Celebrating the Feast of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

After Mass, the Visitation Sisters generously offered us some literature about the Sacred Heart of Jesus, St. Jane de Chantal, and their Order

Cor Iesu, lancea perforatum, miserere nobis. (1)

For two days, Members of the Fratelli della Santa Fede (Brothers of the Holy Faith) celebrated the Feast of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690), Disciple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Sacro Cuore di Gesù) and a beloved benefactress of our society. Commemorated a day apart on the new and traditional Liturgical Calendars, the Feast is observed on October 16th and 17th respectively. At both Masses, the Sanfedisti prayed for our Holy Father, Christ’s Vicar, and the cleansing of Holy Mother Church of all heresy and apostasy. On the 16th, we also prayed for the repose of the soul of Marie Antoinette, the Queen of France who was savagely executed in 1793 during the French Revolution (i.e. The Terror).

Opening Mass for the Jubilee Year in Honor of the Centenary of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque’s Canonization 

Wednesday, October 16th — Despite the torrential downpour, a handful of devout parishioners made the sodden trek to Visitation Monastery (8902 Ridge Blvd.) in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn for the opening Mass for the Jubilee Year (2019-2020) in honor of the Centenary of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque’s Canonization. Presided by the Most Reverend Auxiliary Bishop Octavio Cisneros, His Excellency recalled with ardor and reverence the life of the great Saint.

The cold rain started to let up a little after Mass

The grace of a Jubilee Year was obtained by the Sisters of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary from the Apostolic Penitentiary in Rome, which under the usual conditions (2) grants the grace of a plenary indulgence to all those who cross the doors of their chapels on the following dates:

• The first Friday of each month
• The feast of St. Margaret Mary on October 16, 2019 and 2020
• The Solemnity of St. Francis de Sales on January 24, 2020
• The 100th anniversary of St. Margaret Mary's canonization, May 13, 2020
• The Solemnity of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary on May 31, 2020 
• The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 19, 2020
• The Solemnity of St. Joan of Chantal on August 12, 2020

The Jubilee Year will close on October 17th, 2020.

Missal and prayer cards in hand, I prayed with my brethren
to bring us closer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Celebrating Low Mass in Honor of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque at Holy Innocents Church

Thursday, October 17th — The Sanfedisti reconvened the following night at the Shrine Church of the Holy Innocents (128 W. 37th St.) in Manhattan for the traditional Feast Day of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. After praying the Holy Rosary (weekdays at 5:20 p.m.) and venerating the Relic of the True Cross, we sat in silent prayer before the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

Low Mass was celebrated by Fr. Louis Van Thanh, who spoke at length during his sermon about the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and St. Margaret Mary, St. Thérèse of Lisieux (1873-1897), and St. Maria Faustina Kowalski (1905-1938). Fr. Van Thanh was dutifully assisted by two servers.

Afterward, we took the opportunity to light candles and make our usual prayers of thanks, praise and reparation. We also implored the Sacred Heart of Jesus through St. Margaret Mary Alacoque to intercede for the private intentions made on behalf of family and friends going through difficult times. Evviva Santa Margherita Maria Alacoque!

                                            ~ Giovanni di Napoli, Saturday, October 19th, the Feast San Pietro d'Alcántara

(1) “Heart of Jesus, pierced with a lance, have mercy on us.” Taken from the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

(2) In order to receive the plenary indulgence, one must be in a state of grace, have sacramentally confessed their sins, and prayed for the intentions of the Holy Father