In 1675 the great revelation was made to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque that she, in union with father de la Colombiere S.J., was to be the chief instrument for instituting the Feast of the Sacred Heart and for spreading devotion to the sacred heart throughout the world.

Our Lord appeared to St. Margaret Mary several times during her life as a nun in the Visitation order. Sometimes Our Lord showed His Most Sacred Heart afire with love for men; while at other times His Heart would appear torn and bleeding because of sin and indifference.

The great promise of the First Friday

All who receive Holy Communion on nine consecutive First Fridays have been blessed by Our Lord with the grace of a most wonderful promise. We should listen carefully. It is our savior, Himself, Who speaks to us through St. Margaret Mary: “I promise thee in the unfathomable mercy of My Heart that My omnipotent love will procure the grace of final penitence for all those who communicate on nine successive First Fridays of the month; they will not die in My disfavor, or without having received their Sacraments, since My divine Heart will be their sure refuge in the last moments of their life.”

Our Lord also told St. Margaret Mary of the following additional blessings:

1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.

2. I will give peace in their families.

3. I will console them in all their troubles.

4. They shall find in My heart an assured refuge during life and especially at the hour of death.

5. I will pour abundant blessings on all their undertakings.

6. Sinners shall find in My Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.

7. Tepid souls shall become fervent.

8. Fervent souls shall rose speedily to great perfection.

9. I will bless the homes in which the image of My Sacred Heart shall be exposed and honoured.

10. I will give to priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts.

11. Those who propagate this devotion shall have their name written in My heart, and it shall never be effaced.

12. I promise you, in the excess of the mercy of My heart, that Its all-powerful love will grant to all those who shall receive Communion on the First Friday of nine consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they shall not die under My displeasure nor without receiving the Sacraments, My Divine Heart becoming their refuge at that last hour.

“And He showed me that it was His great desire of being loved by men and of withdrawing them from the path of ruin into which satan hurls crowds of them, that made Him form the design of manifesting His Heart to men, with all the treasures of love, of mercy, of grace, of sanctification and salvation which it contains, in order that those who desire to render Him and procure for Him all the honour and love possible, might themselves be abundantly enriched with those divine treasures of which this Heart is the source.” — St. Margaret Mary.

---