St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647–1690)
(The Saint who promoted devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus)
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque was born on July 22, 1647, in L’Hautecour, France. From an early age, she showed a deep love for prayer and devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. After recovering miraculously from a severe illness at a young age, she consecrated her life to God.
She entered the Visitation Convent at Paray-le-Monial in 1671, where she experienced a series of profound mystical visions of Jesus. Between 1673 and 1675, Our Lord appeared to her several times, revealing His Sacred Heart, burning with love for humanity but wounded by human indifference and sin.
Jesus entrusted to her the mission of promoting devotion to His Sacred Heart, asking for reparation through prayer, frequent Communion, especially on First Fridays and the observance of the Feast of the Sacred Heart.
Though initially misunderstood and opposed, her confessor, St. Claude de la Colombière, confirmed the authenticity of her revelations.
St. Margaret Mary died on October 17, 1690, at the age of 43, peacefully saying, “I need nothing but God, and God alone is enough.” She was canonized by Pope Benedict XV in 1920.
Her life and mission gave rise to the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, now a central devotion in the Catholic Church.
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, pray for us 🙏🏽
Fr. James what is the difference between attending mass on Saturday and Sunday, some hold the opinion that mass on Saturday is the same as that of Sunday since the readings are the same
In the Catholic Church, the Sunday obligation (to attend Mass) can be fulfilled either on Sunday itself or on the evening of Saturday, which is called the Vigil Mass or anticipated Sunday Mass.
The difference lies in the time and intention of the Mass.
A Saturday morning or afternoon Mass is for Saturday and does not fulfil the Sunday obligation.
A Saturday evening Mass (usually from 5 p.m. onward) is the Sunday Vigil Mass. It must use the Sunday readings and prayers to count as Sunday Mass.