Valentines Day is around the corner
and even though it falls on Ash Wednesday
– or maybe especially since it falls on Ash Wednesday –
it seems a good time to bring to prayer
some questions about my heart…
After all, apart from candy, roses and cards
Valentines Day and Ash Wednesday
are both affaires de cœur
So here are some questions
to begin my morning prayer…
Where do I turn, to whom do I turn, Lord
when my wounded heart needs healing?
when my broken heart needs mending?
when my chilled heart needs warming?
when my saddened heart needs joy?
when my empty heart needs filling?
when my lonely heart needs company?
when my grieving heart needs comfort?
when my frightened heart needs courage?
when my gloomy heart needs hope?
when my sinful heart needs mercy?
when my hungry heart needs grace?
The answer in every single case,
the only answer – is you, Lord!
You – and all those you’ve given me
to heal and nurture, hold and love,
to mend and nurture the precious gift
of my heart were you make your home…
My heart is healthy, Lord
when my faith in you is strong,
when my trust in you is deep,
when my prayer to you is honest,
when my love for others is selfless…
As Valentines Day draws near, Lord,
open wide my heart and make yourself to home;
strengthen what’s weak, soften what’s hard,
calm what’s distressed,
mercifully pardon the wrongs I’ve done
and dwell with your peace within me…
Be my Valentine, Lord!
Receive my heart as a gift to you,
the heart which first was your gift to me.
On Valentines Day and in holy Lent,
fill my heart with your grace and your peace…
