Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque
A Visitation nun of Paray-le-Monial linked with the spread of devotion to the Sacred Heart
- Rank
- Saint
- Kind
- Mystic, Religious, Virgin
- Life
- 1647 – 1690
- Era
- 17th century
- Feast
- 16 October
- Countries
- France
Life story
Margaret Mary Alacoque was born on 22 July 1647 at Lautecour in Burgundy, France. Her father, a notary, died when she was a child, the family fell into hardship, and she suffered a long illness during which she was largely unable to walk. In 1671 she entered the Visitation convent at Paray-le-Monial, where she remained for the rest of her life. The convent belonged to the Visitation order founded by Francis de Sales and Jane de Chantal in 1610.
By her own account in her autobiography, from December 1673 through 1675 she received a series of visions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Many of her sisters were doubtful at first and she met considerable difficulty. The turning point was the arrival of Claude de la Colombière, a Jesuit who was superior of the Jesuit house at Paray-le-Monial from 1675. He judged her reports worthy of serious consideration and supported her.
After Colombière left and then died in 1682, she remained in the community and held offices such as assistant to the novice mistress and assistant to the superior. Gradually devotion to the Sacred Heart was spread by people both inside and outside the Visitation. She died on 17 October 1690 at Paray-le-Monial.
She was beatified in 1864 and canonised in 1920 under Pope Benedict XV. Her feast day is 16 October, and the place where she lived is now a pilgrimage centre; her relics are kept in the chapel of the Visitation convent at Paray-le-Monial.
Works and witness
- Entered the Visitation convent at Paray-le-Monial in 1671
- From 1673 reported visions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Supported by the Jesuit Claude de la Colombière
- Wrote an autobiography at her superiors' request
- Canonised in 1920
Saints from the same country
References
- Martyrologium Romanum
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints – biographical profile
- Margaret Mary Alacoque, Autobiography
Written by Anawim from documented history. Some details about ancient saints rest on tradition and are marked as such.