Purify My Heart

Rose Folsom discovered that the obstacle she was feeling about Confession was the very thing she needed to confess. 

Blessed Catherine of Racconigi (1487–1574) was a Lay Dominican who had a mystical vision of God purifying her heart. Wouldn’t it be great (although a little scary!) to see it in person so we knew it really happened? 

Catherine “saw” Jesus’ power to heal her heart—which means her desires—so that what she wanted matched what was truly good for her. 

Today, we can ask ourselves, “What is one worldly desire I wish Jesus would take away?” 

Praise God, there’s a sacrament for that! 

We may not see with our eyes Jesus purifying our heart when we make a good Confession, but His healing touch in the Sacrament cleanses us every bit as much as it did Catherine in the ecstasy of her vision. 

Oops 

As a Lay Dominican, I make the best confession I can every month. But I’ve dropped the ball lately. And I don't know why. It bothers me, and I make plans to go, but then it slips my mind. It’s been about seven weeks. 

Have I asked Jesus in person, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, what flaws He sees in my heart that He is literally dying to heal? No, not really. 

Two reasons 

Reading about Blessed Catherine made me think there are two reasons why I’ve been putting it off. The first is that I have not taken the time to do a good examination of conscience (which is especially weird because in our last meeting of my Virtue Circle, that’s exactly what we explored!) 

The second reason is that the very thing that’s keeping me from going to Confession is the thing that I need to confess. And that is making and idol out of my work. 

Too busy doing God’s work to pay attention to Jesus—what’s wrong with this picture? 🤔 

Click to tweet:
We may not see with our eyes Jesus purifying our heart when we make a good Confession, but His healing touch in the Sacrament cleanses us. #CatholicMom

Consoling Jesus 

Do I forget that Jesus’ greatest agony in his Passion was seeing souls who would reject His redemption and walk away from his Blood, thinking they didn’t need it? 

Jesus’ greatest agony was seeing souls fall into hell because they were unwilling to receive the healing and pardon that He offers them at every moment. 

Lord, let me not increase the agony of Your Passion by being one of the unwilling ones. 

Let me receive Your pardon and healing and drench myself in Your Blood, which is my only hope for happiness here and in eternity. 

Blessed Catherine, pray for us that we may greet Jesus’ open arms with our open heart—to be healed by the Divine Physician. 

Copyright 2023 Rose Folsom
Images: licensed by author from DepositPhotos.com