1) The
devotion to the Sacred Heart is over 900 years old: In the 11th century
St. Peter Damien wrote the following to St. Catherine of Siena: “It is
in the adorable Heart of Jesus that we find every weapon proper to our
defense, every remedy for the cure of our ills, the most powerful
assistance against the assaults of our enemies, the sweetest consolation
to relive our sufferings, the purest delights to crown our souls with
Joy.”
2) There
was more than one saint who had visions of the Sacred Heart: In the
1200's three nuns started the monastery of St. Mary
of Helfta. The nuns were St. Mechtild of Magdeburg, St. Mechtild of Hakeborn and
St. Gertrude the Great.
3) Doesn't
everyone have visions? St. Margaret Mary started having visions of
Jesus, typically crucified, early in her life. She assumed that this was
normal for everyone.
4) The
Feast of the Sacred Heart was celebrated before St. Margaret Mary's
visions: On August 31, 1670 a celebration in honor of the Sacred Heart
was celebrated at the seminary in Rennes.
5) St.
Margaret Mary Alacoque had multiple visions of the Sacred Heart: From
1673 - 1675. During the visions Christ told St. Margaret that he wanted
three specific devotions done to honor His Sacred Heart - frequent
communion, receiving Communion at Mass on the first Friday of the month
and regular holy hours.
Read the rest.
Read the rest.
