Introduction
The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paray-le-Monial (French: Basilique du Sacré-Cœur, pronounced [sakʁe kœʁ]), often referred to simply as the Basilica of Paray-le-Monial, is a Romanesque-style Catholic church located in Paray-le-Monial, in the region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France. The basilica is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and is renowned for its association with the revelations received by Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque in the 17th century, which led to the widespread devotion to the Sacred Heart. The church is a significant place of pilgrimage and a central location in the history of this Catholic devotion.
The Basilica of Saint-Epvre is a significant religious landmark, revered not only as a site of devotion but also as one of the most visited religious places in France. Its connection to the Sacred Heart devotion, which gained widespread popularity, was deeply influenced by the visions of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque. She spent much of her life at the nearby monastery, and her experiences there were instrumental in spreading this devotion across the world.
This remarkable church traces its origins back to the 12th century, when it was founded by Hugues de Semur, one of the most prominent Abbots of Cluny. The basilica was constructed on the grounds of a 10th-century monastery, initially established by Count Lambert of Chalon. The church was designed as a scaled-down replica of the grand Abbey of Cluny, the heart of the Cluniac monastic movement. Its construction spanned several centuries, with the church being completed in the 14th century, though additional sections were later added during the 18th century, and several renovations took place in the 19th century.
As a priory, the Basilica was placed under the authority of Cluny and became a renowned pilgrimage destination, attracting worshippers and pilgrims for centuries. Notably, the Basilica is considered the best-preserved example of Cluniac architecture in the Burgundy region. The architecture of the building reflects the refined and monumental style of Cluniac design, with its vast proportions and intricate detailing, making it an important piece of religious and architectural heritage.
The Basilica of Paray-le-Monial showcases a remarkable architectural evolution. The high chapel, dating from the early 11th century, reflects the characteristics of the first Romanesque period, featuring rounded arches, irregular masonry, and imposts adorned with simple motifs such as moldings, twists, and checkerboards.The body of the church, built in the 12th century, embraces the late Romanesque style, incorporating pointed arches for the voussoirs and decorative elements drawn from classical motifs, such as fluted pilasters and ovoid shapes.
This Romanesque masterpiece is rich with ancient architectural vocabulary, akin to the third abbey church of Cluny. Notable features include the ambulatory with its slender columns, which bear the weight of the apse and choir. Outside, the staggered chevet (the rear part of the church) reveals the full expanse of its interior volumes. Lastly, the Gothic chapel introduces a plant-inspired design, with motifs such as fleurons, trefoils, and quadrifoils, symbolizing the beauty of the natural world.
Architectural Highlights of the Basilica of Paray-le-Monial
The basilica has a relatively short nave accompanied by two aisles, intersected by a single-nave transept. Its choir features a semicircular apse with an ambulatory and three radial chapels. The building’s overall length reaches 63.5 meters, including the vestibule and eastern chapel, with a width of 22.35 meters. The 22-meter-tall nave and aisles are covered by ogival barrel vaults, using varying height levels internally, a characteristic trait of Romanesque architecture. Pre-Gothic pillars, a blind tribune, and a clerestory with small windows complete the architectural design. The capitals of the columns are mostly adorned with vegetable motifs, though some display animals or other figures. Within the choir lies a 14th-century fresco, rediscovered in 1935.
Externally, the basilica has a restrained and robust appearance, with massive walls and minimal decoration. The primary embellishments include the portal of the left transept, decorated with floral and geometric motifs. A central crossing tower stands at 56 meters, flanked by two smaller towers on the main facade.The basilica complex also includes other structures, notably an 18th-century cloister.
Paray-le-Monial: The Birthplace of the Sacred Heart Devotion
Paray-le-Monial is a small town located in the Bourgogne region of eastern France, renowned for its connection to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is here that St. Margaret Mary Alacoque experienced the apparitions of Jesus, leading to the widespread devotion to the Sacred Heart in the late 17th century. St. Margaret Mary’s spiritual director, St. Claude de la Colombière, also consecrated himself to the Sacred Heart and worked alongside her to promote the devotion, enduring much opposition and suffering. Despite efforts to suppress this devotion, it gained significant recognition, and in 1856, Pope Pius IX established the Feast of the Sacred Heart for the entire Church. In 1875, he urged the faithful to consecrate themselves to the Sacred Heart, and St. Margaret Mary was canonized on May 13, 1920.
The Apparitions
St. Margaret Mary was deeply formed by the Blessed Virgin from a young age, practicing many acts of charity and corporal penance during times of illness. In 1671, she entered the Visitation Convent, where, while in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, Jesus allowed her to “rest for a long time on His Divine Heart.” During this experience, He revealed to her “the marvels of His love and the unexplainable secrets of His Sacred Heart” (December 17, 1673, Feast of St. John the Apostle).
Jesus spoke to her saying: “My Divine Heart is so passionate with love for humanity, especially for you, that it cannot contain itself in the flames of this ardent love. It is necessary for you to be enriched with My precious treasures… I have chosen you…” He then took her heart and placed it within His, “like a small particle consumed in the burning furnace.” From that moment on, the Sacred Heart appeared to St. Margaret Mary regularly, especially on First Fridays.
Jesus also shared His sorrow: “Here is the Heart which has so deeply loved men, it has spared nothing, even exhausting and consuming itself to show them my love, and in return, all I receive from the majority of them is ingratitude.”
The Chapel of the Visitation
The Chapel of the Visitation, located at Rue de la Visitation 71600 in Paray-le-Monial, is the site of the apparitions of Jesus to St. Margaret Mary in 1673. This chapel houses relics of the saint and remains a sacred place for pilgrims.
The Revelation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Paray-le-Monial, France
It was to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, a humble nun of the Order of the Visitation of Our Lady, that Our Lord chose to reveal His Sacred Heart to the world, opening a new era of grace and mercy in the history of the Church and humanity. These private revelations, which took place from 1673 to 1675, are documented in St. Margaret Mary’s diary, the witness accounts of her fellow sisters, and those of her spiritual director, St. Claude de La Colombière.
The First Apparition: December 27, 1673
On the Feast of St. John the Evangelist, while in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, St. Margaret Mary received a profound visitation from Jesus. She describes this event in her autobiography: “One day, having more leisure than usual, I was praying before the Blessed Sacrament when I felt the Divine Presence penetrate me so deeply that I lost all thought of myself and my surroundings. I surrendered my heart entirely to His Love, and He allowed me to rest upon His Sacred Breast, revealing to me the secrets of His Heart—previously hidden from me. He spoke to me saying: ‘My Divine Heart is so inflamed with love for men that I must manifest It to them through you, to save them from the abyss of perdition.'”
He then took her heart and placed it in His own Sacred Heart, showing it as a tiny flame consumed by the fire of His love, returning it to her as a burning flame that would never be extinguished. This mystical experience marked her as the beloved disciple of the Sacred Heart.
The Devotion of the First Fridays: June 1674
In June 1674, during the First Friday of the month, the Sacred Heart appeared to St. Margaret Mary again. This time, He revealed the First Fridays devotion, a practice of receiving Holy Communion on the first Friday of every month. She was also instructed to rise during the night between Thursday and Friday, joining Him in His mortal sadness in the Garden of Gethsemane. She was to spend an hour in prayer, offering reparation for the ingratitude and coldness shown to Jesus, especially in the Blessed Sacrament.
Jesus promised that by practicing this devotion, His Sacred Heart would pour forth an abundance of love and grace upon those who honored Him.
Mystical Suffering and Sacrifice
In 1675, Our Lord appeared to St. Margaret Mary again, asking her for a bitter sacrifice to appease His justice due to the sins of a particular religious community. She accepted this sacrifice, enduring mystical tortures as a form of penance for them. The following morning, at Mass, Jesus spoke to her, affirming that her sacrifice united with His own act of redemption would bring peace and restore His sanctity of justice. He instructed her to remain humble and silent, focusing only on glorifying God and spreading the Reign of the Sacred Heart.
The Request for a Feast of the Sacred Heart
On June 16, 1675, during the octave in preparation for the Feast of Corpus Christi, Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary once more. He revealed to her that the Feast of the Sacred Heart should be established on the Friday after Corpus Christi. This feast would be a special day to honor His Heart, make reparation for the indignities He suffered, and console Him for the coldness and irreverence shown by many toward the Eucharist.
St. Margaret Mary was tasked with spreading this devotion, asking that the King of France honor the Sacred Heart and that the Visitation Sisters and Society of Jesus (Jesuits) be entrusted with its promotion. The devotion quickly spread across the Church, especially through the efforts of St. Claude de La Colombière, her spiritual director, who consecrated himself to the Sacred Heart and worked tirelessly to propagate the message.
The Legacy of the Devotion
The devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus continues to flourish worldwide. In France, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart was built as an act of national reparation to honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus and commemorate the apparitions to St. Margaret Mary. The saint’s grave is located at Paray-le-Monial, where she lived and received these profound revelations. Her feast day is celebrated on October 16, and her legacy continues to inspire devotion to the Sacred Heart in the hearts of the faithful.
The devotion to the Sacred Heart is not only a call to recognize Christ’s infinite love for humanity but also an invitation to respond with love, humility, and reparation, embracing the transformative power of His Sacred Heart.
Feast Day
Feast day: 27th June
The Annual Feast Day of Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Paray-le-Monial, France, is celebrated on June 27 each year.
Church Mass Timing
Tuesday and Wednesday (except July-August): 6 p.m.
Friday : 6:30 p.m.
Saturday : 8:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Sunday : 11 a.m.
Church Opening Time:
Monday : 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
Tuesday : 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
Wednesday : 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
Thursday : 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
Friday : 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
Saturday : 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
Sunday : 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
Contact Info
Address :
27 Av. Jean-Paul II, 71600 Paray-le-Monial, France
Phone: +33385811092
Accommodations
Connectivities
Airway
The Nearest Airport to The Church of Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Paray-le-Monial, France, is, Paray le Monial Airport, 71600 Paray-le-Monial, France, which is just 5 min (2.5 km) via Rue du 11 Novembre and Rte de l’Aérodrome away from the basilica.
Railway
The Nearest Railway to The Church of Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Paray-le-Monial, France, is, S.n.c.f Rue de la Gare, 71160 Gilly-sur-Loire, France, which is just 34 min (32.0 km) via D979 away from the basilica.
