I knelt slowly within the dimly lit church. Incense rose from the altar to the ceiling, filling the air with a smoky haze. Holy silence as we all watched the priest carry the golden monstrance, glinting in the candlelight, the loving gaze of Jesus penetrating my heart as He came before me. The immense power of being in His Presence removed every fear, every worry, everything that was not of Him from my soul.
I was expecting my seventh child, and as I looked at the Lord, I thought of Elizabeth and Our Lady. As my baby girl moved, I thought of Saint John the Baptist as he leapt in the womb of his mother. I thought of Elizabeth’s praise rising like the smoke of incense as she proclaimed that Christ, God in the flesh, dwelt within Mary. My heart swelled with joy, delightedly lost in wonder that Jesus not only comes to me, but dwells in me. Graces unfold in my soul, hidden and sacred, as His divine heart makes a place to abide. He knows me fully and I am astounded.
We are all invited to this encounter. “The heart is the dwelling place where I am, where I live; according to the Semitic or Biblical expression, the heart is the place ‘to which I withdraw’” (Catechism of the Catholic Church § 2563).
It is within this hidden place of our hearts, a place of silence and deep peace, that the Lord speaks to us. This is the place where Jesus calls us to plunge into rivers of grace and allow them to flow through us, as they sanctify our souls. I encourage you to seek a time of silence in your day: a time to withdraw and place yourself in the Lord’s embrace, if only for a moment.
We often feel that we do not have enough time within the day to retreat, to rest our hearts and unite them to His most Sacred Heart. To drink from the cup of living water He tenderly brings to our lips in order to sustain us. Have confidence, dear sister, that the God of the Universe will multiply your time. Pray that the Lord will make your heart a sanctuary for His Holy Presence. He knows you. He loves you. He remains with you.
Pray that the Lord will make your heart a sanctuary for His Holy Presence. #BISblog #prayerpledge // -->> CLICK TO TWEET
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Let Us Pray
Jesus, make my heart a sanctuary where Your abundant graces may unfold.
For Discussion
When can you find a moment of holy pause?
What is the interior disposition of your heart when you’re in silence?
Leana Bowler is a wife and mother of eight little ones. She is a Holy Rosary enthusiast with deep devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Her love for the message of Divine Mercy led her to become a Marian Missionary of Divine Mercy. She enjoys the miracles of family life, strong coffee, and encountering others on this journey to sainthood. She was a contributing author to And Hay Became Holy and Made New: 52 Devotions for Catholic Women.
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