To Forgive - 4

     Our Heavenly Father knows exactly how many seeds are in this giant sunflower. According to Holy Scripture, Jesus commands all of His children to forgive seventy times seven.

For = on behalf of/ Give = surrender

     He doesn't ever say to stop after 490. He expects each of His children to start all over again for another round. Isn't His forgiveness unlimited? Suppose He said, "OK , this is the 490th time! That's it. No more chances for you!" Perhaps the numerous times that the soul is confronted with the "opportunity to forgive" is a mystical reflection of how often Christ's forgiveness has been needed. Even more astonishing, are the multitude of times His sweet forgiveness will be needed in the future! Opportunities for forgiveness may present themselves, unexpectedly, in a variety of settings. Don't many of the offenses experienced in life take the mind and heart by surprise?
     Without the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the guidance of the Holy Spirit and holy priests, it is too difficult to overcome the emotional pitfalls that require reciprocal forgiveness.
     Regardless of the hour of the day, each time I forgive is a new dawn of the Lord's glorious grace glowing through my heart. Each offering of forgiveness to my neighbor and brother is a precious seed that will grow into a beautiful spiritual flower.  I can present this sacrificial bouquet to my Almighty Father as a gift of thanksgiving for His eternal love!

MORNING OFFERING

Oh my Jesus, through the Immaculate heart of Mary
I offer Thee my prayers, works, joys
And sufferings of this day
In union with the Holy sacrifice of the Mass said throughout the world
For the intentions of your Sacred Heart:
The salvation of souls, the reparation of sin, and the reunion of all Christians.
I offer them for the intentions of the bishops and the apostles of prayer
and especially for the intentions of the Holy Father this month.

May the Holy Spirit of our Lord assist me, as, on behalf of the salvation of my soul and the soul of my neighbor, I surrender to our Eternal Father's Holy Will.
May my every motive, thought, word and action glorify our Almighty Father.
May I imitate the Blessed Virgin Mary as I heartily strive to obey our Savior Jesus Christ.

En Los Corazones de Jesús y María 

To Forgive - 3

 When the soul is suffocated 

by hatred for a brother or neighbor,

the sweet melody of forgiveness 

invites all to rejoice in God's love.

For = on behalf of/Give = surrender

      It is no accident that the same interpersonal conflicts arise repeatedly in life. Our Heavenly Father allows multiple opportunities to practice forgiveness. Who can count the number of times the same is needed from Him? The roots of feelings about the actions of one's neighbor or brother run deep. These roots are so thick they become mangled. Choking roots prevent the waters of our Lord's graces from reaching the heart. Emotions become fragile and brittle. Finally, a blow to the ego splinters the spirit into lifeless fragments. Instead of embracing the ever present love of Jesus, the arms of the spirit collapse. The soul is uprooted and disconnected from our Lord's flowing streams of spiritual refreshment. Stagnation and rotting in a self designed pool of bitterness ensue. 
     To choose not to forgive, is to reject our Almighty Father. To reject our Heavenly Father is to offend Him. This is sin. What a shameful loss it is to reject  the spiritual nourishment of His unconditional love!
     The Holy Sacrament of Reconciliation is the miraculous gift of Jesus Christ's healing forgiveness. All thanks to the Almighty for the holy priests who obediently and prayerfully listen, advise and bless the penitent with Christ's sacrament of mercy, compassion and grace.
     Faithfulness in performing penance is an act of loving submission to our Lord. It is a holy gift to experience true sorrow for how deeply sin pains our Eternal Father's heart. Perhaps the heartbreak the soul feels at the offense of another is a minute sample of our Almighty Creator's heartbreak when His children sin against Him!
     Penance heightens the awareness of how to "avoid the near occasions of sin". It also prevents the soul from blindly falling into the trap of "casting pearls to swine". Choosing to be a doormat is neither holy nor humble. Truly charitable Christian behavior can be learned by studying the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and works of mercy. http://www.caminolamancha.com/2012/08/gifts-of-holy-spirit-and-works-of-mercy.html 

      The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

      Praying the Stations of the cross is a profoundly humbling act of gratitude for the sacrifice of Jesus. Jesus surrendered to His Father's Will on behalf of all. Those who choose to follow Him will receive His salvation. He willingly accepted psychological and physical humiliation and torture for the sins of every soul. He was not even guilty!

     As Jesus suffered and died, he mercifully gazed upon the pitiful sinfulness of humanity. How is it possible for me not to forgive my neighbor or brother while gazing upon their reflection in the eyes of Jesus as He carries His Holy Cross?

THE STATIONS OF THE CROSS

1) Jesus is condemned to death
2) Jesus takes up His cross
3) Jesus falls the first time
4) Jesus greets His afflicted Mother
5) Simon helps Jesus to carry His cross
6) Veronica offers her veil to the Holy Face of Jesus
7) Jesus falls the second time
8) Jesus comforts the weeping women of Jerusalem
9) Jesus falls the third time
10) Jesus is stripped of His garments
11) Jesus is nailed to the cross
12) Jesus dies on the cross
13) Jesus is taken down from the cross
14) Jesus is laid in the tomb

May the Holy Spirit of our Lord assist me, as, on behalf of the salvation of my soul and the soul of my neighbor, I surrender to our Eternal Father's Holy Will.

May my every motive, thought, word and action glorify our Almighty Father.
May I imitate the Blessed Virgin Mary as I heartily strive to obey our Savior Jesus Christ.

En Los Corazones de Jesús y María

To Forgive- 2

Years ago, I purchased a plaque in a thrift sale.

 Engraved upon it was the following dicho (saying):

"Engullimos de un sorbo
(We gobble in one gulp)
La mentira que nos adula
(The lie that flatters us)

Y bebemos gota a gota
(And we drink drop by drop)

La verdad que nos amarga
(The truth which embitters/offends us)"

For = on behalf of/Give = surrender

     The only way out of the darkness of self deception is to allow the light of Christ to illuminate the soul. It is a matter of urgency not to cloud reality of one's own sinfulness with idle mental dialogues or excuses. 
     The sacrament of Reconciliation is a beautiful, healing gift from The Almighty. Nothing less than complete honesty can prepare the heart to receive this sacrament which was instituted by our savior Jesus Christ. Praises be to our Heavenly Father for our holy priests/confessors, who serve "in persona Cristi". The graces bestowed upon the penitent are immeasurable.
     Unrestrained willingness to pray and live out the act of contrition, is essential. The heart cannot truly forgive while measuring the actions of others through the haze of one's own sinfulness.  The lies one tells the self are the most virulent. Acknowledging one's own sinfulness is the only path to experiencing the sweet forgiveness of Jesus. Joyfully forgiving one's neighbor is a Holy and sacrificial imitation of Jesus.
     Jesus lovingly suffered and died for all who desire His salvation. The act of forgiveness miraculously opens my neighbor's heart, and mine, to the Divine Love and Mercy of Jesus.

ACT OF CONTRITION

O my God I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee.

And I detest all my sins

because of Thy just punishments:

because I dread the loss of Heaven

and fear the pains of hell.

But most of all, because I have offended Thee, my Lord

Who art all good and deserving of all my love.

I firmly resolve with the help of Thy grace

To sin no more

To confess my sins

To do my penance

To amend my life

And to avoid the near occasions of sin.

AMEN

May the Holy Spirit of our Lord assist me, as, on behalf of the salvation of my soul and the soul of my neighbor, I surrender to our Eternal Father's Holy Will.
May my every motive, thought, word and action glorify our Almighty Father.
May I imitate the Blessed Virgin Mary as I heartily strive to obey our Savior Jesus Christ.

En Los Corazones de Jesús y María

To Forgive- 1

For = on behalf of/Give = surrender

Forgiveness is a necessary and humbling,yet cleansing spiritual exercise.To forgive, it is first necessary to examine one's own heart, not the heart of the neighbor or brother Jesus requires the soul to forgive.  A review of the Ten Commandments, as found in Exodus 20:2-17,  is a beautiful scriptural guide. The good counsel of a holy priest is, as well, a blessed gift. This helps to develop a spiritually sound conscience ~ 

or, as we say in Catholic "lingo", a well formed conscience.

     Without indulging in "scrupulosity", which is so often self pity in disguise, my own thoughts, motives, words and actions must be as clear to me as the clear water coursing over the river's stones.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

1) I am the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not have strange gods before me.

2) Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

3) Thou shalt keep holy the Lord's day.

4) Honor thy father and thy mother.

5) Thou shalt not kill.

6) Thou shalt not commit adultery.

7) Thou shalt not steal.

8) Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.

9) Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife.

10) Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods.

May the Holy Spirit of our Lord assist me, as, on behalf of the salvation of my soul and the soul of my neighbor, I surrender to our Eternal Father's Holy Will.
May my every motive, thought, word and action glorify our Almighty Father.
May I imitate the Blessed Virgin Mary as I heartily strive to obey our Savior Jesus Christ.

En Los Corazones de Jesús y María

The Rosary, a Balm for Crisis

     A crisis, makes it so easy to forget the vast power of quiet prayer. "Solutions" are not always the answer to a problem...

     Trustingly being still and letting events run their course is more difficult than giving in to the impulse to "do something", or worse yet "say something".  After all, "Silence is golden!" 

     There's something beautiful and peaceful about praying the Rosary. It is a soothing "balm" for emotional crisis. Meditation on the events of the life of Jesus elevates the soul. The mind is released from the bondage of the fear of events beyond human control. Calling upon the Holy Spirit for help, opens the heart to prayer. The Almighty Father's power to fulfill His will is more immense than the entire blue sky above. Mary and Jesus never stop interceding for their children.

Hail Mary, full of  grace, the Lord is with thee

Blessed art thou among women

And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary Mother of God

Pray for us sinners, now,

And at the hour of our death.

AMEN

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Gifts of the Holy Spirit and Works of Mercy

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit:
1)Wisdom - the highest of these supernatural gifts, this gift enables us to love and desire our Creator above all things. 
2)Understanding - is the supernatural ability to grasp teachings of our faith.
3)Counsel- this supernaturally helps us to follow the Holy Spirit's guidance in all of our actions.
4)Fortitude- is the supernatural courage to uphold our faith even unto death.
5)Knowledge- supernaturally enables us to choose our actions in a manner that conforms to the will and commandments of our Heavenly Father.
6)Piety - This supernatural gift has been lost in our modern times. It is the beautiful and sweet reverence we show to our Almighty Father out of our great love for Him.
7)Fear of the Lord- This has also been lost in modern society. We fear rejecting or sinning against the Lord because we love Him so much. Motivated by this love, we deeply desire to obey rather than to offend our Heavenly Father.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom...
Our Heavenly Father blesses us with many opportunities to practice the Works of Mercy. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, let us imitate Jesus as we:

Spiritual Works of Mercy
1) Instruct the ignorant
2) Counsel the doubtful
3) Admonish the sinners
4) Bear wrongs patiently
5) Forgive offenses willingly
6) Comfort the afflicted
7) Pray for the living and the dead

Corporal Works of Mercy
1) Feed the Hungry
2) Give drink to the thirsty
3) Clothe the naked
4) Shelter to the homeless
5) Visit the sick
6) Visit the prisoners
7) Bury the dead

En Los Corazones de Jesús y María

Divorce

     Someone very dear to me was about to get a divorce.  Getting into a new relationship was not an option for this wise person. This wise dear one decided to focus on being a good parent, and on overcoming all obstacles to compassion in every interaction with their spouse.

Whenever I see a rainbow, I remember 

that God always keeps His promises.

        Wisdom helped this person realize that starting a new relationship was only a vehicle for rehashing "new  and improved" versions of old unresolved baggage. 

     Then, something big happened. It was truly a miracle from God. It left all involved grateful and open to taking a second look. For this reason, the spiritual and emotional integrity of their precious children was rescued.
     Food for thought: Marriage is a Holy Sacrament for a reason. Keeping marital promises throughout all of life's challenges helps us to successfully embrace God's joyous gift of Love.

En Los Corazones de Jesús y María

Queenship of Mary

     On this day, we celebrate

the Queenship of our dearest Mother, Mary...

 ©2012 María L.A. Goulet

     The Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a beautiful Catholic prayer in which we commemorate the many characteristics and titles of our Heavenly Mother. Because she said "Yes" to the Almighty Father, she is the Mother of Jesus our Savior, and the Spouse of the Holy Spirit. Mary is the Mother of All people!

     Today is also my Mami's birthday, so Mami, I say this prayer as part of my spiritual birthday bouquet for you. ¡Feliz Cumpleaños Mami!

May we always be encouraged by this beautiful litany: 

Lord have Mercy on us    Christ have mercy on us

Lord have Mercy on us

Christ hear us    Christ graciously hear us

God the Father of Heaven   Have mercy on us

God the Son, Redeemer of the world   Have mercy on us

God the Holy Spirit   Have mercy on us

Holy Trinity, One God   Have mercy on us

Holy Mary   Pray for us

Holy Mother of God   Pray for us

Holy Virgin of virgins   Pray for us

Mother of Christ   Pray for us

Mother of Divine Grace   Pray for us

Mother most pure   Pray for us

Mother most chaste    Pray for us

Mother inviolate   Pray for us

Mother undefiled   Pray for us

Mother most amiable   Pray for us

Mother most admirable   Pray for us

Mother of Good Counsel   Pray for us

Mother of our Creator   Pray for us

Mother of our Savior   Pray for us

Mother of the Church   Pray for us

Virgin most prudent    Pray for us

Virgin most venerable Pray for us

Virgin most renowned   Pray for us

Virgin most powerful   Pray for us

Virgin most merciful   Pray for us

Virgin most faithful   Pray for us

Mirror of justice   Pray for us

Seat of wisdom   Pray for us

Cause of our joy Pray for us

Spiritual vessel   Pray for us

Vessel of honor   Pray for us

Singular vessel of devotion   Pray for us

Mystical Rose  Pray for us

Tower of David   Pray for us

Tower of ivory   Pray for us

House of gold   Pray for us

Ark of the Covenant   Pray for us

Gate of Heaven   Pray for us

Morning Star   Pray for us

Health of the sick   Pray for us

Refuge of sinners   Pray for us

Comforter of the afflicted   Pray for us

Help of Christians   Pray for us

Queen of angels Pray for us

Queen of patriarchs  Pray for us

Queen of prophets   Pray for us

Queen of apostles   Pray for us

Queen of martyrs   Pray for us

Queen of confessors   Pray for us

Queen of virgins   Pray for us

Queen of all saints   Pray for us

Queen conceived without original sin   Pray for us

Queen of the Holy Rosary Pray for us

Queen assumed into heaven   Pray for us

Queen of families   Pray for us

Queen of peace   Pray for us

Lamb of God Who takest away the sins of the world
Spare us O Lord 

Lamb of God Who takest away the sins of the world 
Graciously spare us O Lord

Lamb of God Who takest away the sins of the world   

Have mercy on us

Pray for us o Holy Mother of God

That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ

     Grant we beseech Thee O Lord, that we, Thy servants, may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body and by the glorious intercession of Blessed Mary ever Virgin, be delivered from present sorrow and enjoy everlasting happiness. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, AMEN. 

En Los Corazones de Jesús y María

Childlike Generosity

     When I was about 16 years old, my Mother knitted this poncho for me. I love it so much! When Autumn breezes begin to kiss warm Summer days goodbye, I look forward to wearing this poncho. I feel like she is hugging me and keeping me warm. It reminds me of everything my Mother continues to teach me through her example.

     My Mother is a very steadfast woman who lives according to her values, values she has  carefully knitted into my heart. Family and a childlike generosity are the themes according to which she has lived her entire life. This has always required a great deal of sacrifice on her part. Even with the death of my Papi, her husband of 58 years, her high school sweetheart, she has made herself emotionally available to her children. With sincere interest, she has listened to our feelings about his life, his death, and his continued spiritual presence in our hearts. Her generosity comes from a simple desire to keep the family bonds tightly knit.

     Navigating through contemporary "values" which so strongly oppose the nuclear family is challenging.

     My Papi and Mami were always generous. Our home was always a place where anyone who visited felt like family. Since Papi's death, Mami has continued to live out the same love and generosity they always shared with others. 

     I worry about her. (That's my job - I'm their firstborn child!) How does she feel? How does she exist without the love of her life?

     Today's Gospel reading helped me to understand her way of keeping her family knit together through a childlike generosity, a generosity which is never encumbered by measuring worthiness or motives.  Within this generosity is sweetly woven the bright loving thread of forgiveness... 

Matthew 19:13-14 (Douay Rheims Bible):

"Then were little children presented to Him that He should impose hands on them and pray. And the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said to them,

"suffer the little children

and forbid them not to come to me

for the kingdom of Heaven is for such." 

En Los Corazones de Jesús y María

Love Never Ends

...it still hurts that you are gone, Papi!

 "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ² And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ If I give away all I have,and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love,I gain nothing.

⁴ Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant ⁵ or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ⁶ it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

 ⁸ Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. ¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. ¹² For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.¹³ So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love."(1 Corinthians 13 English Standard Version)

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Camino la Mancha

     As much as I enjoy walking, I have always enjoyed dancing. It's part of my cultural upbringing. Family celebrations were highlighted by beautiful, colorful Salsa, the highly energized Afro-Caribbean music of Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic. At weddings, holidays, our daughters' Quinceañeras and spontaneous gatherings, even guests who were troubled with shyness or painful joints danced effortlessly when the music began to play. There was only room for smiles and laughter. Many times, we turn on the Salsa here at home and dance. I dance "the merengue", a Salsa dance.
      Last year, my life was repeatedly stained by the deaths of people close to me. For me, each death was so unexpected. I felt spiritually assaulted. La Mancha, "the stain", is the concept that arose within my psyche in response to the number of deaths that bombarded my spirit last year. I was rocked by prior deaths and losses which attached themselves to my heart each time a loved one passed. Death's ruthless unpredictability and inevitability were blinding headlights to my soul. I felt disoriented in my spiritual walk. The Holy Spirit synchronized my innermost steps as naturally as a Salsa dance partner. So, I began to walk "the stain".

     While my Papi was dying at our family home far away, one of the most influential women in my life was there. She posessed an inner, peaceful, unshakeable joy that permeated and transcended people and events around her. She had a gentle, calming smile and sweet laughter. Her laugh was like Salsa - a dance for the soul. As my Papi was slipping away from this life, she was there, among our family and closest friends. Her gentle presence had a special glow to it - just like the beautiful white rose floral arrangement she and her husband brought to us. I remember being taken aback by the serene beauty of the white roses. Their tranquil sweetness was a balm for the bitter pangs of death. Those roses were an encapsulation of her personality - steady, peaceful, surpassing heartbreak and tears with a persistent glow of sweetness. A lifelong friend of my parents, I always thought of her as my aunt although were were not biologically related. Her smile and warm laughter were always a reference point for me at times when turbulent events soured the flavor of my life. By the way, her culinary skills were nothing less than amazing! Being in her presence was always comforting. Imagine the sorrow of both of our families when she passed from this life only three months after my Papi!

     Today is first the anniversary of her return home to Jesus.

      Distance and expense prevented me from traveling home again to mourn her death with family and friends.
      Staying in touch with loved ones, especially at these times, can be difficult. We may become unavailable to each other when we most need mutual comfort. Keeping busy masks what we feel. It's just too painful. Grief can be complicated. The stinging inflammation of old losses is rekindled with each new loss.
      I digress. Please forgive me.
      La Mancha is my name for the inescapable losses in my life, past present and future. It is something I can wrap my head around. It is tangible. I can emotionally "work with" it. A stain can have any hue, texture, depth, flavor, sound, rhythm or aroma. It can be transformed into colorful paintbrush strokes on the canvas of my days. In the right light, "the stain" of death might be a beautiful portrait of the soul's gentle, lovely, glorious emergence into the Beatific Vision. Death's shadows may obscure my view, but mine is the freedom to hope in Christ's victory over death.

     In my daily prayers, my soul recalls the joyful, uplifting qualities of each loved one who has passed on. The Holy Spirit strengthens my heart to embrace their spiritual encouragement. This also helps me to endure the anguish of perpetual losses which I face daily. I am so thankful that my Heavenly Father has allowed me to experience the immense love of all of these people in my life.

     So, as I dance the merengue (bailo el merengue), as well, I walk the stain (camino la mancha).

En Los Corazones de Jesús y María



Get Up and Eat!

      Today's first Mass reading was from the book of Kings, chapter 19, verses 4 through 8.
     I can understand Elijah's frustration. Sometimes, even prayer seems like climbing up an impossibly steep hill. There is always the temptation to let my soul's connection with the Almighty just die out.  Emotionally exhausted and physically drained, many times the best I can do is to ask Jesus to help me.



     The angel told the tired prophet to "Get up and eat!" or he would be too weary to carry on. The Holy Spirit likewise prompts me. For me, to spiritually "get up and eat" would mean a feast of daily  prayers-especially the Mass, Holy Scripture, the Rosary, Liturgy of the Hours, and Eucharistic Adoration. It is when my soul feels so sluggish and unmotivated, that I most need daily Mass. 
      For the past week or so, I couldn't understand why I'd been feeling so distracted in prayer. I would start crying for no apparent reason. "Well," I thought, "this week's feast of the Assumption of Our Lady would be a great opportunity for that extra Mass. The Holy sacrifice of the Mass is, after all, the highest form of worship. And surely if I spend time with Jesus in Adoration this would lift my spirit closer to the Lord." 
     My Papi's birthday was August 15th. It always brought our family many smiles that Papi's birthday just happened to be on the same day as this great holy day of obligation. On this day we celebrate our Blessed Mother's glorious Heavenly reunion with her dear Son, Jesus.

     On the morning that he died, Papi and I prayed the Rosary together before the sun came up. We were holding each others hands and the Rosary. A few hours later, he went to be with Jesus.
     Being without my Papi is, for me, like climbing up a very, very steep hill on a hot, muggy day. I just want to hear his voice! I had a dream the other night that we were talking on the phone. He said, "¿Qué deseas mi hijita?" (What do you want my daughter?) My heart answered "¡Tú, Papi!". (You, Papi.)

En Los Corazones de Jesús y María

As Holy as I Should

Every flower

created by the Almighty
 
is as lovely as it should be.

THE LITANY OF HUMILITY

O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, hear me.

From the desire of being esteemed...Deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being loved...Deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being extolled ...Deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being honored ...Deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being praised ...Deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being preferred to others...
Deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being consulted ...Deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being approved ...Deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of being humiliated ...Deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of being despised...Deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of suffering rebukes ...Deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of being calumniated ...Deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of being forgotten ...Deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of being ridiculed ...Deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of being wronged ...Deliver me, Jesus.

From the fear of being suspected ...Deliver me, Jesus.

That others may be loved more than I...

Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be esteemed more than I ...
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That, in the opinion of the world,

others may increase and I may decrease ...
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be chosen and I set aside ...
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be praised and I unnoticed ...
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be preferred to me in everything...
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may become holier than I,
provided that I may become as holy as I should…
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

Composed by:

Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val (1865-1930)

En Los Corazones de Jesús y María