Monasticism and Religious Orders, France, Devotion to the Sacred Heart, Sacred Heart, Jesus Christ, Catholic Church 

Historically the origin of the devotion to the Sacred Heart as it is known in the modern Church is found principally in the revelations made to a nun of the Visitation in the seventeenth century, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, at Paray le Monial in France. Under the command of the Sacred Heart Himself that she work for the spread of the devotion, St. Margaret Mary put down, by order of her superiors, a simply written account of the facts in her autobiography.

Much of her work of promotion was done through the meditation of others. As a consequence, her letters are an important part of the documents relating to the devotion. Pere Croiset, for example, wrote the first book which explained and encouraged the devotion. Much of his material he received from ten long letters written to him by Margaret Mary.

Her other correspondence, too, is always occupied with her one task, urging priests to preach the devotion, encouraging her associates in the Visitation to promote the devotion. All of the letters are an expression of the religious life of a saint with a special providential role in the modern Church. The complete collection of her letters, therefore, is a primary and important source for understanding this devotion at its origins, and for catching its spirit.

The first publication of the Letters in English is an event of major importance in Catholic devotional life in the United States. The translation by Father Herbst has been made from Msgr. Gauthey's critical edition, and has been done in collaboration with the Visitation convent of Paray le Monial, which owns all Margaret Mary's manuscripts, and also of the Visitation convent in London. The letters are accompanied by explanatory and historical notes.

Taken from the inside flaps.

Translated by Fr. Clarence A. Herbst, S.J.

With an introductory essay by J. J. Doyle, S.J.