Santa Margherita was born in 1647 in France. She grew up in a devout Catholic family and from a young age, felt drawn to religious life. However, after her father’s death, her family pressured her to marry. She reluctantly agreed, but her marriage was unhappy and filled with illness and financial hardship.
Eventually, Santa Margherita became seriously ill and was bedridden for four years. During this time, she turned to and developed a deep love for the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She had visions of Jesus and felt him calling her to spread devotion to his Sacred Heart.
One of the phrases that Santa Margherita is known for is “I have found the One whom my soul loves.” This phrase comes from the Song of Solomon in the Bible and expresses the deep love that Santa Margherita had for Jesus. She saw Jesus as her beloved and wanted others to experience that same love.
Through her visions, Santa Margherita was instructed to promote devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She founded an order of nuns dedicated to this devotion and traveled throughout France, spreading the message of Christ’s love. Santa Margherita’s devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus became hugely popular and is still celebrated today.
What can we learn from Santa Margherita? First and foremost, we can learn the power of prayer. Santa Margherita turned to prayer during her greatest trials and found comfort and strength in her relationship with Jesus. We too can turn to prayer when we’re struggling, and we can develop our own relationship with God.
We can also learn the importance of spreading the message of Christ’s love. Santa Margherita felt called to promote devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and she dedicated her life to this mission. We too can spread the message of God’s love through our words and actions.
Finally, we can learn the beauty of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Santa Margherita saw the heart of Jesus as a symbol of his love for humanity. We too can develop a deep love for Jesus by meditating on his Sacred Heart and reflecting on his love for us.
In conclusion, Santa Margherita Maria Alacoque’s phrase “I have found the One whom my soul loves” is a beautiful expression of her love for Jesus. Her life and mission remind us to turn to prayer, spread the message of Christ’s love, and develop a deep devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. May we too find the One whom our souls love and share his love with the world.