“Never deny what you have recognized as truth” (Inner Word).
Today’s phrase presents quite a challenge for us Christians. In reality, we should know that we can never deny the truth, because God is truth itself, and professing it aligns with our deepest identity. However, the Holy Scriptures make it clear that “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (Jn 1:5). And they did not merely fail to accept it; they try to hide it, fight it, and even ridicule it.
On several occasions, I have spoken and written in detail about the “Prayer of the Heart,” which is practiced mainly in the Eastern Church. I recommend that you reread or listen to what I have said, which you can find in the links at the bottom of the page[1]. You can also find other sources to learn more about this valuable prayer and its history[2].
Since this week we are focusing on deepening our relationship with Jesus and on his deeper indwelling in our hearts, I return once again to this prayer, which is almost indispensable for souls seeking silence and recollection. Personally, I have been practicing it for almost forty years, and now I find it impossible to imagine my life without the “Prayer of the Heart.” Anyone who has tasted the “spiritual flavor” of this prayer will agree with me and understand why I recommend the “Jesus Prayer” to all Christians. It is unsurpassed in its simplicity and can be prayed anywhere.
“The Church is losing the memory of the sacred, which it had cultivated with such care for so many centuries” (Inner Word).
One of the dangers of modernist trends and all kinds of innovations in the Holy Church is the growing loss of the sense of the sacred and the transcendent. This memory fades when proper gestures of reverence are neglected, and when it is believed that, to be considerate of Christians of other denominations, one must avoid anything that might scandalize them rather than explain it to them.
Internalizing our faith is one of the decisive elements for God’s grace to unfold abundantly in our lives.
Faith must be internalized so that it consists of more than just outward gestures and actions—not to detract from the importance and value of the latter—but is also deeply rooted in our hearts. In this way, we forge a rich interior life in union with God, an interior life that is always present and growing.
God offers us various ways of internalization.
First, we must assimilate the Word of God more deeply. Scripture says of Mary that she pondered the Word in her heart (cf. Lk 2:19). To do so, we must read the Word of God daily. It is our spiritual nourishment that enlightens our understanding and illuminates our hearts (Psalm 119:105).
“Each day has its own mission. At Compline, examine whether you have fulfilled it” (Inner Word).
Certainly, these words are addressed primarily to those who live according to the spiritual order of monasteries or religious communities. However, they are also fruitful and applicable to anyone who desires to lead a serious spiritual life and walk each day hand in hand with the Lord.
On this day, when we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, it is very appropriate to talk about the Holy Rosary, a classic Christian meditation closely associated with the Virgin Mary.
In fact, she carried the Lord in her womb and in her heart. If we want Jesus to be born more deeply in our hearts, she, being our spiritual Mother, will gladly help us. What pleases her most is that we listen to her Son and allow Him to dwell in our hearts. Her joy is to see Jesus taking shape in our lives. What mother would not want her child to receive the respect, love, and attention He deserves? How much more does this apply to the Mother of God, whose Son brings us salvation!
When reflecting on Advent, we can speak of three comings of the Lord:
In this second week of Advent, we will reflect on the second of these: the presence of Jesus in our hearts. Indeed, it is essential that He also dwell in our hearts, for this is how our inner transformation takes place. Letting Jesus into our hearts means giving Him shelter, making room for God’s love in our souls.
We also experience this in our human relationships: when someone occupies a place in our hearts, it means they have become part of our lives, that we are also part of theirs, and that we think of them with love and gratitude. In a way, that person is present in us, even if we are not in constant contact.
“Do not be discouraged if someone rejects or hates you. Remain in love as I always did. Perhaps, in this way, you can win their hearts.” (Inner Word)
On our journey, we may encounter people who reject us or even hate us. If we remain faithful in increasingly anti-Christian times, this can happen very easily—especially if we are unwilling to make concessions regarding faith and morals and stand firm in our convictions. These are moments of trial in which we can demonstrate our love for God, but also moments in which, with God’s grace, we can rise above ourselves.
“But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (Gal 4:4–5)
The angel Gabriel was sent by God to the Virgin Mary in Nazareth, and this was a decisive moment in the history of salvation. In His love, God chose from among His people the person to whom He would entrust His own Son. She was a woman who, as we know with certainty thanks to the dogma of the Catholic Church, was preserved by God from original sin.
“Contemplate attentively with the eyes of your spirit how I hang from the cross, with My arms outstretched so that I can embrace you every time you come to Me” (Dionysius the Carthusian).
There, on the cross of His Son, the Father revealed to us the depth of His love. The Redeemer’s invitation, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28), comes from the depths of the Father’s heart and makes us understand that “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (Jn 3:16).
