Fountain of grace

Adapted from, and inspired by the writings of St-Peter Canisius. Found in the Breviary Vol. I  p. 1248-1249.



    Having visited Rome and receiving an apostolic blessing St. Peter underwent a profound spiritual experience. In this letter he proceeds to describe the experience.



Text
"Eternal High Priest... I experienced great consolation and the presence of your grace..." He then continues, "...It was as if you opened to me the heart in your most sacred body: I seemed to see it directly before my eyes. You told me to drink from this fountain,  inviting me, that is, to draw the waters of my salvation from your wellsprings., my savior. I was most eager that streams of faith, hope and love should flow into me from that source. I was thirsting for poverty, chastity, obedience. I asked to be made wholly clean by you, to be clothed by you, to be made resplendent by you.


   So, after daring to approach your most loving heart and to plunge my thirst in it, I received a promise from you of a garment made of three parts: these were to cover my soul in its nakedness, and to belong especially to my religious profession. They were peace, love and perseverance. Protected by this garment of salvation, I was confident that I would lack nothing but all would succeed and give you glory.


   It was if you opened to me the heart in your most sacred body: I seemed to see it directly before my eyes. You told me to drink from this fountain, inviting me to draw the waters of my salvation from your wellsprings, my Savior. I was most eager that streams of faith, hope and love should flow into me from that source.



Reflections
    Jesus opens the heart of his most sacred body to me. He invites me to drink from the fountain of love, this fountain of grace which is his sacred heart. He invites me to draw from his heart the waters of my salvation, these waters that flow from the wellsprings of his sacred heart.


    From this source of his sacred heart the streams of faith, hope and love flow into me.


    I come to this source to drink from these pure and holy streams. I come to be cleansed, washed, purified, forgiven and loved. From the compassionate, loving heart of Jesus I receive the healing grace I need to live the faith, the hope and the love that flow into me and through me. Let your healing waters flow Lord Jesus. Let your healing waters flow.




Key Thoughts
-Waters of salvation
-Waters that flow
-Wellsprings
-Streams
-Source


Prayer

    Lord Jesus, open to me the heart in your most sacred body. May I drink from this fountain always. Let it be for me the source of faith, hope, love and healing. Grant that I always draw the waters of life, the life of the Holy Spirit, from your wellsprings.     I pray that your healing waters be poured into the heart of Name (s) for whom I pray. In all that I pray for today (offer your petitions) may the streams of faith, hope and love flow into me from your sacred heart, the source of all grace. Then having received your grace, may it flows through me to touch all the people I bring before you.

    Let your healing waters flow Lord Jesus. Let the waters of salvation gush forth, the wellsprings of grace touch our hearts, the streams of faith, hope and love pour out through us to the whole world. I come to you Lord Jesus, you who are the source of life, love and healing; I come to give you thanks. I come to offer you myself in surrender and gratitude. I ask that you use me as an instrument of healing love to draw others to you, the source of life giving waters.

    Bless me Lord Jesus in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.


Text
   "I was thirsting for poverty, chastity, obedience. I asked to be made wholly clean by you, to be clothed by you, to be made resplendent by you."



Reflection
    There is a thirst in my heart, a thirst, a hunger, a desire for God. It is a thirst that longs for peace, a hunger to know God's will and a desire to love and serve God and one another. I come to Jesus the fountain of grace and ask to be made wholly clean, to be clothed in love and to be made resplendent by you Jesus Christ who are yourself resplendent, glorious and radiant.

    You are the source of water that quenches the thirst, the food that feeds the hunger, the way that comforts and guides the desire.




Key Thoughts
-Thirst
-Longing
-Desire
-Grace
-Resplendent

Prayer

    Lord Jesus resplendent in all your glory I thirst to drink of the water that flowed from your side. I long to be cleansed by the refreshing waters that flow from the sanctuary of your heart. Ignite within me Lord the fire of your Holy Spirit so that my heart burns with the desire to live always in the anointing and power of your Spirit.

    Release within me Lord the grace of the Holy Spirit. I pray  for the grace to surrender to the promptings and gifts of the Holy Spirit. Set me free Lord. Set me free Lord Let me free Lord.

    O Holy Spirit I humbly implore Thee; be with me always so that in all things I may act only under the influence of the thy holy inspiration.

Text
    "So, after daring to approach your most loving heart and to plunge my thirst in it, I receive a promise from you of a garment made of three parts: these were to cover my soul in its nakedness, and to belong especially to my religious profession. They were peace, love and perseverance. Protected by this garment of salvation, I was confident that I would lack nothing but all would succeed and give you glory."



Reflections
    Dare I come to you Lord to approach your most loving heart? Dare I plunge my thirst in it? Dare I put on the garment of three parts to cover my soul in its nakedness?

    Yes Lord! By your grace and the action of the Holy Spirit you make it possible for me to take this plunge, this leap of faith, this act of love. In your name Jesus I take off my garment of fear and doubt, of self-centeredness,  of hypocrisy and I accept your garment of peace, love and perseverance. I exchange my garment for your garment Lord Jesus.

      I come before you Lord to approach your loving heart, to plunge my thirst in you, to take on the garment of peace, love and perseverance. I come to you to bare my soul to you so that your grace of peace, love and perseverance may cover my soul in its nakedness.



Key Thoughts
-Dare                                -Naked soul
-Approach                        -Peace
-Loving heart                    -Love
-Plunge                             -Perseverance
-Promise                           -Protection
-Garment

Prayer

    Lord, I humbly dare to come before you now in this time of prayer. I approach your loving heart to take this plunge now (Offer the Lord the prayers of your heart - be honest - let him know what you think and feel.).

    You make promises to me and you are faithful but now I want to make a promise to you (mention it).       

    I further promise to make a greater, more loving, effort to come before you in the nakedness of my soul. You know when I sit and when I stand Visit my nakedness Lord. Help me to be honest. I promise to let go, to surrender, to take on your garment of peace, love and perseverance. Help me Lord to persevere. As I move forward  today under the protection of your healing love I promise to pay attention to the occasions you present today for me to love someone who needs to be loved, to speak a kind word, to offer a helping hand, to pray, to listen, to surrender and to love.

    Please give me the strength Lord to persevere in this prayer not only today but every day. I pray this prayer in the name of your son Jesus who is Lord for ever and ever.