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Saint Margaret Mary and the Sacred Heart
In Paray-le-Monial Jesus appeared to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690), revealing to her his Heart burning with love for man. A young girl from the region, Margaret Mary entered the monastery of the Visitation in Paray-le-Monial in 1671. She experienced numerous apparitions which were confirmed by her confessor, a Jesuit, Saint Claude La Colombière. Jesus requested the introduction of the feast of the Sacred Heart, which would take place every year in June. Following these apparitions, the spirituality of the Sacred Heart spread throughout the whole world.
In 1856 Pope Pius IX extended the feast to the universal Church under the rite of double major. In 1889 it was raised by the Church to the double rite of first class.
Saint Margaret Mary was canonised on 13th May 1920 and Saint Claude la Colombière on 12th May 1992.
Finally, on 11 June, 1899,  by order of Leo XIII, and with the formula prescribed by him, all mankind was solemnly consecrated to the Sacred Heart.
Feast of the Sacred Heart
The Feast of the Sacred Heart (or properly, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart) is a holy day in the liturgical calendar of the Roman Catholic Church. It falls 19 days after Pentecost, on a Friday.
Relics of St Margaret Mary visiting the Emmanuel Community International Youth Fourm in Latrobe, PA 2002
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