The monastery dates back to 1891. During World War II, it was inhabited by 90 sisters who provided refuge to people from diverse backgrounds. In December 1938, 120 Jewish individuals arrived in Reuver. They had fled Germany after Kristallnacht and found shelter in the monastery that had been set up as a reception location. They stayed there until August 1939. Because the Jews did not feel safe because of Reuver's location so close to the German border, they were transferred to Hoek van Holland. Before their departure, the Jewish refugees built a Maria grotto (Lourdes grotto) in the convent garden as a thank you for the loving reception by the sisters. This cave was spared from the violence of war.

After the Rotterdam bombing on May 14, 1940, 50 Rotterdam orphaned children were housed in the monastery. The caring sisters looked after them. In February 1942, the Dominican Fathers joined the sisters. They had been ordered by the German occupiers to leave their monastery in Nijmegen and found temporary refuge with the Dominican Sisters at the Heilig Hart Monastery. The fathers remained in Reuver until after liberation, serving the local population.

The German occupiers also utilized the monastery. On September 25, 1944, a unit of the Grüne Polizei (order police) was quartered there. Two months later, on November 19, 1944, the monastery was hit by four grenades, causing severe damage. The residents sought shelter in the cellar until they were evacuated to the Teeuwen brick factory on the east side of the Rijksweg a week later.