Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

It was devotion to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart which was the greatest impetus in the growth and spread of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart around the world.  Nineteenth century France was a profound period of establishing and fostering Marian devotions and also devotion to the Sacred Heart.

Newly arrived at Issoudun, central France, at the age of 30, Fr. Jules Chevalier was intent on founding a congregation of religious priests and brothers to give life to a vision he had had for a few years.  With his fellow young priest companion, Fr. Emile Maugenest, he began a novena to Our Lady which was to conclude on December 8, 1854, the day on which Pope Pius IX was to promulgate the feast of the Immaculate Conception to the universal Church.  The two young priests promised that if it was God’s intention that they should found a religious congregation they would honor Mary under a new title.  December 8, 1854 has always been considered the birthday of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.  In 1859 Fr. Jules Chevalier revealed the new title to honor Mary: Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.

What did he intend by calling the mother of Jesus "Our Lady of the Sacred Heart?"
This devotion is not dependent on any miracle or apparition of Our Lady, instead it has deep roots in St. John's Gospel and in theology.

As he meditated on St. John's Gospel, especially Chapter 2:1-12 (Wedding at Cana), on Ch.7:37-39 (Rivers of Living Water), and on Ch. 19:25-37 (Near the Foot of the Cross stood Mary), he began to realize and appreciate Mary’s intimate connection in the whole mission of her son, Jesus.  As Mary stood near the foot of the Cross, when most of the disciples had already abandoned Him, she understood "the signs" of blood and water flowing from the open side of Jesus on the Cross. Under these "signs" of blood and water, the glorified Christ (Jesus was already dead) was bequeathing over His Body, the Church, water (the symbol of the Holy Spirit) and blood (symbol of His life, new life).

These "signs" would only become visible and manifest at Pentecost and again Our Lady was present!  But Mary had already understood these "signs" of blood and water even in the midst of her anquish of watching her son die!   Now, she also understood why her dying Son on the Cross had "given" her to John (symbol of the Church) as his Mother. She is the first among believers, disciples of Jesus and she is rightfully called the Mother of the Church.

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, pray for us!