Margaret Mary: A Persistent Heart

Oct 16

This week, the Church celebrated the feast day of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, who promoted and popularized devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Margaret Mary was a French nun who was part of the Salesian family. She was a member of the Visitation Sisters of Holy Mary, the order of women religious founded by St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal. In 1672, Christ appeared to Sister Margaret Mary and revealed to her the importance of devotion to His Sacred Heart over a series of visits. Jesus called Margaret Mary “the Beloved Disciple of the Sacred Heart” and the heiress “of all its treasures.”

When these visions began, the sisters in her convent did not believe that the Lord had appeared to a simple nun who showed no extraordinary qualities, abilities, or favors. Sister Margaret Mary was mocked by some of her own community members. She began to doubt her goodness and her very vocation.

Her embrace of the Visitation spirit, the teachings of St. Francis and St. Jane, and the example of the sisters who had gone before her helped Margaret Mary realize that God was calling her, an ordinary Visitandine nun, to do extraordinary things.

Perhaps this young sister recalled the advice of St. Francis de Sales to “not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, not even if your whole world seems upset.” Maybe it was the example of St. Jane who was tested throughout her life but never allowed her spiritual struggles to discourage her or pull her away from her calling. St. Jane reminded the Visitation nuns that “in prayer one must hold fast and never let go, because the one who gives up loses all. If it seems that no one is listening to you, then cry out even louder. If you are driven out of one door, go back in by the other.”

The teachings of her founders, the Salesian spirit of gentleness and optimism, and the Catholic sense of resilience and redemption all contributed to Margaret Mary’s spiritual growth and deepening devotion. She was persistent in her belief that God was calling her to bring his message of love and mercy to the world.

As she embraced the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Margaret Mary also embraced her own heart, filled with limitations and fears. She recognized the need to keep close to God and the path he had set her on. Reflecting on this call to intimacy with the Lord, Margaret Mary wrote: “Keep your heart in peace and let nothing trouble you, not even your faults. You must humble yourself and amend them peacefully, without being discouraged or cast down, for God’s dwelling is in peace.”

Learn more about St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

St. Margaret Mary never gave up because Jesus never gives up on us. The Sacred Heart of Jesus is a fount of mercy and love. The letter to St. Timothy reminds us that “if we were unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself (2 Timothy 2:13).” As we recall St. Margaret Mary this week, may we be inspired to remain faithful, to be at peace, and to stay close to the Heart of Christ.