Jules Chevalier

Jules Chevalier was a French Roman Catholic priest who had a deep-rooted faith and a passion for sharing God's love with the world. He was inspired by the Gospel message of Jesus Christ and his compassionate heart for the poor and the oppressed. He founded the religious institute of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in 1854, with the aim of spreading the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and bringing hope and healing to those in need. He also founded the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in 1874, a congregation of women who dedicated themselves to serving God and humanity under the patronage of Mary. He claimed to have received a Marian apparition in 1859, in which he saw Our Lady holding the heart of Jesus in her hands. He promoted this image as Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, and received papal approval and recognition for his devotion. He was a prolific writer and preacher, who authored many books and articles on spirituality, theology, and social issues. He died in Issoudun, France, on October 21, 1907, at the age of 83. He was declared a Servant of God by the Catholic Church in 1971, and his cause for canonization is still ongoing. He is remembered as a man of vision, courage, and love, who devoted his life to God and his fellow human beings.