Chapter 9 – The 21st Century: A Living Devotion

Even in times of crisis, the Sacred Heart continues to beat. At Montmartre, adoration has never ceased—not during wars, pandemics, or social upheaval. Day and night, anonymous adorers continue the vigil begun in 1885, making the basilica a beating heart at the center of the capital.

In 2025, the sanctuary celebrates 140 years of perpetual adoration with a special novena. Crowds climb the hill to join the celebrations, and young people discover, for the first time, the silence of adoration. Many share their experience: “I understood that His heart was beating for me.” “In this silence, I found a peace I had never known.”

Families, too, continue to consecrate their homes to the Sacred Heart. In living rooms and kitchens, an image on the wall reminds them daily that Christ’s love is at the center of family life. Parishes organize holy hours, processions, and local pilgrimages.

The devotion has also become international: in Poland, Latin America, and Africa, the Sacred Heart is celebrated with local colors, yet always with the same fervor. What began in Paray-le-Monial has become universal.

Thus, in the 21st century, the Sacred Heart is not a relic of the past. It is a living experience—a source of peace, fidelity, and hope—at the heart of families, parishes, and sanctuaries around the world.

Chapter 10 – The Documentary Sacré-Cœur (2025)

On the big screen, the Sacred Heart stirs and divides. The film retraces the visions of Margaret Mary, the Vendée resistance, the construction of Montmartre, and contemporary testimonies. It moves deeply but also provokes debate: censored posters, discussions on secularism.

Audiences leave torn between spiritual emotion and social questioning. Some see it as a work of faith, others as a provocation in the public sphere. But all agree: the Sacred Heart—even in cinema—remains a burning symbol that leaves no one indifferent.

Chapter 11 – Conclusion: The Sacred Heart Today

Memory and hope, intimate and universal—the Sacred Heart is still alive. It bears the wounds of history, yet offers inner peace. It gathers families, parishes, and pilgrims. It sometimes divides, but only because it still burns.

Ultimately, it is what Margaret Mary saw: A heart ablaze with love—wounded, yet always open.