…WITH ST. FRANCIS DE SALES
The Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus falls on June 15th, 2012.
Most of the faithful associate the visionary St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a Visitation Nun, with this feast and devotion.
But- many do not realize that the Founder of her Order, St. Francis de Sales, also had great devotion to the Sacred Heart prior to the Revelations, and created the Order of the Visitation through his inspirations about the loving Heart of Jesus and His prime virtues, humility and gentleness.
As we prepare for this Feast we will be posting excerpts that manifest the sentiments of this Doctor of the Church, St. Francis de Sales, for the Sacred Heart of Jesus. That heart is the beginning and end of much of St. Francis’ spirituality.
He said, “In its more than maternal affection, Christ’s Divine Heart forsaw, prepared, merited and obtained for us all the graces we receive..O good Jesus! bind me ever more and more to your Heart, so that I may ever be consumed with the love of you, and be lost in your Heart’s sweetness. O sovereign love of the Heart of Jesus! what heart can bless and praise you as you deserve to be blessed and praised?”(1)
1 Source: The Sacred Heart Yesterday and Today, Rev. Arthur McGratty, SJ