Louise-Marguerite Claret de la Touche

The life and work of Louise-Marguerite Claret de la Touche are intrinsically linked to the foundation of the institute of the Sisters of Bethany of the Sacred Heart and the promotion of the sanctification of priests. Starting in 1901, she received regular visions of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. On June 5, 1902, during Eucharistic adoration, she received a revelation in which the Lord announced to her: "I will give you the souls of men," thus entrusting her with a spiritual mission for the sanctification of priests. On October 18, 1904, she received another interior word: "I want to imprint My Heart upon the heart of My Priesthood and it is through you that I will do it." Under the spiritual direction of Father Alfred Charrier, S.J., she wrote her autobiography and her diary to record these graces. To fully realize this mission, she founded a new contemplative community on March 19, 1914, in Vische (diocese of Ivrea) under the name Visitation of the Sacred Heart. After her death on April 24, 1918, this congregation took the official name of Sisters of Bethany of the Sacred Heart. This institute of pontifical right, definitively approved by the Holy See on August 22, 1958, has as its primary goal contemplative prayer and the offering of life for the sanctification of the clergy. In parallel, her writings and visions inspired Msgr. Matteo Angelo Filipello, Bishop of Ivrea, and Father Alfred Charrier, S.J., to found the Universal Priestly Alliance of the Friends of the Sacred Heart, canonically erected on June 16, 1918. This alliance gathers priests desirous of living this spirituality of communion and infinite love. Her major work, The Heart of Jesus and the Priesthood, published initially anonymously, remains the reference text for this work.

The diocesan informative process for her beatification was opened in the Diocese of Ivrea in 1934 and closed in 1953. During this period, her numerous spiritual writings (letters, diary, retreat notes) were examined by theologians. The decree on the validity of the informative process was signed on November 22, 1991, by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, paving the way for the examination of the heroic nature of her virtues in Rome.

On June 26, 2006, Pope Benedict XVI signed the decree recognizing the heroic nature of her virtues, thus conferring upon her the status of Venerable within the Catholic Church. Her cause for beatification is still ongoing, awaiting the official recognition of a miracle attributed to her intercession.

The spirituality of Louise-Marguerite Claret de la Touche is based on the contemplation of the Infinite Love of God, revealed and symbolized by the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Her mission is characterized by a profound spiritual motherhood for priests. She invites ordained ministers to be "sowers of love" and to unite themselves intimately with the Heart of Christ to make their ministry fruitful. Her legacy continues today through: The Sisters of Bethany of the Sacred Heart, present in Italy (Vische, Traversella, Rome), Colombia (La Ceja), and Argentina (Mendiolaza); The Universal Priestly Alliance, which supports priests in their ministry; The Association of Friends of Bethany, which brings together laypeople wishing to live by this spirituality; The secular institute of the Missionaries of Infinite Love.