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Catholic devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which arose in the earliest days of the church, is also closely intertwined with our Vincentian history and spirituality. As Pope Francis explained, this devotion has its roots in the image of the wound in the crucified Christ’s side, which pours out blood and water as “a fountain of grace and a summons to a deep and loving encounter.” [DN, 78] Today, the formal devotion is inspired by the Seventeenth Century visions of St. Marguerite-Marie Alacoque.
St. Marguerite-Marie was a Visitation Nun, and although St. Vincent de Paul had served for many years as Spiritual Director for the Visitandines and their founder, St. Jeanne-Françoise de Chantal, Marguerite-Marie’s visions began more than a decade after his death. Yet during their lives, both Vincent and Louise both evinced a deep devotion to the Heart of Jesus in their writing and in their prayers.
Vincent taught that “on the adorable Heart of Jesus, holy humility was especially engraved,” and that our devotion to His heart could lead us to that same humility. [CCD XII 165] Even more, he urges us to remember our purpose of doing the Will of God by considering “how dear this sacred affection was to the heart of Our Lord.” [CCD XII:130] Over and over he returns to the heart, praying for “God to be the heart of your heart.” [CCD I:30] He says of prayer that “our soul has the happiness of speaking heart to heart with God.” [CCD IX:321]
St. Louise prayed for a “heart completely filled with affection in the love of the heart of Jesus Crucified,” tying her devotion, as Pope Francis taught, to the wounds of the cross. [SWLM L.156] She sought to unite herself with Him by sowing, “in the heart of Jesus, all the actions of my heart and soul in order that they may grow by sharing in His merits.” [SWLM, A.15B]
So great was the Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s devotion to the Sacred Heart that in 1871, Alexandre Legentil, President of the Council of Paris, wrote what became known as the “National Vow” which helped spur construction of the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre (Basilica of the Sacred Heart) on the highest hill in Paris. On February 5, 1872, the Society consecrated itself to the Sacred Heart, and all Conferences are expected to renew this consecration annually. [Manual, 68]
St. Marguerite-Marie’s visions offer to us the twelve promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Our hearts united to His, and also to the neighbor, may we share the hope of those same promises. As St. Louise teaches, “To help you practice the love you owe your neighbor, remember when you are together that the bond of union among you is the Blood shed by the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ.” [SWLM, M.69]
Contemplate
How do I seek to empty myself to make room for God?
Recommended Reading
This would be a good time to pray the Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart with your Conference.
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