Mary of the Divine Heart

Blessed Mary of the Divine Heart
Portrait of Blessed Mary of the Divine Heart, the countess of Droste zu Vischering.
Blessed
Born	September 8, 1863(1863-09-08) Münster, Germany
Died	June 8, 1899(1899-06-08) (aged 35) Porto, Portugal
Honored in	Roman Catholic Church
Beatified	November 1, 1975, Rome by Pope Paul VI
Major shrine	Church of the Good Shepherd (Ermesinde)
Feast	June 8 Traditional Catholic Calendar

Blessed Mary of the Divine Heart (Münster, September 8, 1863 - Porto, June 8, 1899), born Maria Droste zu Vischering, was a German Roman Catholic nun best known for influencing Pope Leo XIII's consecration of the world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Pope Leo XIII called to this consecration "the greatest act of my pontificate".^[1]

Biography

Maria Droste zu Vischering was born in the Droste zu Vischering noble family of Germany and became a Sister of the Good Shepherd based on the Rule of Saint Augustine. When she was based in Porto, Portugal, she reported some messages from Jesus Christ in which she was asked to contact the pope, requesting the consecration of the world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Painting of Blessed Mary of the Divine Heart and Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque in adoration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

On June 10, 1898, her superior at the Good Shepherd monastery wrote to Pope Leo XIII stating that Sister Mary had received a message from Christ, requesting the pope to consecrate the entire world to the Sacred Heart. The pope initially did not believe her and took no action. However, on January 6, 1899 she wrote another letter, asking that in addition to the consecration, the first Fridays of the month be observed in honor of the Sacred Heart. In the letter she also referred to the recent illness of the pope and stated that Christ had assured her that Pope Leo XIII would live until he had performed the consecration to the Sacred Heart. Theologian Laurent Volken states that this had an emotional impact on Leo XIII, despite the theological issues concerning the consecration of non-Christians.^[2][3]

Pope Leo XIII commissioned an inquiry on the basis of her revelation and Church tradition. In his 1899 encyclical letter Annum Sacrum, Leo XIII decreed that the consecration of the entire human race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus should take place on June 11, 1899. In the encyclical Annum Sacrum, Pope Leo XIII referred to the illness about which Sister Mary had written, stating:^[4]

"There is one further reason that urges us to realize our design; We do not want it to pass by unnoticed. It is personal in nature but just as important: God the author of all Good has saved us by healing us recently from a dangerous disease."

Pope Leo XIII also composed the Prayer of Consecration to the Sacred Heart and included it in Annum Sacrum. Pope Pius X later decreed that this consecration of the human race, performed by Pope Leo XIII be renewed each year.^[5]

Sister Mary of the Divine Heart died on the feast of the Sacred Heart, two days before the consecration, which had been deferred to the following Sunday.

Beatification

In 1964, Sister Mary of the Divine Heart, the countess of Droste zu Vischering, oficially received the title of Venerable by the Catholic Church. On November 1, 1975, she was declared blessed by Pope Paul VI.

Incorruptibility

Blessed Mary of the Divine Heart incorrupt body is exposed for public veneration in the Church of the Good Shepherd in Ermesinde, in northern Portugal.^[6] There is also a relic of her body exposed for public veneration at the Sanctuary of Christ the King in Almada, near Lisbon, Portugal.

A series of articles on the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Sacred Heart Immaculate Heart Alliance of Hearts Prayers & Feast Act of Consecration Prayer • Feast Scapular People John Eudes Margaret Alacoque Catherine Labouré Mary of Divine Heart Alexandrina da Costa Encyclicals Annum Sacrum Haurietis Aquas Churches Cathedrals • Churches

See also

• Visions of Jesus and Mary
• Prayer of Consecration to the Sacred Heart
• Sacred Heart of Jesus
• Alliance of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

References

• Louis Chasle; Sister Mary of the Divine Heart, Burns & Oates, London (1906).
• Joaquim Abranches; Beata Maria do Divino Coração, Mensageiro do Coração de Jesus, Braga.

Notes

1. ^ Catholic encyclopedia
2. ^ Laurent Volken, 1963, Visions, Revelations and the Church P.J. Kenedy Publishers
3. ^ Niels Christian Hvidt, 2007, Christian Prophecy: The Post-Biblical Tradition, OUP Press ISBN 0195314476 page 242
4. ^ Vatican website: Annum Sacrum [1]
5. ^ EWTN [2]
6. ^ Junta de Freguesia de Ermesinde - The Church of the Good Shepherd

External links

• Blessed Mary of the Divine Heart - Documentary about her life.

Persondata
Name	Divine Heart, Mary Of The
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	September 8, 1863
Place of birth	Münster, Germany
Date of death	June 8, 1899
Place of death	Porto, Portugal