Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, 1647–1690
October 16

Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque was born into a peasant family in France. From the time she was little, she had a special love for Jesus in the Eucharist. When she grew up, she joined a convent. While she was praying, she had several visions in which Jesus told her about his loving heart. He told her that he will give love and mercy to everyone who asks. Saint Margaret Mary taught people about the Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It includes going to Mass and receiving the Eucharist on the first Friday of each month.

Discuss: How do you show your devotion to the Eucharist?

Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque was born into a peasant family in Burgundy, France. From the time she was little, she had a special love for Jesus in the Eucharist. When she grew up, she joined a convent. While she was praying, she had several visions in which Jesus told her about his loving heart. He told her that he will give love and mercy to everyone who asks. Saint Margaret Mary taught people about the Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It includes going to Mass and receiving the Eucharist on the first Friday of each month.

Saint Margaret Mary is the patron of those suffering with polio, and devotees of the Sacred Heart. She was ill and bedridden for five years as a child with rheumatic fever. She wrote a short devotional book called Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and is known as a “Saint of the Sacred Heart.”

Activity
Eucharist
Verbal/Linguistic

To reinforce how the Eucharist shows Jesus’ love, invite your child to complete an acrostic.

• Write the word Eucharist in all caps, vertically (as shown below).
• Ask your child to think of a word (or words) for each letter in the word Eucharist that relates to Jesus, the sacrifice he made, and our response to his love. (Some possible answers have been provided.)
• Assist your child in this activity as needed. Allow her/him to use the text in the Student Book for ideas.

Effective signs
Unity
Christ
Holy Communion
Adoration
Resurrection
Incarnation
Salvation
Thanksgiving