Catholic Fire

Lord Jesus, You came to heal our wounded and troubled hearts. I beg You to heal the torments that cause anxiety in my heart; I beg You, in a particular way, to heal all that are the cause of sin. Lord Jesus, You know my burdens. I lay them all on Your Good Shepherd's Heart. I beseech You -- by the merits of the great, open wound in Your heart -- to heal the small wounds that are in mine. Heal the pain of my  memories, so that nothing that has happened to me will cause me to remain in pain and anguish, filled with anxiety. Heal, O Lord, all those wounds that have been the cause of all the evil that is rooted in my life. I want to forgive all those who have offended me. Look to those inner sores that make me unable to forgive. You Who came to forgive the afflicted of heart, please, heal my own heart. Heal, my Lord Jesus, those intimate wounds that cause me physical illness. I offer You my heart. Accept it, Lord, purify it, and give me the sentiments of Your Divine Heart. He...

Many years ago, I went through inner healing with a spiritual director to rid myself of a block in my spiritual life – unforgiveness. I wanted to grow spiritually, but was unable to due to this obstacle. I wanted to experience the fullness of God’s peace, which He gives so freely to those who open their hearts to Him. When I went through this process, I realized that in my life, there was not just one person I needed to forgive, but many, throughout the various stages of my life. It was not an easy journey, but one that taught me valuable lessons. Here are a few of the lessons I learned: First, without forgiveness in our lives, we cannot experience the fullness of God’s love and the peace and joy that comes with it. Second, I learned that forgiveness is not an emotion, but an act of the will. You can still feel hurt by the injustice that was done to you, but make the decision to forgive the person who hurt you. Third, I began to think of all the times that I needed to be forgiven for t...