I love the idea that if we devalue the heart, we “miss out on poetry.” “Dilexit Nos” says we lose the ability to speak from the heart, to act with the heart, and to cultivate it. This is a beautiful way of saying that a heartless life is a colorless one.
Continue reading “The Heart and Poetry”
“I am my heart.” This simple phrase from the encyclical has become a profound guide for me. It explains that our heart is what gives us our spiritual identity. While algorithms can predict our thoughts, they can’t predict our heart.
Continue reading “Your Heart, Your Identity”
“Dilexit Nos” proposes a beautiful idea: that all of our actions should be placed under the “political rule of the heart.” This isn’t just a metaphor; it suggests that our heart, which “senses and savors truths,” should be the ultimate authority in our lives.
Continue reading “The Political Rule of the Heart”
“Dilexit Nos” uses a powerful example of a character who had “no heart,” making him incapable of true intimacy or closeness. This resonated deeply with me. True intimacy, whether with God or with others, requires an open heart. Without it, we become strangers to ourselves.
Continue reading “The Heart and Intimacy”
For centuries, philosophers have often prioritized reason and will, frequently overlooking the heart. “Dilexit Nos” argues that this has led to a “stunting of the idea of a personal center.” I’ve felt this pressure in my own life—the constant push to be logical and rational, often at the expense of my emotions and intuition.
Continue reading “The Heart vs. Rationalism”
Our society is often described as “liquid,” characterized by a “hectic pace” and a constant bombardment of technology. It’s incredibly easy to get swept away by this current, to lack the patience for an interior life. The danger, as “Dilexit Nos” points out, is that we “risk losing our center, the center of our very selves.”
Continue reading “The Heart in a Liquid World”
“Dilexit Nos” invites us to ask the truly important questions: “Who am I, really? What am I looking for? What direction do I want to give to my life?”
Continue reading “The Big Questions in Life”
I was moved by the story about Pope Francis’s grandmother’s pastry in “Dilexit Nos”, which was fittingly called “lies.” The pastry would puff up in the boiling oil, looking big and impressive on the outside, but was completely empty on the inside.
Continue reading “A Lesson from a Grandmother’s Pastry”
“Dilexit Nos” which I’ve been reflecting on doesn’t shy away from a difficult truth: “the heart is devious above all else.” It reminds me that our inner reality is often hidden behind “foliage”—a sobering thought, but also a call to action.
Continue reading “The Devious Heart and False Appearances”
The encyclical calls the heart “the locus of sincerity, where deceit and disguise have no place.” This has been a real challenge for me. How often do I put on a mask for the world, pretending to be someone I’m not?
Continue reading “The Heart and Sincerity”
Smitten With Goodness 