Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart have as the center of their spirituality, the heart of Christ. As Women of the Heart, we desire that the qualities of Christ’s heart become our own in service of others.
The traditional Litany of the Sacred Heart, familiar to many of you, is a revered part of our tradition. A contemporary version of this Litany, written by theologian Wendy M. Wright, has been offered to enrich our prayer and nudge us to reflect on some of the most important questions of the spiritual life:
What would it mean to love like Jesus?
What would it mean to have a heart like his?
Through weekly blog posts, beginning Oct 15th for 6 weeks, we invite you to reflect with us on this contemporary Litany of the Heart (found below).
We know this is a spirituality shared by many and we look forward to praying together.
Litany of the Heart
By Wendy M. Wright
Oh God, my heart is longing for you
So loving
So humble
So gentle
So compassionate
So faithful
So wise
So patient
So steadfast
So tender
So spacious
Oh God, my heart is longing for you
God’s joy
God’s shalom
Harp of the Trinity
Wingbeat of the Spirit
Breath of God
Five-petaled rose
Oh God, my heart is longing for you
Womb of justice
Birthplace of peace
Our dearest hope
Longing of our lives
Oh God, my heart is longing for you
Freely flowing fountain
Spring of grace
Freshet of forgiveness
Merciful river
Mystical dew
Oh God, my heart is longing for you
Warmth of our hearts
Transforming fire
Cosmic furnace
Enflamer of hearts
Oh God, my heart is longing for you
Heart of evolution
Beginning and ending
Center of all
Oh God, my heart is longing for you
Garden of virtues
Mystical dew
Table and food
Oh God, my heart is longing for you
Our refuge
Our shelter
Our comfort
Our rest
Our welcoming breast
Oh God, my heart is longing for you
Wounded by love
Pierced by our cruelty
Broken by our hardness
Mystic winepress
Poured out as gift
Oh God, my heart is longing for you
Have mercy, gracious heart,
Give us gratefulness
Teach us tenderness
Let us learn to love.
Hear our prayer!
From “Sacred Heart: Gateway to God”, Wendy M. Wright (Orbis Books, 2003). Used with permission of the author.