GUARDIA D'ONORE DEL SACRO CUORE. — Association of the faithful who propose to render a particular worship of glory, love, and reparation to the S. Heart of Jesus, with the “hour of guard,” freely chosen by each person, during which they offer their ordinary occupations, ejaculatory prayers, and prayers for this purpose, remaining, either really or at least in spirit, united with Jesus in the S. Tabernacle.
This pious practice, which responds to the desire manifested by the S. Heart to s. Margherita Maria, perpetuates from hour to hour throughout the world, day and night, the homage and reparation offered to the Redeemer on Calvary by Maria s.ma, by s. Giovanni, and by s. Maria Maddalena, who become the spiritual models for this pious devotion. At their school, the associates are distinguished into three degrees: contrite souls, reparatory souls, and victim souls. The first imitate Maria Maddalena; s. Giovanni, the second; Maria s.ma, the third.
The G. d'o. del S. C. began in the monastery of the Visitandine Sisters of Bourg-en-Bresse through the work of Sister Maria del S. Cuore, born Costance Bernaud, on 13 March 1863, assisted by the first promoter of the work, the servant of God Maria Deluil-Martiny, later founder of the Daughters of the Heart of Jesus, who was killed on 27 Feb. 1884 in Marseille by an anarchist. Approved and erected as a confraternity by the diocesan bishop, the association was enriched with indulgences and privileges by Pius IX. Leo XIII raised it to the dignity of an archconfraternity (26 Nov. 1878). In Italy the first centre was established by Fr Giovanni Bacchichetti of the Ministers of the Sick, in the church of SS. Vincenzo ed Anastasio in Rome (1871). From 1879, the G. d'o. del S. C. in Italy has been administered by the Order of S. Camillo. Pius X, like the preceding popes, wished to be named the first guard of honour and declared himself “perpetual protector” of the Roman archconfraternity. The Association, which under the pontificate of Leo XIII had spread to 18 nations, continued to disseminate itself throughout the world, especially in the first decade of the twentieth century.