Reflection

“Purity of Heart is to Will One Thing,” Søren Kierkegaard declared in the title of his book by that name. In our consumer society, marketers find innumerable ways to entice us to want thousands upon thousands of things. In the vocabulary of Saint Augustine, we are incontinent. Our wills “leak” towards fame, status, possessions, leisure, beauty, convenience, security, and comfort.

What if we willed for God alone, without distraction? To know that in Augustine’s words, “our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you?” Catholic mystic Charles de Foucald captured a vision of this in his “Prayer of Abandonment.”

Father,
I abandon myself into your hands;
do with me what you will.
Whatever you may do, I thank you:
I am ready for all, I accept all.
Let only your will be done in me,
and in all your creatures.
I wish no more than this, O Lord.

Into your hands I commend my soul;
I offer it to you
with all the love of my heart,
for I love you, Lord,
and so need to give myself,
to surrender myself into your hands,
without reserve,
and with boundless confidence,
for you are my Father.

Action (Commune)

After slowly praying the above prayer, take three minutes to seek to free yourself from distractions. Sit in a chair with your feet flat on the floor or sit upright on the floor. Center your thoughts on a prayer word, such as “Jesus,” “love,” or “surrender.” When other thoughts intrude, simply refocus on your prayer word. At the end of your time, slowly pray the above prayer again.

Check in with your lenten exercise partners and reflect about your fasting from/for this past week. Try to bring an undistracted focus on others as you share.