Jesus appeared to St Margaret Mary, a 17th-century French nun of the Visitation Order, on a number of occasions with revelations about the love of his Sacred Heart for mankind. Jesus communicated his desire that he should be honoured through the display of this image of his heart, with the promise that all who did so would be especially blessed.

“I promise you, in the excess of the mercy of my Heart, that its all-powerful love will grant to all those who shall receive Communion on the first Friday of nine consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they shall not die under my displeasure nor without receiving the Sacraments, my divine Heart becoming their assured refuge at that last hour.”

To qualify for this tremendous grace, it is necessary to receive Holy Communion validly and worthily, that is, not being in a state of mortal sin, on the nine consecutive First Fridays as stated. In addition, the communicant must have the intention, at least implicitly, of making reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for all the sins and ingratitude of mankind.

Here are the twelve promises Our Lord gave to St Margaret Mary:

I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.

I will establish peace in their homes.

I will comfort them in all their afflictions.

I will be their secure refuge during life, and especially at the hour of death.

I will bestow abundant blessings on all their undertakings.

Sinners shall find in my Heart the source and ocean of infinite mercy.

Tepid souls shall become fervent.

Fervent souls shall rise rapidly to a high degree of perfection.

I will bless every place where a picture of my Sacred Heart shall be exposed and honoured.

I will give to priests the power to touch the hardest hearts.

Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in my Heart, never to be blotted out.

I promise you, in the excessive mercy of my Heart, that its all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Friday of every month for nine consecutive months, the grace of final repentance, and that they shall not die without receiving the sacraments, and that my Divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in that last moment.

This blog is adapted and extracted from our booklet Sacred Heart: Prayers and Devotions. Explaining the effects of devotion to the Sacred Heart over the centuries, the booklet is a practical and simple way for people to foster a devotional spirit and can be used individually or in parish groups.

Learn more about the devotion and the accompanying prayers by ordering your copy of Sacred Heart: Prayers and Devotions.