SAINT MARGARET MARY ALACOQUE

Saint Margaret Mary Allacoque

Receiving Jesus, when he gave her the

devotion to His Sacred Heart

"What a weakness it is to love Jesus Christ only 

when He caresses us, and to be cold immediately

 once He afflicts us This is not true love. Those 

who love thus, love themselves too much to love

 God with all their heart." 

~ Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque

Today is the "optional memorial" day for one of the most popular saints on the Catholic calendar.

I find this saint's words very inspiring, in the midst of my problems and afflictions.When I read these sort of quotes from the mystics who have experienced an intimate relationship with Our Lord, I am reminded of my own feelings, whatever is best among all the thoughts that go careening around in my brain, whatever is most beautiful in my inclinations. It is almost as if I breathe a breath of fresh air in the spiritual realm.

Today, in particular, I am reminded that, even though my earthly travails are many, my soul belongs to God, and, if I will only remember to look upon Him throughout the day, I will experience great love.

When I was in the Hindu convent, I learned many techniques of directing the mind to what I wished it to think about or concentrate upon. While some people imagine that meditation involves "clearing the mind" and making it EMPTY, I rather found it to be an exercise of attention. One must gently take hold of the mind and, in one manner or another, restrain it from hopping from one topic to another, concentrating, instead, upon The Lord.

Now, when I say I was in a "Hindu convent," that is not strictly correct, as I belonged to a neo-Vedanta group that arose OUT of Hinduism, but which is not accepted as being Hindu at all, since it accepts that "all paths lead to God." (This is the Vedanta Society.) As with most religions, they are good people who mean well, and I respect anyone who is pursuing God.

No matter what one's faith, we have to agree that God cannot be restrained from be present in the whole of His creation. We cannot limit him, no matter how much the fervor of our beliefs would have it otherwise!

In the American Vedanta tradition, we are given a mantra according to our chosen ideal vision of God. There were several other nuns of my acquaintance who took as their "Ishta" or manifestation of God, Jesus Christ. There is no prejudice in that religion. 

Saint Margaret Mary was instructed by Jesus to spread the devotion to Jesus' Sacred Heart, an image oft repeated in artistic renderings. I have considered painting a series of these "Sacred Heart" images. It's a beautiful focus for meditation.  The heart is so evocative, don't you think?

I admit that part of the reason I became interested in Catholicism is the beautiful imagery. God is beauty. God is love.  Everything attractive arises in Him.

Silver Rose

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