The feast of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque this month calls to mind the beautiful devotion she helped spread.
She was blessed to receive visions and apparitions of Jesus’ Sacred Heart, and she dedicated her life to spreading the fire of true devotion to Christ.
In her Autobiography, she describes one such vision:
Jesus spoke of the sadness he feels because his great love for humanity receives in exchange “nothing but ingratitude and indifference,” “coldness and contempt.” And this, he added, “is more grievous to me than all that I endured in my Passion.”
Here are a few ways to respond with fervor and devotion to Our Lord’s infinite love for us.
1Enthronement of the Sacred Heart
St. Margaret Mary recommended placing an image of Jesus’ Sacred Heart in a place of honor in one’s home. Welcoming Jesus into our homes through this Enthronement can remind us to keep Jesus at the center of our lives.
Once the Sacred Heart is enthroned, we might spend time meditating before it, “resting our head on Jesus’ Heart” like St. Margaret Mary did.
When we see it, we might be reminded to make a short prayer: “Jesus, meek and humble of Heart, make my heart like yours” or “Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on me.”
2First Friday Masses
St. Margaret Mary also recommended going to Mass on the First Friday of each month for nine Fridays in a row, receiving Holy Communion and going to confession in the eight days before or after.
Jesus made a number of promises to those who practice this devotion. You can read here about this beautiful tradition.
3Litany of the Sacred Heart
After Mass or while looking at the Sacred Heart, honor and rest in Christ’s infinite mercy with this powerful prayer.
4Acts of reparation
Prayers of reparation can help repair the spiritual damage from lukewarmness and indifference to Christ’s love. We can offer our hearts to Jesus in return for his great love.
Jesus told St. Margaret to promote devotion to his Sacred Heart as a way to make reparation for various sins committed against him, so you’re on the right track with any of the suggestions here.
5Acts of love
Prayer has the power to change us and help us to be better people—eventually, we hope, helping us to be saints. Our prayers to Jesus’ Sacred Heart can work powerfully in our hearts to make us more like Him.
Acts of love are an imitation of Jesus’ self-giving and sacrificial love. We might imitate Christ’s love in countless ways: loving and forgiving others, volunteering our time in acts of charity and missionary work, remaining patient and steadfast in trials.
It’s not easy to be a source of love like Jesus is for us. It’s the work of a lifetime and the hardest thing we can ever do.
But with prayer and grace, Christ can make our hearts like His. And that’s the most meaningful response of all.
