Margaret Mary Alacoque

Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690) was a nun of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary, known for her visions of Jesus Christ and her mission to promote devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Born in Verosvres, Burgundy, she entered the Visitation monastery in Paray-le-Monial in 1671. It was there that she reportedly received several revelations from Christ, asking her to establish and propagate devotion to His Sacred Heart, in reparation for offenses. These revelations laid the foundation for current practices of this devotion, including the practice of the First Fridays and the Holy Hour. She is a central figure in modern Catholic spirituality concerning the Sacred Heart, canonized in 1920 by Pope Benedict XV.