Margaret Mary Alacoque
Margaret Mary Alacoque ( born July 22, 1647 Verosvres, Burgundy, † October 17, 1690 in Paray -le- Monial ) was a nun and mystic and is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church as a saint.
Life
Childhood and youth
Margaret Mary (French: Marguerite - Marie) Alacoque was born on 22 July 1647 Verosvres in France ( Burgundy ). She was the fifth of seven children of the notary Claude Alacoque and his wife Philiberte, born Lamyn. Three days after her birth, on July 25, 1647 Margaret Mary was baptized. Her godmother was a noble Related named Marguerite de Saint -Amour. The family lived Alacoque house to house with the family Laroche, in the Claude Alacoques sister Benoîte einheiratete. The ratio of the two families was very bad, what the childhood of Mary Margaret coined. From 1651 to 1655 Margaret Mary was taken from her godmother to her castle to Corecheval. As 1655, the father died, the child returned to the mother. After the death of his father the Alacoques for financial reasons had no choice but to come to terms with the Laroche. The Laroche's used now more than ever every opportunity to torment the Alacoques.
1656 Margaret Mary came to the boarding of the urbanists after Charolles. There she received in 1659 at the age of twelve years, the first communion. A short time later, she fell seriously ill. She was therefore sent back to Verosvres and was there confined for about four years more or less to the bedside. Your recovery was so surprising that one speaks of a " miraculous healing ". After healing, Margaret Mary began to lead the normal life of a sixteen year old. I enjoy participated in dance events to which they took their older brothers. However, her mother's serious illness forced her to devote himself entirely to the care of the mother. When they tried to marry Margaret Mary as soon as possible, she fought against because they wanted to enter a convent.
Monastery entrance and living in the Visitation
On June 20, 1671 Margaret Mary Alacoque entered (founded in 1610 by Saint Francis de Sales and Jane de Chantal ) in Paray -le- Monial in the Order of the Visitation ( Salesian Sisters ). On August 25, 1671 their investiture took place as a novice and a year later, on August 25, 1672, they made his solemn profession. Your life in Visitation was very difficult. As a child and teenager, she had several visions that piled up after she entered the convent. Her sisters ridiculed and humiliated because of it. Margaret Mary was also in her visions the order to point out deficiencies that had come to be among the sisters. Margareta Maria Superior, Marie -Françoise de Saumaise, though felt behind this " peculiar sister " something divine, but not felt able to pass judgment on himself. They therefore ordered Margaret Mary to write their life story and their visions for two priests, a judgment could make it. The priest urged great caution and went away from, Margaret Mary was either possessed or insane.
Visions
On December 27, 1673 Margaret Mary had a vision in which she asked Jesus Christ to stand up for the worship of his divine heart. In the following one and a half years followed by other three visions in which Jesus Christ auftrug Margaret Mary that she should work to ensure that each first Friday of the month and the second should be dedicated Friday after the feast of Corpus Christi to the special veneration of the Sacred Heart.
Special support Margaret Mary received through the Holy Jesuit Claude de la Colombière. This was in 1675 rector of the newly established Jesuit College in Paray -le -Monial. In addition, he was the confessor of the Salesian Sisters. Already in his first spiritual conference Margaret Mary fell on him. You even heard the voice of God, that this was the priest who will support them in their mission to promote the Sacred Heart devotion. There were several discussions. Colombière Margareta Maria proceed neither possessed nor insane, but encouraged them to make their way. He wanted to do everything his own way to the worship of the heart of Jesus. Even after a year had Colombière leave town again. However, he remained with Margaret Mary by letter still in contact.
With the departure Colombières but Margaret Mary lost again their "protector". The sisters now let their anger run free. On the evening of November 20, 1677 Margaret Mary received a vision of the order, to say publicly before the whole community, God had chosen them as " atonement " for the sins of the sisters because they were not willing to change. Man swore at Margaret Mary, she yelled at, mocked them. When she was later on the way to her cell, she was attacked literally by a group of sisters. They tore down her veil and beat a rampant on it. The next day the sisters deeply regretted her behavior and started Margaret Mary deal more polite, but still remained reserved.
The successor to the Mother Superior de Saumaise, Peronne - Rosalie Greyfié, has tried to maintain the peace in the monastery, but did nothing, so Margaret Mary found more recognition among the sisters. This did not change anything, as Claude de la Colombière returned back to Paray -le -Monial. The matron sat still in the community not for Margaret Mary a, in their personal conversations, however, she spoke to her courage. Margaret Mary was at this time ill for months, and then suddenly healthy again. In the Community, thereby understandably excited again displeasure. Margaret Mary was referred to as a hypocrite who was cheating her illness in order to take on any work in the community need.
Mistress of Novices
On February 15, 1682 Claude de la Colombière died. 1684 a new superior was elected: Marie -Christina Melin. These named Margaret Mary her assistant to 1685 even for novices. The reason for this change of mind was again on P. Colombière, whose writings have been published about the Sacred Heart devotion after his death and read daily during meals in the refectory. The opinion about Margaret Mary changed by many of their fellow sisters. In addition to that, another Jesuit, Fr Francois Rolin, confessor of the monastery was and the significance of Mary Margaret realized. He told her that she should write her entire life story, which is still preserved today.
As a novice mistress Margaret Mary developed a completely new self-confidence. Your own painful experiences as a nun they made patient, gentle and very wise in dealing with those who entered the monastery and were re- introduced by her in the spirituality of Heimsuchungsordens. For a particular date then was July 22, 1685, her birthday. The novices wanted to make her a special birthday celebration, but she thought it would be a much greater pleasure if they were all the honors offer to the Heart of Jesus. So it was that the first time the Heart of Jesus was worshiped jointly by several sisters in a prayer in the convent of Paray -le- Monial, this form of worship was maintained for a.
Propagation of the devotion to the Sacred Heart
The two brothers Margaretas, Jacques and Chrysostom, were in the village of Le -Bois -Sainte -Marie build a chapel in honor of the Sacred Heart and to seek for, to inspire the whole village for the Sacred Heart devotion.
1687 Margaret Mary was succeeded by her position as mistress of novices again. She was a nurse first assistant of, and later governess of those girls that were taken in the monastery in a kind of small boarding school. After the election of the Superior, she was the assistant again.
In the years 1688 and 1689 had more visions of the Sacred Heart devotion. As a result, they asked the French king, Louis XIV, the whole of France to consecrate to the Sacred Heart and to build a church in Paris in honor of the Sacred Heart. Was fulfilled this order until some two hundred years later by the construction of the Sacré -Coeur on the hill of Montmartre in Paris. The monastery has its own chapel to the Sacred Heart worship was erected. The community of the monastery was completely changed in their relationship with Margaret Mary. They even wanted to choose superior, what Margaret Mary in 1690 but refused. In their place, Catherine -Antoinette de Château Lévy Morand was chosen.
Two Jesuits, Jean Croiset and Joseph -François Gallifet, the veneration of the Sacred Heart began to spread outside of the Monastery of the Visitation.
In late summer 1690 Margaret Mary felt that she would die soon. Since she was sick again and again, the community did not take this very seriously. On October 8, but she was so weak that she could not leave the bed. Although the doctors could not detect any disturbing disease, she said that she would die. On October 17, 1690 at 7 clock in the evening she received the Anointing of the Sick in the presence of all her sisters. An hour later, she died at the age of 43 years. Her last word was " Jesus ".
At her funeral, there was almost a riot, because the population was convinced that Margaret Mary was a saint, and they wanted one last time, briefly touching her coffin. She is buried in the monastery of the Visitation of Paray -le -Monial.
Effect
Margaret Mary Alacoque was on 18 September 1864 by Pope Pius IX. beatified and on 13 May 1920 by Pope Benedict XV. canonized. Your feast day is October 16th.
Despite the efforts of individual Jesuits the introduction of the Sacred Heart festival was initially rejected. However, it began to establish Sacred Heart brotherhoods, which spread during the years 1690 to 1740 in France, Poland, Spain, Italy and Germany. It was not until 1765 allowed Pope Clement XIII. own votive Mass in honor of the Sacred Heart, but only in Poland and the Order of the Visitation. 1856 was finally the Sacred Heart Feast of Pope Pius IX. introduced worldwide in the church. Pope Leo XIII. raised the feast of the Solemnity in 1899. In the Encyclical Redemptor Miserentissimus of 1928, Pope Pius XI. represents the importance of the Sacred Heart devotion for the whole Church
In particular, Pope Pius XII. rejected in the encyclical Haurietis aquas on the extraordinary importance of the Holy. Margareta out for the Sacred Heart devotion. Pope Pius XII. wrote: But surely takes the first place among those who have supported this worthy devotion form hl. Margaret Mary Alacoque, which with the help of her spiritual director, Blessed Claudius de la Colombière, inflamed with holy zeal, brought it as meaning that the cult of form, so much promoted, introduced under strong worshiping the consent of the faithful and the distinguishing characteristics of love and atonement was distinguished from the other forms of Christian piety.
The Sacred Heart devotion is still one of the most common forms of devotion in the Catholic Church. Besides the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus after Corpus Christi every first Friday of the month is celebrated as the Sacred Heart Friday, usually with a suspension of the Blessed Sacrament and sacramental blessing.
There are prayer groups and fraternities that have committed to the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in a special way, the most famous is the Confraternity of the guard of honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Members commit to a lifetime to devote an hour a day of devotion to the Heart of Jesus in prayer. The German directorate of the honor guard is in Uedem.
Quotes
- We need to recognize the authenticity of our intentions more by works than by words give (quoted in Hildegard Waach, Margaret Mary Alacoque. Messenger of the Sacred Heart, Eichstätt 1992, page 147)
- Venerate the Heart of Jesus, does not so much say prayers, when his virtues make uniform ( Waach, 151)
- Jesus Christ knows no compromise. He wants all or nothing. ( Waach, 151)
- Suffering and love in suffering, just for that I 'm born. ( Waach, 156)
- Let our heart empty of everything earthly, lovingly toward the neighbor and generous to the poor. ( Waach, 159)
- Do not worry, but you have great confidence in the merciful goodness of the Savior. ( Waach, 163)
- Who says pure love, who says Yes to pure suffering ( Waach, 163)
- Be poor in everything, and the sacred heart will make you rich. Become empty of everything, and this heart will fill you. ( Waach, 165)