MISSIONARIES OF THE SACRED HEART. – A religious congregation founded at Issoudun, France, in 1854 by Fr. Jules Chevalier, with the specific aim of evangelizing areas most affected by materialism and indifferentism, recalling men to the love of the Heart of Jesus. Various factors contributed to its notable growth after the initial difficulties and hardships: the devotion to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, introduced by Fr. Chevalier in 1859; the founding of the first apostolic school, known as the “Little Work of the Sacred Heart,” by Fr. Jean Vandel in 1868; the expulsion of religious from France, which had the effect of spreading them across many regions of Europe and America; and finally, the missions among the infidels, begun in 1881. Since then, their progress has been continuous, and their works have multiplied.
At present, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart are present on all five continents: they have 12 regular provinces, some of which are flourishing, while others are still in formation; more than a quarter of them work in mission lands, especially in Oceania. They collaborate with two female congregations, the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Hiltrup, as well as three lay archconfraternities dedicated to the Sacred Heart, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, and St. Joseph. They publish an official monthly bulletin, *Gli annali di Nostra Signora del S. Cuore*, in 10 languages and 12 editions, with a monthly circulation exceeding half a million copies.
Among the religious who have distinguished themselves in learning and holiness, in addition to Frs. Chevalier and Vandel, are: Fr. Charles Piperon, who died in the odor of sanctity; Msgr. André Navarre, first bishop of New Guinea; Msgr. Stanislas-Henri Verius, apostle of Papua, whose cause of beatification has been introduced; Fr. Édouard Bontemps, apostle of the Gilbert Islands; Fr. Matteo Rasche and companions, martyred for the faith at Rabaul in 1904, whose cause of beatification is also underway; Fr. Giovanni Genocchi; Fr. Giuseppe Bonaccorsi, illustrious biblical scholars; Fr. Léon Bourjade, first an aviation officer in the French air force and later a valiant missionary pilot; Msgr. Pietro Benedetti, apostolic nuncio to Cuba; and Fr. Giuseppe Vitali, a missionary in Papua for more than 60 years. As of January 19, 1945, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, in 118 houses, numbered about 2,525, including 16 bishops; more than 800 priests and laypeople work in 19 missionary jurisdictions.