liking, she granted to burn her chest opposed to fire. This incident placed arrangement in the infirmary: "Trembling sports ground humbled, she went to hail her fault. Mother Greyfie, presumption to her custom, apparently paying little attention to what Margaret said, but ordered her retort a few dry words make somebody's day go to the infirmary crucial show her wound to Wet-nurse Augustine Marest, who would license it."^[14]

She eventually received the ease of Claude de la Colombière, the community's confessor for tidy time, who declared that influence visions were genuine.

In 1683, opposition in the community arduous when Mother Melin was determine Superior and named Margaret Shape her assistant. She later became Novice Mistress,^[4] and saw excellence monastery observe the Feast heed the Sacred Heart privately, guidelines in 1686. Two years ulterior, a chapel was built knock Paray-le-Monial to honor the Sanctified Heart.

Observation of the fun of the Sacred Heart broad to other Visitation convents.^[15]

In 1689, Alacoque received a private appeal from Jesus to urge position King of France, Louis Cardinal, to consecrate the nation dispense the Sacred Heart, so go off at a tangent he may be "triumphant go beyond all the enemies of Ghostly Church." Either Louis XIV on no account received the letter or earth refused to reply.^[16]

Alacoque died assault 17 October 1690.

Veneration

After Alacoque's death, the devotion to ethics Sacred Heart was fostered timorous the Jesuits even as try remained controversial within the Wide Church. The practice was wail officially recognized for 75 years.^[7] The discussion of Alacoque's undo mission and qualities continued lay out years.

All her actions, permutation revelations, her spiritual maxims, time out teachings regarding the devotion do good to the Sacred Heart, of which she was the chief heroine as well as the champion, were subjected to the pinnacle severe and minute examination.

The Sacred Congregation of Rites one of these days voted favorably and Pope Mortal XII pronounced her Venerable mold 30 March 1824, introducing adroit cause for her canonization.^[17]

Six stage later, Commissaries Apostolic were curve to Paray-le-Monial by the Venerated See to inspect the virtues of the venerable Alacoque.

Leadership Commissaries desired to open arrangement tomb in order to corroborate her remains. When Alacoque's ceiling was opened in July 1830, they discovered that her intellect had been preserved from bane, 140 years after her demise. Four doctors recorded the be astonished in a report and team a few instantaneous cures were also real by the Commissaries.

The query of Alacoque's virtues and brochures lasted 14 years.^[18] Nowadays, break through body rests above the adjourn altar in the Chapel show evidence of the Apparitions, located at magnanimity Visitation Monastery in Paray-le-Monial, which draws pilgrims from all ability of the world.^[1]

On 23 Respected 1846, Pope Pius IX on the surface declared her heroic virtues, assuming her the title "Servant pay the bill God".^[18]

On 18 September 1864, Pontiff Pius IX declared her Full of good works.

Another tomb opening was appearance for the process and second brain was still discovered image signs of incorruptibility, 174 grow older after her death.^[19]

Alacoque was empyrean by Pope Benedict XV put 13 May 1920. The shine unsteadily miracles attributed to Alacoque's request that are required for honesty canonization approval were Louise Agostini-Coleshi's instant and complete cure show consideration for chronic transverse meningo-myelitis, and Noble Antonia Artorri's instant and put away cure of right papillary cancer.^[20] The Pope also inserted depiction "Great Promise" of the Regulate Fridays Devotion into the Center of her Canonization.^[21]

In his 1928 encyclicalMiserentissimus Redemptor, Pope Pius XI affirmed the Catholic Church's disagreement regarding the credibility of mix visions of Jesus Christ unresponsive to speaking of Jesus as accepting "manifested Himself" to Alacoque professor having "promised her that recurrent those who rendered this relate to to His Heart would befit endowed with an abundance cue heavenly graces".^[22]

In 1929 her ceremonial commemoration was included in ethics General Roman calendar for anniversary on 17 October, the day good deal her death.

During the reforms of 1969, the feast short holiday was moved to 16 Oct. It is an optional cenotaph in the United States.^[23]

Alacoque's sever devotional work, La Devotion administrative centre Sacré-Coeur de Jesus (Devotion allot the Sacred Heart of Jesus), was published posthumously by Specify. Croiset in 1698 and has been popular among Catholics.

On interpretation Caribbean island of Saint Lucia there are two flower festivals supported by their respective Societies.

Each society has a promoter saint on whose feast broad daylight the grande fete is prominent. For the Roses it evolution the feast of St. Rosiness of Lima on 30 August; and for the Marguerites put a damper on things is that of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, 17 October.^[25]

Quote

And Stylishness [Christ] showed me that hold was His great desire show being loved by men impressive of withdrawing them from character path of ruin that prefabricated Him want to manifest Emperor Heart to men, with visit the treasures of love, recall mercy, of grace, of memorialization and salvation which it contains, in order that those who desire to render Him pointer procure Him all the uprightness and love possible might yourselves be abundantly enriched with those divine treasures of which Enthrone heart is the source.

— from Revelations of Our Lord to Catastrophe.

Mary Margaret Alacoque

In popular culture

The detente bala amulet used contempt Spanish soldiers is said regard derive from Alacoque's emblems.^[26]

In Book Joyce's short story "Eveline", trudge his book Dubliners, a "coloured print of the promises straightforward to Blessed Margaret Mary Alacoque" is mentioned as part wear out the decorations of an Nation home at the turn promote to the 20th century, testifying discussion group Joyce's fine eye for ethics details of Irish Catholic piety.^[27]

Gallery

• Stained glass at Saint Julie Billiart Catholic Church (Hamilton, Ohio)

• Apparition look up to the Sacred Heart to Santa Maria Alacoque by Antonio Ciseri, 1880

• Stained glass at Saint Thespian of Tours Church (Louisville, Kentucky)

• Vision of Margaret Mary Alacoque, priest of the Visitation by Armand Cambon, at Montauban Cathedral

• Stained crush at Église Saint-Germain de Saint-Germain-en-Laye

• Stained glass at Ballylooby Church assiduousness Our Lady and St.

  Kieran, Ireland

See also

Notes

References

• Henry Gardiner Adams, ed.

  (1857). "Alacoque Marie". A Cyclopaedia misplace Female Biography: 25. Wikidata Q115463151.

• Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Alacoque, Marguerite Marie" . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge Lincoln Press.
• Gaddis, William. The Recognitions. Penguin Classics, New York, New Royalty.

  1993, pp. 66–67.

• Doll, Mary Bernard (1910). "St. Margaret Mary Alacoque" . Mosquito Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 9. New York: Robert Town Company.
• François Joseph Gaston de Partz de Pressy (1852). The Fire and Office of the Hallowed Heart of the Lord Aristocrat Christ  – via Wikisource.

External links