The Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus has as its origin a vision made to Margaret Mary Alacoque six years after entering the Visitation Convent in 1671. She describes the vision as follows: “I could plainly see His heart, pierced and bleeding, yet there were flames, two coming from it and a crown of thorns around it. He told me to behold His heart which so loved humanity. Then He seemed to take my heart from me and place it there in His heart. In return He gave me back part of His flaming heart.” 

In all, there were four revelations, during which the now-familiar Twelve Promises were made, the last of which is responsible for the nine First Fridays’ devotion. Also requested by the Sacred Heart was the establishment of a feast in His honor. We now celebrate this Feast of Sacred Heart on the first Friday after the octave of the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, in addition to honoring the Sacred Heart every first Friday of the month. 

Saint Margaret Mary was a member of the Visitation, the cloistered sisters founded by Saint Frances de Sales and Saint Jane de Chantal. Much of what Saint Margaret Mary experienced in her visions of Jesus was shared by her spiritual director, Claude de Columbiere, SJ, a Jesuit priest and through her journals.

Prayer: 
SOUL of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me.
Within Thy wounds, hide me.
Separated from Thee let me never be.
From the malignant enemy, defend me.
At the hour of death, call me.
To come to Thee, bid me,
That I may praise Thee in the company
Of Thy Saints, for all eternity.
Amen.

Francesco, named in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, was born to Giuseppa and Grazio Forgione, peasant farmers, in the small Italian village of Pietrelcina on May 25, 1887. From his childhood, it was very evident that he was a special child of God. Francesco was very devout even as a child and at an early age felt drawn to the priesthood. He became a Capuchin novice at the age of sixteen and received the habit in 1902. Francesco was ordained to the priesthood in 1910 after seven years of study and became known as Padre Pio. 

On September 20, 1918, Padre Pio was kneeling in front of a large crucifix when he received the visible marks of the crucifixion, making him the first stigmatized priest in the history of the Church. The doctor who examined Padre Pio could not find any natural cause for the wounds. Upon his death in 1968, the wounds were no longer visible. In fact, there was no scarring and the skin was completely renewed. He had predicted 50 years prior that upon his death the wounds would heal. 

The wounds of the stigmata were not the only mystical phenomenon experienced by Padre Pio. The blood from the stigmata had an odor described by many as similar to that of perfume or flowers, and the gift of bilocation was attributed to him. Padre Pio had the ability to read the hearts of the penitents who flocked to him for confession, which he heard for ten or twelve hours per day. Padre Pio used the confessional to bring both sinners and devout souls closer to God; he would know just the right word of counsel or encouragement that was needed. 

Even before his death, people spoke to Padre Pio about his possible canonization. He died on September 23, 1968 at the age of eighty-one. His funeral was attended by about 100,000 people. On June 16, 2002, over 500,000 Padre Pio devotees gathered in Rome to witness Pope John Paul II proclaim Padre Pio Saint Pio of Pietrelcina. The Padre Pio Foundation and many benefactors traveled to Rome, San Giovanni Rotondo, Pietrelcina, Piana Romana and many other holy places to celebrate Padre Pio’s canonization.

Prayer:
O God, You gave St. Pio of Pietrelcina, the great privilege of participating in a unique way in the passion of Your Son. Grant me through his intercession the grace of. . . (here state your petition) which | ardently desire; and above all grant me the grace of living in conformity with the death of Jesus, to arrive at the glory of the resurrection. Glory be to the Father. . .(three times). 

The Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, appeared 6 times to 3 shepherd children, Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco, between May 13th and October 13, 1917. Our Lady came with a message from God to every man, woman and child of our century. Our Lady of Fatima promised that the whole world would be at peace, and that many souls would go to heaven if her requests were listened to and obeyed. She told us that war is a punishment for sins; that God would punish the world for its sins in our time by means of war, hunger, persecution of the Church and persecution of the Holy Father unless we listen to and obey the command of God. 

As a great sign of the whole message truly coming from God, a marvelous miracle was worked in the sky above Fatima before 70,000 witnesses on October 13, 1917. The children were told by Our Lady that God would perform a miracle so that people would believe in the apparitions. On that day the miracle of the sun occurred. All could stare perfectly at the sun without blinking or hurting their eyes. While all were watching the sun, it rotated, became large and small, appeared close and then far away from the people. The sun “danced.” Every person who was there testified to seeing the sun dance, even non-believers. 

Our Lady of Fatima continues to work miracles today through Fatima water which is sent from Fatima, Portugal around the world. The Fatima water sprang up in Fatima at the spot the Bishop told people to dig, very near where Our Lady appeared at the Cova de Iria (the cove of Peace) in Fatima. The water is known to cure people with sicknesses and poor health. Still, other people are cured when they go on pilgrimage to Fatima, which is about 90 miles north of Lisbon, Portugal.

Fatima Prayer: 
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell, lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.

Continue your journey through the Peace Garden statues here.