When Jules Chevalier was assigned as curate in the parish of Issoudun, he looked for ways and means to bring to reality an idea that had already been conceived in his heart as a seminarian. He wanted to found a missionary Society that would have as its purpose to bring God’s compassionate and merciful love to human beings as the remedy for the evils that afflicted society. He shared his idea with a companion of his from seminary days, Fr. Maugenest, also now a curate at Issoudun. The latter received the idea with enthusiasm. But some of the members of the episcopal council expressed their opposition to his plan. In spite of this opposition, a succession of events, which the bishop considered “miraculous”, ensured that his idea could be realized.

Father Chevalier had promised the Blessed Virgin that, if she helped him, he would venerate her in a special way. The two curates began a novena to ask for Our Lady’s light and help. The help that they required, the economic means to bring their plan to reality, were put into in their hands on the last day of the novena: a gift from an unknown benefactor. It was the feast of the Immaculate Conception, 8 December 1854, the day considered to be the foundation day of the Society of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. The two curates were the first members of the new society. Fr. Chevalier fulfilled his promise to Mary, honouring her with the title Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. Their first home was an old abandoned house.

Despite such modest beginnings, their dreams and plans were far-reaching. Three new foundations were born in the years that followed: the Society of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (1874), the Association of Secular Priests of the Sacred Heart and the third Order of the Sacred Heart, Today this participation in the spirituality of the Heart is continued in the Missionary Fraternity of the Sacred Heart, as well as in the Association of Lay MSC. In 1900, Fr. Hubert Linckens, MSC founded the Society of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. All of these groups share the same spirit and live the very same charism that the Holy Spirit communicated to Jules Chevalier.

If the work of Chevalier was limited at first to the de-christianised area where he lived, the expulsion of the religious Orders and Societies from France and the request of Pope Leo XIII for missionaries for Melanesia and Micronesia were the occasion for the expansion of the Society throughout the world.

During Father Chevalier’s lifetime, the little seed that had been sown on 8 December 1854 had already grown into a leafy tree, born much fruit and taken root in every Continent. Although it might seem impossible, all this happened during the lifetime of our Founder, something that speaks very clearly about his missionary spirit and his service to the Church.

Following his death in 1907, the tree continued to thrust its roots deeper and wider. Today, the family of Chevalier is present in the countries of Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania and America. We, the MSC, are present in 56 of these countries.