Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque Pictures

This is a picture of Saint Margaret Mary. She was born in 1647. She became a nun and was moved by Jesus, Who appeared to her, to establish a Holy Hour of Reparation to His Sacred Heart, and to receive Holy Communion on the First Friday for nine months. Jesus moved her thus to promotion as He desired to be loved by mankind. Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque's body lies in the convent chapel at Paray, France. Her heart and brain are incorrupt and enclosed in a wax and metal figure. Picture courtesy of Ginny Lopez as sited on Find A Grave.

This is an image depicting the famous apparition of Our Lord to St. Margaret Mary, when He indicated that of all the saints after His Mother, St. Francis had most perfectly imitated His Most Sacred Heart. Saint Francis of Assisi is the friar in brown in the background with the angels. Picture courtesy of Ginny Lopez.

This 10th century, Benedictine monastery was established in this city located in the diocese of Autun. The main part of its church was constructed in the 12th century and is esteemed a valuable example of Cluny art, since its model at Cluny has virtually disappeared. Paray-le-Monial is known today primarily because of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, a Visitation nun who lived in the 17th century. On December 26, 1673, Christ revealed the mystery of His heart to her for the first time: "My heart is so full of love for men... that the flames of its ardent love can no longer be contained, but must be poured out through you." Other apparitions followed in 1674, then in June 1675 when Jesus, revealing His heart said, "Behold this heart which has so loved men..." and asked that a feast be instituted in honor of His heart. Margaret Mary died on October 17, 1690. She was canonized in 1920. In 1765, Rome authorized the institution of the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and extended it in 1856 to the Universal church. Paray-le-Monial welcomes a half-million pilgrims each year.

Claude de la Columbiere was of the French nobility who felt a call to religious life from an early age. He was born on February 2, 1641 in Grenoble, France. He was educated at Jesuit college in Lyons, France. Taught humanities at Avignon. He studied in Paris; tutor. Preached against Jansenism, advocating dedication to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He was a Jesuit priest. He was the spiritual director of Saint Margaret Mary of Alocoque. He was the Chaplain to the Duchess of York, converting many Protestants through the example of his holy life. "Popish" plots against the English king, and the reestablishment of Catholicism in England were rumored. Claude was imprisoned accused of being part of the plot. Because of the efforts of Louis XIV, who had recommended him for the assignment to England, Claude was not killed. He was banished from England. His health was ruined by prison. He returned to Paray to die. He died on February 15, 1682 at Paray-le-Monial of hemoptysis (coughing up blood). The day after his death in 1682, Saint Margaret Mary received supernatural assurance that Claude de la Colombiere needed no prayers, as he was in heaven. Claude was canonized by Pope John Paul II on May 31, 1992. He is a patron of toy makers, turners, confessors, nobility, and those in deep despair.