Heart of a Child

"The Beloved Disciple's faith in the Resurrection began in a tomb. A place of death became a witness to life. During a pilgrimage to the Holy Land I was privileged to pray inside Jesus' temporary tomb. What moved me was not a prayer I said, but a grace I was given. I had a visceral sense that I was kneeling in the epicenter of the Father's love, that place where the Father's love for the Son proved to be stronger than death. The Father's love is undying, unconquerable. He is not afraid to go to the deepest, darkest, coldest, loneliest place. He will go anywhere to find his sons and daughters and raise them to the life that his Only Begotten Son's obedient and sacrificial love has bequeathed to them." Father Richard Veras 

It's been a dark week with the shooting in Uvalde. Texas. 

So much sorrow and so many broken hearts.

We all want this evil to stop.

However, blaming guns and demanding change, will not dry away our tears.

In order for things to change, hearts have to change.   

I noted in my last blog that this is a heart problem.

For all of us.

“I want to remind the people that we must be kind to each other, we must be gentle. Our world moves so fast but we must never forget that love is truly the only thing that matters.” John Cardinal O'Connor  

The lives of those lost are not forgotten.

We remember the souls and pray for our hearts to be filled with love for one another. 

 Father Richard Veras reflection question:

 "Have I invited the Father's love into the darkest depths of my heart?" 

Prayer for the Heart of a Child 

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

preserve in me the heart of a child,

pure and transparent as a spring.

Obtain for me a simple heart

That does not brood over sorrows;

A heart generous in giving itself,

Quick to feel compassion;

A faithful, generous heart

that forgets no favor

and holds no grudge.

Give me a humble, gentle heart

Loving without asking any return;

A great indomitable heart

That no ingratitude can close,

No indifference can weary;

A heart tortured by its desire

for the glory of Jesus Christ:

Pierced by His love

With a wound that will heal

only in heaven.

By Leonce de Grandmaison

Image by Bryan Garces