Mary of the Divine Heart

Blessed Mary of the Divine Heart (Münster, September 8, 1863 - Porto, June 8, 1899), born Maria Droste zu Vischering, was a noble and Roman Catholic nun best known for influencing Pope Leo XIII's consecration of the world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Pope Leo XIII called to this consecration "the greatest act of my pontificate".Catholic encyclopedia 
==Biography==
Maria Droste zu Vischering was born in the Droste zu Vischering noble family of Germany and became a Sister of the Good Shepherd based on the Rule of Saint Augustine. When she was based in Porto, Portugal, she reported some messages from Jesus Christ in which she was asked to contact the pope, requesting the consecration of the world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
On June 10, 1898, her superior at the Good Shepherd monastery wrote to Pope Leo XIII stating that Sister Mary had received a message from Christ, requesting the pope to consecrate the entire world to the Sacred Heart. The pope initially did not believe her and took no action. However, on January 6 1899 she wrote another letter, asking that in addition to the consecration, the first Fridays of the month be observed in honor of the Sacred Heart. In the letter she also referred to the recent illness of the pope and stated that Christ had assured her that Pope Leo XIII would live until he had performed the consecration to the Sacred Heart. Theologian Laurent Volken states that this had an emotional impact on Leo XIII, despite the theological issues concerning the consecration of non-Christians.Laurent Volken, 1963, Visions, Revelations and the Church P.J. Kenedy PublishersNiels Christian Hvidt, 2007, Christian Prophecy: The Post-Biblical Tradition, OUP Press ISBN 0195314476 page 242 
Pope Leo XIII commissioned an inquiry on the basis of her revelation and Church tradition. In his 1899 encyclical letter Annum Sacrum, Leo XIII decreed that the consecration of the entire human race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus should take place on June 11, 1899. In the encyclical Annum Sacrum, Pope Leo XIII referred to the illness about which Sister Mary had written, stating:Vatican website: Annum Sacrum 
"There is one further reason that urges us to realize our design; We do not want it to pass by unnoticed. It is personal in nature but just as important: God the author of all Good has 
saved us by healing us recently from a dangerous disease."
Pope Leo XIII also composed the Prayer of Consecration to the Sacred Heart and included it in Annum Sacrum. Pope Pius X later decreed that this consecration of the human race, performed by Pope Leo XIII be renewed each year. EWTN 
Sister Mary of the Divine Heart died on the feast of the Sacred Heart, two days before the consecration, which had been deferred to the following Sunday. 
==See also==
* Visions of Jesus and Mary
* Prayer of Consecration to the Sacred Heart
* Sacred Heart of Jesus
==References==
* Louis Chasle; Sister Mary of the Divine Heart, Burns & Oates, London (1906).
* Joaquim Abranches; Beata Maria do Divino Coração, Mensageiro do Coração de Jesus, Braga.
==Notes==
==External links==
* Blessed Mary of the Divine Heart - Documentary about her life.
Category:1863 births
Category:1899 deaths
Category:Beatified people
Category:German nobility
Category:Roman Catholic nuns
Category:Visions of Jesus and Mary
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