Saturday, June 2, 2007

Vow of Louis XVI to the Sacred Heart



There is a great deal of misunderstanding on the internet concerning the Consecration of France to the Sacred Heart by Louis XVI. It is not true that the king made the Vow/Consecration in the Temple prison while awaiting execution. He made it while still living at the Tuileries palace. In the spring of 1791, after signing the Civil Constitution of the Clergy a few months earlier, King Louis XVI fell ill at the Tuileries, where the royal family were living under house arrest. His illness was undoubtedly the result of the stress of the upheavals which he had tried to prevent, as well as the fact that his conscience was troubling him about signing the Catholic Church in France over to the revolutionary government, severing the ties with Rome. Louis had signed it under duress but deeply regretted his decision immediately.

According to biographer Bernard Fay, Louis made the Vow under the guidance of his non-juring confessor, a Eudist priest Fr. Hebert. In the 1600's a Visitation nun, Saint Margaret Mary, had claimed that Jesus had requested that the King of France consecrate France to His Sacred Heart. The consecration had never been performed. So, with the help of Fr. Hebert, Louis drafted the following Vow, which he sealed in the walls of his apartments.

The Vow was not found until the palace had been partially burned by the Commune and was being torn down in 1871. It was discovered still sealed in the wall of the king's room. Louis was a locksmith and was fascinated with construction, so building a hiding place for his papers would not have been beyond him. He was known for his penchant for secrecy and his hiding of private papers from prying eyes. The fact that the Vow was not discovered until the 1870's demolishes the claim of some that it was merely a product of pious forgery during the 1814-1830 Restoration. The methodical legality of the document is typical of Louis XVI, who as an amateur cartographer was characterized by his precision and attention to detail. I found the Vow on this site; the translation is a bit rough because it is mine, with some help from Google.

Dedication of France to the Sacred Heart of Jesus by King Louis XVI

You see, ô my God! all the wounds which tear my heart, and depth of the abyss into which I have fallen. Evils without number surround me on all sides. My personal misfortunes and those of my family, which are dreadful, overwhelm my heart, as well as those which cover the face of the kingdom. The cries of all the unfortunate ones, the moaning of oppressed religion resounds in my ears, and an interior voice still informs me that perhaps Your justice reproaches me with all these calamities, because, in the days of my power, I did not repress the license of the people and the irreligion, which are the principal sources; because I served the weapons of heresy which triumphed, by supporting it by laws which doubled its forces and gave it the audacity to dare all.

I will not have temerity, ô my God! to justify to myself before You; but You know that my heart was always subject to faith and morals; my faults are the fruit of my weakness and seem worthy of Your great mercy. You forgave King David, who caused your enemies to blaspheme You and King Manassès, who had involved his people in the idolatry. Disarmed by their penitence, you restored them one and the other on the throne of Juda; you made them reign with peace and glory. Would You be inexorable today towards a son of Saint Louis, who takes these penitent kings for models, and which, with their example, wishes to repair his faults and to become a King according to Your Heart?

O Jesus-Christ! divine Redeemer of all our iniquities, it is in Your Adorable Heart that I want to deposit the overflowing of my afflicted heart. I call upon the help of the tender Heart of Mary, my majestic protector and my mother, and the assistance of Saint Louis, my most famous patron and of my ancestor. O adorable Heart, by the so pure hands of my powerful intercessors, receive with kindness the wishes that confidence inspires in me and that I offer to You like the humble expression of my feelings. If, by an effect of the infinite kindness of God, I recover my freedom, my crown and my royal power, I promise solemnly:

1. To revoke as soon as possible all the laws which will be indicated to me, either by the Pope, or by a Council, or by the four Bishops chosen among most enlightened and most virtuous of my kingdom, with the purity and the integrity of the faith, the discipline and the spiritual jurisdiction of Holy Catholic, Apostolic Church, Roman, and in particular to revoke the Civil Constitution of the Clergy.

2. To take, in a one year interval, in union with the Pope and the Bishops of my kingdom, all measurements necessary to establish, according to the canonical forms, a solemn festival in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which will be celebrated in perpetuity in all France, on the first Friday after the octave of the Blessed Sacrament, and always followed by a general procession, in repair of the insults and profanations made in the time of the disorders, by the schismatics, the heretics and the bad Christians.


3. To go myself in person, within three months from the day of my delivery, to the church of Notre-Dame of Paris, or in any other principal church of the place where I will be, and to pronounce, one day of Sunday or festival, at the foot of the high altar, after the offertory of the Mass, and between the hands of the celebrant, a solemn act of dedication of my person, my family and my kingdom to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, promising to give to all my subjects, the example of the worship and the devotion which are due to this adorable Heart.


4. To set up and to decorate at my own expense, in the church which I will choose for it, within one year from the day of my delivery, an altar which will be dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and which will be used as an eternal monument of my recognition and my confidence without end in the infinite merits and in the inexhaustible treasures of grace which are contained in this Crowned Heart.


5. Finally, to renew every year, in the place where I will be, on the Feast of the Sacred Heart, the act of dedication expressed in the third article, and to attend the general procession which will follow the Mass of this day. Today I pronounce only in secrecy this promise, but I would sign it my blood if it were needed; and the most beautiful day of my life will be that where I will be able to aloud publish it in the temple. O Adorable Heart of my Savior! Let my right hand be forgotten and let me curse myself, if I forget Your blessings and my promises, if I cease to love You, finding my confidence in You and all of my consolation. Amen.


Here is the original French:

Consécration de la France au sacré-Coeur de Jésus

Vous voyez, ô mon Dieu ! toutes les plaies qui déchirent mon coeur, et la profondeur de l'abîme dans lequel je suis tombé. Des maux sans nombre m'environnent de toutes parts. A mes malheurs personnels et à ceux de ma famille, qui sont affreux, se joignent pour accabler mon âme, ceux qui couvrent la face du royaume. Les cris de tous les infortunés, les gémissements de la religion opprimée retentissent à mes oreilles, et une voix intérieure m'avertit encore que peut-être votre justice me reproche toutes ces calamités, parce que, dans les jours de ma puissance, je n'ai pas réprimé la licence du peuple et l'irréligion, qui en sont les principales sources ; parce que j'ai fourni moi-même des armes à l'hérésie qui triomphe, en la favorisant par des lois qui ont doublé ses forces et lui ont donné l'audace de tout oser.

Je n'aurai pas la témérité, ô mon Dieu ! de me justifier devant vous ; mais vous savez que mon coeur a toujours été soumis à la foi et aux règles des moeurs ; mes fautes sont le fruit de ma faiblesse et semblent dignes de votre grande miséricorde. Vous avez pardonné au roi David, qui avait été cause que vos ennemis avaient blasphémé contre vous ; au roi Manassès, qui avait entraîné son peuple dans l'idolâtrie. Désarmé par leur pénitence, vous les avez rétabli l'un et l'autre sur le trône de Juda ; vous les avez fait régner avec paix et gloire. Seriez-vous inexorable aujourd'hui pour un fils de saint Louis, qui prend ces rois pénitents pour modèles, et qui, à leur exemple, désire réparer ses fautes et devenir un Roi selon votre coeur ?

O Jésus-Christ ! divin Rédempteur de toutes nos iniquités, c'est dans votre Coeur adorable que je veux déposer les effusions de mon âme affligée. J'appelle à mon secours le tendre Coeur de Marie, mon auguste protectrice et ma mère, et l'assistance de saint Louis, mon patron et le plus illustre de mes aïeux.

Ouvrez-vous, Coeur adorable, et par les mains si pures de mes puissants intercesseurs, recevez avec bonté les voeux satisfactoires que la confiance m'inspire et que je vous offre comme l'expression naïve de mes sentiments.

Si, par un effet de la bonté infinie de Dieu, je recouvre ma liberté, ma couronne et ma puissance royale, je promets solennellement :

1_ De révoquer le plus tôt possible toutes les lois qui me seront indiquées, soit par le Pape, soit par un Concile, soit par quatre Evêques choisis parmi les plus éclairés et les plus vertueux de mon royaume, comme contraires à la pureté et à l'intégrité de la foi, à la discipline et à la juridiction spirituelle de la sainte Eglise catholique, apostolique, romaine, et notamment la Constitution civile du clergé ;

2_De prendre, dans l'intervalle d'une année, tant auprès du Pape qu'auprès des Evêques de mon royaume, toutes les mesures nécessaires pour établir, suivant les formes canoniques, une fête solennelle en l'honneur du Sacré-Coeur de Jésus, laquelle sera célébrée à perpétuité dans toute la France, le premier vendredi après l'octave du Saint-Sacrement, et toujours suivie d'une procession générale, en réparation des outrages et des profanations commises dans le temps des troubles, par les schismatiques, les hérétiques et les mauvais chrétiens.

3_D'aller moi-même en personne, sous trois mois, à compter du jour de ma délivrance, dans l'église Notre-Dame de Paris, ou dans toute autre église principale du lieu où je me trouverai, et de prononcer, un jour de dimanche ou de fête, au pied du maître-autel, après l'offertoire de la messe, et entre les mains du célébrant, un acte solennel de consécration de ma personne, de ma famille et de mon royaume au Sacré-Coeur de Jésus, avec promesse de donner à tous mes sujets, l'exemple du culte et de la dévotion qui sont dus à ce Coeur adorable.

4_D'ériger et de décorer à mes frais, dans l'église que je choisirai pour cela, dans le cours d'une année à compter du jour de ma délivrance, une chapelle ou un autel qui sera dédié au Sacré-Coeur de Jésus, et qui servira de monument éternel de ma reconnaissance et de ma confiance sans bornes dans les mérites infinis et dans les trésors inépuisables de grâce qui sont renfermés dans ce Coeur Sacré.

5_Enfin de renouveler tous les ans, au lieu où je me trouverai, le jour qu'on célébrera la fête du Sacré-Coeur, l'acte de consécration exprimé dans l'article troisième, et d'assister à la procession générale qui suivra la messe de ce jour.

Je ne puis aujourd'hui prononcer qu'en secret cet engagement, mais je le signerais de mon sang s'il le fallait ; et le plus beau jour de ma vie sera celui où je pourrai le publier à haute voix dans le temple.

O Coeur adorable de mon Sauveur ! Que j'oublie ma main droite et que je m'oublie moi-même, si jamais j'oublie vos bienfaits et mes promesses, si je cesse de vous aimer et de mettre en vous ma confiance et toute ma consolation. Ainsi soit-il.

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19 comments:

Michelle Therese said...

I'm still so curious to know if the Church as *ever* seriously looked into the cause of the King and Queen. And if not, why?? Do you know?

Kimberly said...

How appropriate this post is for the month of June! The King's devotion to our dear Lord's most Sacred Heart is so incredibly touching and poignant. How blind were his people to not recognize the goodness of the humble monarch!

elena maria vidal said...

Thank you, Kimberly! I may focus on holy and just monarchs this month, those who tried to govern as stewards of Christ the King.

Hi, Coffee, during the Restoration from 1815-30 there were sporadic attempts to organize a cult in honor of Louis XVI, whom the Pope himself designated as a martyr. Both Louis and MA were hailed as the King and Queen Martyrs. But with the continual upheavals of the French government and the efforts of socialist authors to discredit both spouses with stories of tyranny and infidelity, the cause for the king went no where. There was never a cause for the queen, as far as I know. MA has been so maligned, it will take a lot of work to EVER gain credibility for a cause. However, Louis' sister Clothilde has been declared a Venerable of the Church and his aunt Louise, a Blessed. And they did not suffer anywhere near as much as Louis and Antoinette.

Terry Nelson said...

This is magnificent! Thank you! I am so edified with your posts demonstrating the faith and virtue of the King and Queen.

At Fatima - or rather later to Sr. Lucia, the Child Jesus told Lucia that the consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary would be late as well, referring to the King of France and this very consecration. although, I'm certain you knew this.

The consequences strike me as eerie however.

What an appropriate post for the First Saturday of Our Lady.

elena maria vidal said...

Thanks, Terry. Yes, Our Lady specifically mentioned to Sr Lucy that the consecration by the King of France came too late.

Anonymous said...

I would love to read more about monarchs who have been devoted members of the Church! From what little I have read, it seems evident that their dedication to Christ and his Church did so much to advance western civilization, to advance the good and the beautiful.

Anonymous said...

Having just returned from 15 days in France where I saw so many locked churches, so many tabernacles where Our Lord is forsaken from one week to the next, this post moved me. I saw what France once was and what she is now. It is not too late. The Sacred Heart of Jesus loves France with an immense and merciful love.

elena maria vidal said...

I know what you mean, Don Marco, it is very unsettling to see so many monuments to a past Christian heritage.

May said...

His words are so noble and moving, as always. Very intelligent too...

Anonymous said...

Hello.
I have shared this post at our fb page.
This vow is so little known and especially appropriate for June.

https://m.facebook.com/AdoremusInAeternumACatholicGathering/
Thank you for this blog. So many myths are dispelled here! God bless!

elena maria vidal said...

Thank you so much! There is much more in my new book MARIE-ANTOINETTE: DAUGHTER OF THE CAESARS, now available from Amazon and Barnes and Nobles.

John R said...

If I was a selfish Pope, worldy and uncaring of God...I would do Consecration for this alone.

Boo said...

Thank you for the information. I may be missing something but to me this document of King Louis XVI is a promise to consecrate France to Jesus’ Sacred Heart, if he recovers his freedom/crown.
Given that he didn’t, it would seem logical that the consecration did not take place. This would also be consistent with Jesus’ words to Sr Lucia in 1926.... any thoughts on this?

elena maria vidal said...

The full public Consecration of the Sacred Heart by a King of France has never been done. This is Louis' Vow, not a solemn consecration.

Boo said...

Thank you. I had heard / read in several places that Louis did actually Consecrate France to the Sacred Heart from his prison cell, (which didn't really make sense to me given the historic aftermath of Louis' execution and ongoing consequences) so it's good to have the clarification.

elena maria vidal said...

No, the King was not in a prison cell when he made the Vow. He was under house arrest in the Tuileries Palace and had been very ill. It was in the Lent of 1791.

Felix Valois said...

ONCE AGAIN FRANCE WILL BE VINDICATED. IT WILL BE THROUGH HER (SHE IS CALLED THE FIRST DAUGHTER OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH) THAT A TRULY GOOD HOLY KING AND A HOLY POPE WILL RESTORE THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH TO ITS FORMER GLORY. THEY WILL BATTLE THE ENEMIES OF THE CHURCH. THE HOLY FATHER WILL CONSECRATE RUSSIA TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY AND THERE WILL BE PEACE BECAUSE EVERYONE WILL BE CATHOLIC.

Felix Valois said...

He did the consecration in his cell or where he was taken prisoner but Jesus said it should be PUBLIC CONSECRATION.

elena maria vidal said...

True, Felix Valois. The Consecration has never been made. Once again I will affirm that the King was not in his prison cell when he made the Vow. He was under house arrest at the Tuileries in the spring of 1791. It was after he made the Vow that the Royal Family attempted to escape in June of 1791, around the feast of Corpus Christi. The King wanted to make his Easter duty from a non-juring priest. And it was when the Tuileries was being torn down in the 1870's that the Vow was found where the King had hidden it inside the walls of the palace. The details are in my book, Daughter of the Caesars.