A place of heart...

    ... a broken and contrite heart, O God,

you will not despise. - Psalm 51:17

  "I still remember an evening meditation on Dutch television

during which the speaker poured water on hard, dried-out soil,

saying, 'Look, the soil cannot receive the water and no seed can grow.' 

Then after crumbling the soil with his hands and pouring water

on it again, he said, 'It is only the broken soil that can receive

the water and make the seed grow and bear fruit.'  

    After seeing this, I understood what it meant 
to begin the Eucharist with a contrite heart,

a heart broken open,

to receive the water of God's grace."

Fr Henri Nouwen

With Burning Hearts,

A Meditation on the Eucharistic Life

Photo credit (above):  Eve Anderson 

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Let us likewise prepare properly 

to fully receive the graces and benefits 
of our Spiritual Communions

My Jesus, 

I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. 

I love You above all things, 

and I desire to receive You into my soul. 

Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, 

come at least spiritually into my heart. 

I embrace You as if You were already there 

and unite myself wholly to You. 

Never permit me to be separated from You.  Amen.