“My strength lies in prayer and sacrifice; they are invincible weapons and touch hearts more surely than words could ever do.” (Saint Therese of Lisieux).
I was reading an excerpt from a text written by the late Venerable Fulton Sheen, called “Manifestations of Christ”.
In the text, the Archbishop wrote about the human heart and it was a very beautiful description…
“The human heart is not shaped like a valentine heart, perfect and regular in contour, it is slightly irregular in shape as if a small piece of it were missing out of its side. The missing part may very well symbolize a piece that a spear tore out of the universal heart of humanity on the Cross, but it probably symbolizes something more. It may very well mean that when God created each human heart, he kept a small sample of it in heaven, and sent the rest of it into the world, where it would each day learn the lesson that it could never be really happy, that it could never be really wholly in love, that it could never be really whole-hearted until it rested with the Risen Christ in an eternal Easter.” (Archbishop Fulton Sheen in “Manifestations of Christ”).
And I have been reflecting on that today, because it is a beautiful analogy to consider that we were made of glory in heaven, not for the trials of this earth.
And yet – those earthly trials… The trials that we deliberately invite into our lives during Lent (for example) when many people make offerings and fast and abstain from meat are a way to remind ourselves that the trials of this earth are temporary. But there is another lesson to be gained by a period of fasting and abstinence. And that lesson is that the trials of this earth are VALUABLE! We are able to use those things which sadden and hurt us for the greater glory of God. Trusting in God’s infinite mercy and wisdom and grace, we are able to understand that the next life is a life that we must EARN, and one way that we can work with God the Son (who suffered and died to “purchase for us the rewards of eternal life” as the priest would say during Holy Mass) is to offer our sufferings with His…
Saint Ignatius of Loyola said, “It should constantly be our care to see God’s presence in everything, and not only to raise our minds to Him when we are at prayer.”
And that really comes back to the Easter Miracle – the idea that in God we have everything and through God we can achieve everything.
For Saint Therese of Lisieux said, “My strength lies in prayer and sacrifice; they are invincible weapons and touch hearts more surely than words could ever do.”
And I believe that today – this Easter – knowing that God rose from the Death. I believe that with all my heart…
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.
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