St. Margaret Mary Alacoque—What a Weakness It Is to Love Jesus only when He Caresses Us ... - Catholic Digest

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and the story behind devotion to the Sacred Heart

Apparition of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. / Credit: Alacoque, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons CNA Staff, Oct 16, 2025 / 05:00 am (CNA). St. Margaret Mary Alacoque — whose feast day is celebrated in the Catholic Church on Oct. 16 — was a French nun responsible for spreading the devotion of the Sacred Heart throughout the Western Church.Born in July 1647, Margaret had a great love for God from a young age. Her fath…

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque—What a weakness it is to love Jesus only when he caresses us ... - Catholic Digest

What a weakness it is to love Jesus only when he caresses us, and to be cold immediately once he afflicts us. This is not true love. Those who love thus love themselves too much to love God with all their heart. — St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque

Born in Lhautecour, France on 22 July, 1647, St. Margaret Mary Alacoque’s life was marked by her profound spirituality and unwavering devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She departed from this world in Paray-le-Monial on 17 October, 1690. Margaret’s early years were deeply spiritual. Even as a child, she demonstrated an unparalleled love for the Blessed Sacrament, favoring prayer and contemplation over typical childhood play. After her first …