Welcome
Into the Heart of Mercy provides formation, spiritual direction, retreats, and resources to help others enter more deeply into the merciful love of Jesus Christ through the ministry of His Holy Catholic Church.
Mission Statement:
To make the merciful love of God known and experienced more deeply.
In the Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium, on The Proclamation of the Gospel in Today’s World, Pope Francis (2013) wrote: “… the Church must look more closely and sympathetically at others whenever necessary… The Church will have to initiate everyone—priests, religious and laity— into this ‘art of accompaniment’ which teaches us to remove our sandals before the sacred ground of the other (cf. Ex 3:5). The pace of this accompaniment must be steady and reassuring, reflecting our closeness and our compassionate gaze which also heals, liberates and encourages growth in the Christian life.” (#169)
When I first came across these words of Pope Francis, my heart burned. I thought to myself, "This is what I want to do. This is what we need today." It is hard to believe that it has been over a decade since these words first stirred my heart. Pope Francis has asked the Church to cultivate a sense of reverence towards others. This is the reverence we need to have in our encounter with each person, recognizing that each person can reveal the presence of God.
Exodus 3:5, "God said, 'Come no nearer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.'"
In the context of spiritual direction (the "Art of Accompaniment"), it is the spiritual director who is called to take off his or her sandals, not the other way around. This is because the spiritual director is a witness to the mysterious working of God, like Moses approaching the burning bush. Ultimately, entering God's presence is entering into the Heart of Mercy.
This is why Into the Heart of Mercy exists. Into the Heart of Mercy is a ministry that seeks to help others encounter the merciful love of God. My hope is that each person I encounter will experience the kind of welcome, listening, and compassionate gaze which reflects the Heart of Christ.
When I first came across these words of Pope Francis, my heart burned. I thought to myself, "This is what I want to do. This is what we need today." It is hard to believe that it has been over a decade since these words first stirred my heart. Pope Francis has asked the Church to cultivate a sense of reverence towards others. This is the reverence we need to have in our encounter with each person, recognizing that each person can reveal the presence of God.
Exodus 3:5, "God said, 'Come no nearer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.'"
In the context of spiritual direction (the "Art of Accompaniment"), it is the spiritual director who is called to take off his or her sandals, not the other way around. This is because the spiritual director is a witness to the mysterious working of God, like Moses approaching the burning bush. Ultimately, entering God's presence is entering into the Heart of Mercy.
This is why Into the Heart of Mercy exists. Into the Heart of Mercy is a ministry that seeks to help others encounter the merciful love of God. My hope is that each person I encounter will experience the kind of welcome, listening, and compassionate gaze which reflects the Heart of Christ.
