21 Jun 2023
Spirituality of the Heart invites us to journey into our own heart and into the heart of the human condition to be aware of God’s transforming love inviting and empowering us to be like Jesus, the gift of this love for others. This way of living opens up enormous possibilities for life and love and offers a challenge to grow ever more deeply in kindness, compassion, humility, forgiveness, understanding, simplicity and a sense of humour.
We are called to be God’s Heart on earth and to offer ourselves to be used as a source of healing for the wounds of the world. We believe, as did Jules Chevalier that this love is the remedy for the ills of the world. We are all called, religious, diocesan priests and above all laity, to share this mission to be the vehicle of love everywhere, in every culture and at every level of society.
Spirituality of the Heart is lived together with Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, who formed and carried the heart of Jesus and who points to his heart.
A Spirituality of the Heart is a way of living – a way of being in the world…a journey to be travelled (with others)… an energy that sustains and moves us, a dance in which we are all participating… a way of being in the world in relationship to self, others and God; a way of coming to rest within ourselves at our deepest centre. (J. Maher MSC)
St. Augustine put Spirituality of the Heart in very practical terms:
“Once for all then, a short precept is given unto you: Love God and do what you will: whether you hold your peace, through love hold your peace; whether you cry out, through love cry out; whether you correct, through love correct; whether you spare, through love do you spare. In all things, let the root of love be within, for of this root can nothing spring but what is good.”
Statement from Laity of the Chevalier Family Newsletter
Encounter of Hearts, Edition 3, June 2021