Wow.. a Lourdes Grotto.. that is indeed a beautiful way to start the week. I’m gonna try to fall asleep with a Jesuit tome across my face tonight. Or did you mean I should fall asleep while reading it?

And of course, we should/could precede the nightly request of having our hearts beat in unison with Jesus by an examen of conscience. Unless we’ve already fallen asleep with the rosary dangling from our fist… or a Jesuit tome across our face…

Hope you find a church home soon, C, or can come to heart-terms with whatever’s going on… went to noon Mass today at the Lourdes Grotto here; so beautiful, all the colours of nature around, glorious sunshine, Our Lady looking down over us from her special place – one couldn’t ask for a more beautiful way to begin the week.

You’ve mentioned/quoted Jesuits a couple times in the past few posts.. they are among the book-smartest of priests, and ever the most martyred orthodox Order, yet (with a few exceptions) they look for the deeply Personal of Christ and are able to pass it along (or quote someone who does) well enough so as to break through a slow stubborn donkey’s wall of Duh. Hence, I not only remained Catholic, but I see more and more that the Lord is present in all things at all times. (Or as Julian of Norwich put it, too, He lovingly holds the earth/universe in the palm of his hand like a little hazelnut, i.e., if not for Him, our world itself simply would not continue.)

Regarding the quiet needed (per Anne’s statement), and in thinking of the (Jesuit finding-God-in-all-things) Christly Personal, even illness can be seen as a Godsend. Er, at least for a few days, tho’ it is not our favorite way to be corraled with Him. One more way He brings Good out of what isn’t. Where would any of us be without Him calling us aside now and then?

Presently, I am more aware of His expectant waiting than a Heartbeat, but perhaps it’s because I’ve fallen away from the Sacraments these weeks, a long and uncharitable story. Suffice it to say I plan to go out of town this weekend (to a Fr. Mark-less parish) to get that fixed. I’m tired of living without His very heart. For me, it’s to not live at all.

I think the wonderful thing is that Jesus is telling us there’s no need to “step away from his breast” even in our desire to bring others closer to Him – that the beating of His Sacred Heart is available to all, always, constantly. I believe It is what sustains the whole universe and all of creation. I have read somewhere that before we go to sleep, we should ask Jesus to allow our hearts to beat all night in rhythm and unison with His own.

And I’ve read an interesting take on why St. John refers to himself as the “disciple whom Jesus loved” (for the most part), rather than saying “I” or “myself” — perhaps he wanted us to know that we are to be the beloved disciple, are welcomed to take the beloved disciple place at His table. I don’t know, and I don’t want to be heretical or anything, but sometimes when someone’s so wounded that I don’t dare offer even one stinking word of “It’ll be alright,” I just mentally-prayerfully push them toward that place/embrace at His table and hope they’ll lay their ear against the Heart, and know. That’s the only good time for any of us to step away from His breast.