“Dilexit Nos” I’ve been reflecting on brings up a powerful idea: Jesus’s “thirst for love.” He doesn’t just give love; he ardently desires it in return. This is a humbling thought and a profound call to my own heart.
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“Dilexit Nos” makes it clear that devotion to the heart of Christ isn’t about worshipping a single organ. Instead, it’s a way of contemplating and adoring the whole person of Jesus, with His heart serving as a powerful symbol of His “boundless, human, and divine love.” This devotion is a way to encounter the living Christ.
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“Dilexit Nos” I’m reflecting on speaks to the moments when it’s hard to trust because we’ve been hurt. It beautifully describes how the Lord whispers, “Take heart, son!” and “Take heart, daughter!” This message has resonated deeply with me. It’s a call to overcome fear and to realize that with Him, I have nothing to lose. I don’t have to be afraid to approach Him, even with my sins.
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“Dilexit Nos” I’ve been reflecting on uses a beautiful phrase: “The Lord knows the fine science of the caress.” This is more than a poetic image; it’s a profound truth.
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Christ showed His love through “concrete actions” rather than long explanations. He sought out the outcast, like the Samaritan woman at the well, and wasn’t afraid to be close to sinners. He shows us that God is “closeness, compassion and tender love.”
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“Dilexit Nos” emphasizes that the heart of Christ is the “core of the initial preaching of the Gospel.” This isn’t just a devotion to a single organ, but to the entire person of Jesus. His heart is the “privileged sign” of His incarnate love—a living, breathing symbol of God’s love made real.
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“Dilexit Nos” reminds us that our communities can only be united and reconciled when we start from the heart. It echoes the Second Vatican Council, stating that “every one of us needs a change of heart.” I know this is true for me. The imbalances I see in the world are often a symptom of the imbalance in my own heart.
Continue reading “The Call to Change”
“Dilexit Nos” mentions the “Spiritual Exercises” of Saint Ignatius, which are rooted in “affection,” or heartfelt desire. This offers a beautiful image of the spiritual life—it’s not about dry intellectual concepts, but about the fire of the heart, the place where God’s desire and our own can meet.
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“Dilexit Nos” doesn’t shy away from hard truths, pointing to wars and power struggles as signs that our world is “losing its heart.” It paints a heartbreaking picture of a world that is not moved by the suffering of others.
Continue reading “A World That Has Grown Heartless”
“Dilexit Nos” reminds me of a profound truth: the deepest part of my being was made to “love and to be loved.” Our greatest fulfillment is found in this love, both in giving it and receiving it. When I live from a place of love, I begin to understand the true purpose of my existence.
Continue reading “The Heart’s Role in Our Fulfillment”
Smitten With Goodness 