- 15 August, 2025
August 15, 2025: A pilgrimage is not just a journey to a place, but a journey into the heart — where God awaits. More than crossing borders and seas, it is a crossing of the human heart into the embrace of God. In July 2025, these paths led to Paray-le-Monial, the “City of the Heart of Jesus,” where Heaven once touched Earth through the apparitions to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque.
The serene town of Paray-le-Monial in Burgundy, France, became a meeting place for hearts from across the globe. Delegates from nearly 20 countries representing the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, gathered for an international pilgrimage to the Shrine of the Heart of Jesus from 20 to 27 July 2025. Among them was the Indian delegation, a vibrant group united in mission to pray, learn, and renew their hearts in the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The Indian group included Fr. Jagdish Chandra Parmar, Fr. Chrysostom Hembrom, Fr. Virendra Kumar, Fr. Arvind Vinay Tirkey, Fr. Showri Kishore Kumar Nagothu, Fr. Denis Naresh Lobo, Fr. Stephen Manoj Dsouza, Mr. Emel Tudu, Mr. Raymond Osta, Mrs. Anupama, Mr. Alwin, Mr. Lawrence Hembrom & Mrs. Susanna, and Mr. Vishal.
Paray-le-Monial – Where Heaven Met Earth
Paray-le-Monial is a jewel of Romanesque architecture and a silent witness to centuries of devotion. Located in Burgundy, it is here that Jesus appeared to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 17th century, revealing His Sacred Heart burning with love for humanity. Pilgrims are drawn to its serene altar and to the small chapel where the saint received her visions, a place still filled with a sense of divine presence.
The Basilica of the Sacred Heart, built between the 12th and 14th centuries, is a masterpiece of Cluniac Romanesque architecture. Its warm stone, intricate capitals, and luminous interior invite deep contemplation. The basilica, the Chapel of the Apparitions, and surrounding sacred spaces form a pilgrimage circuit that has inspired countless lives. Notably, the First Friday Sacred Heart devotion began here and has since spread worldwide.
Celebrating 350 Years of the Sacred Heart Revelations
This year’s pilgrimage marked 350 years since the first apparitions of the Sacred Heart in 1673. Pilgrims came to honour the past and reignite devotion for the future. The gathering was a powerful sign of international fraternity and the universal call of Christ’s love.
Born in 1647, Saint Margaret Mary entered the Visitation convent at Paray-le-Monial, where between 1673 and 1675 she experienced apparitions of Jesus revealing His Sacred Heart. Her humility, sacrifice, and complete surrender to God’s will brought the Church the beautiful promises of this devotion, which continue to inspire the faithful today.
Saint Claude, a Jesuit priest and spiritual director to Saint Margaret Mary, played a crucial role in discerning and spreading the Sacred Heart message. His tomb remains in Paray-le-Monial, a testimony to his courage and unwavering faith.
Walking the Way of the Heart
The Way of the Heart, the spiritual path of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, is inspired by Paray-le-Monial’s revelations. It is a nine-step journey towards deep friendship with Jesus, conforming one’s heart to His, and joining His mission of compassion. In Paray-le-Monial, pilgrims walk this path both physically and spiritually. The steps include: Listen – Open the heart to God’s Word, Contemplate – Meditate on the Sacred Heart’s love, Respond – Live that love daily and Offer – Surrender one’s heart fully to Christ.
A Day of Faith, Fellowship, and Celebration
As part of the pilgrimage on 22 July 2025, pilgrims united in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist at the Basilica, attended a conference on the history of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, and engaged in group discussions to share faith experiences across cultures. The day also included a guided Holy Heart Tour of key sites in Paray-le-Monial, moments for personal reflection and prayer, Eucharistic Adoration, and concluded with the Festival of the Sacred Heart, an evening of prayer, music, and celebration.
One Faith, One Mission, One Devotion
The International Pilgrimage was a spiritual immersion into the Sacred Heart’s message: “To return love for love.” Pilgrims from different continents, cultures, and languages shared one faith, one mission, and one devotion. The atmosphere was one of joy, reflection, and fraternity as participants prayed, listened to teachings, and walked in the footsteps of Saint Margaret Mary, allowing Christ’s love to take deeper root in their lives.
The pilgrimage to Paray-le-Monial was more than an event — it was an encounter. Pilgrims departed not only as seekers but as witnesses to the burning love of Christ’s Sacred Heart. While the streets of Paray may soon fade from sight, the fire of devotion received there will continue to guide their journey for a lifetime.
By Fr. Stephen Manoj
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