Dear Friends, Peace in Christ!
The Pastorate of the Visitation celebrates one of our saint-siblings this week! On Wednesday, October 16, we remember St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647–1690). Margaret Mary was a French religious sister of the Visitation Order, making her a saint-sibling of our Pastorate, the name of which honors both the mystery of the Visitation (Lk 1.39-45) as well as the Visitation sisters who for many years generously served the Catholic Church in Pasadena.
There are many treasures we have inherited from St. Margaret Mary such as (rekindled) devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus as well as the extraordinary revelations she received from the Lord Jesus. This devotion and these revelations came in God’s perfect timing. How so? In Margaret Mary’s historic moment, a spiritual sickness spread broadly which essentially rejected God’s universal love for all humanity. Many people despaired of God’s love for them. The truth of the message of the Sacred Heart – God’s steadfast, merciful love for all; so abundantly clear in Salvation History – proved to be a healing balm for generations to come.
I think we face a similar spiritual struggle today. Can we say with St. John, “We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him,” (1 Jn 4:16)? Do we seek to know Him – Love? Have we forgotten Love? Have we given Love a chance? When we look around us, where or in whom do we see what Mother Teresa described: “Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat”?
In one revelation, St. Margaret Mary saw the heart of Jesus, pierced and aflame, and heard Jesus say: “Behold the Heart which has so loved men that it has spared nothing, even to exhausting and consuming Itself, in order to testify Its love.” We need only look to the Holy Eucharist where Love has chosen to be present for you and me, day in and day out, begging us to give Him our hearts that He might give us His in exchange. From our communion with Christ, we are strengthened and enlightened to persevere in showing others they are wanted, loved, cared for, known. Jesus, make our hearts like yours; help us love like you.
Please remember me in your prayers as I make a retreat this week. I hope to see you at Trunk or Treat on Saturday evening, 10/19. Don’t forget to sign up! Also, be sure to mark 10/24 for Brian Boru to do the cooking for you – benefits go towards Winter Relief. More details in the bulletin. God bless you!
In Christ,
Fr. John
