Joseph de Gallifet

Joseph de Gallifet (2 May 1663 – 1 September 1749) was a French Jesuit priest, known for his promotion of the devotion of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Life Gallifet was born near Aix-en-Provence, France. He entered the Society of Jesus at the age of fifteen, and upon taking up his studies came under the direction of Claude La Colombière,

He had three successive rectorships—at Vesoul, at Lyon, and at Grenoble. The last-named appointment was followed by the provincialship of the Province of Lyon. In 1723, he was chosen assistant for France, an office which brought him to Rome. Here he worked effectively for the spread of the devotion.

Returning from Rome in 1732, he again became rector at Lyons where he passed his last years. He lived to see the establishment of over 700 confraternities of the Sacred Heart.

Works

He wrote a book on the Blessed Virgin, and one on the chief virtues of the Christian religion; his major work, De Cultu Sacrosancti Cordis Dei ac Domini Nostri Jesu Christi, appeared in 1726. The main purpose of the book met with much opposition at first, and its plea for the establishment of a feast for the Sacred Heart was not crowned with victory until 1765.