Paray le Monial is a beautiful, quiet town nestled in the center of France. But the power that emanates from this town is pure Holy Spirit. You can still feel the presence of our Lord Jesus. For, it is here that our Lord appeared to a nun over a period of 17 years. He brought his faithful message of love to an unfaithful people who had grown cold. Here, he, once again, spoke of that tremendous love of his to become man and suffer death - even death on the cross.

Margaret Mary was a visitation nun from 1671 to 1690. Our Lord appeared to her many times, in the Chapel of the Visitation in Paray le Monial. Not only have these revelations from our Lord Jesus been accepted by the church, but because of the virtuous, selfless life of this nun, she was raised to the Communion of Saints in 1920.

Over a period of 17 years, our Lord Jesus shared this mandate with her: He desired the faithful to come to the foot of the altar. He promised that great graces would be poured out from his sacred heart. He told her that from the moment the angels proclaimed his incarnation to his triumph of the cross, his heart suffered constantly because of the sins of men - those that had been committed from the beginning of time and would be until the end of time.

His greatest wound, he said, was apathy, the lack of respect for the blessed sacrament, his body and blood. For that reason, he wanted a devotion to his sacred heart which he directed Saint Margaret Mary to have instituted.

Margaret Mary Alacoque was born in Charolles, 20 miles outside of Paray le Monial on July 25, 1647. Little did her family know when she was born how powerfully the Lord would use her, one day. Nor did they have any idea that she would be the instrument he would use to bring about devotion to his sacred heart and the nine first Fridays.