“Dilexit Nos” offers a beautiful example in the Virgin Mary, who “pondered” things in her heart. She held onto what she didn’t yet understand, patiently waiting for everything to be “put together” in her heart. This image has been incredibly helpful for me.
When my own life feels fragmented, filled with painful memories and confusing moments, I can bring them to my heart and trust that God, in His time, will make sense of it all. This is a profound way of owning my belovedness—by trusting that every part of my story, even the difficult parts, is held and loved by Him.
As the encyclical states, Mary “was able to dialogue with the things she experienced by pondering them in her heart, patiently keeping what she did not yet understand present and alive in her memory.” The Bible confirms this in Luke 2:19: “And Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”
What is one confusing or painful part of your past that you can “ponder” in your heart and entrust to God’s love?
Write down a confusing or painful experience from your past. Pray about it, asking God to help you “put it together” in your heart.
Smitten With Goodness 