Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart -- 23

Heart of Jesus, bruised for our sins, have mercy on us ...

A heavy blow,
inner bleeding,
a tender spot.
Memory awakens
at the lightest touch.
We bruise your heart.
You remember us
with healing love.

Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart -- 22

Heart of Jesus which suffered rejection for our sake, have mercy on us ...

We rejected our God,
covered his face with spit,
hit him with our fists,
struck him with a rod.

We rejected our Lord
with scornful insults,
with cruel mockery,
cutting like a sword.

We rejected our king
although he loved us still.
He prayed "Forgive"
under each sharp sting

Spontaneous prayer

Spontaneous prayer
bombards heaven with my pleas.
Hurled upward, fear dies.

Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart - 21

Heart of Jesus, atonement for our sins, have mercy on us ...

Who can atone
for the evil I've done?
Sins that pile up
and blot out the sun.
In shadow I stand
 mourning lost innocence.
A broken life
twisted and stripped of sense.
He stoops to heal
with gentle hands that bleed.
The holy lamb
has met my need.

Arrow Flight

Like an  arrow aimed
upward to the Son I fly
feathered by sweet prayer.

Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart - 20

Heart of Jesus, fountain of life and holiness, have mercy on us ...

Come and sit by the fountain,
listen to the water flow,
pure water in abundance,
for whoever will bend low --

Bend to drink this crystal water,
drink until your thirsting ends,
bend to cup it in your hands 
offer refreshing to your friends.

Pass on His life with your giving
from the fountain of His side.
Wash your soul in love unstinting,
bathe in the fountain and abide.

Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart - 19

Heart of Jesus, generous to all who call on you, have mercy on us ...


He holds out pierced hands
palms up,extended to you,
love overflowing.

Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart - 18

Heart of Jesus patient and abounding in mercy, have mercy on us ...


Patience -
to sit through lonely nights
to hold a trembling hand
to bend your head to listen
-simple human kindness


Mercy -
to bind up the wounded
to feed the starving
to forgive the humble sinner
- simple human loving


Patience -
to call a sinner home
every day, every hour, every moment
of a cruel, evil life
- holy, divine kindness


Mercy -
to hear their muttered prayer
spoken with their last breath
and grant them grace
-- holy, divine loving

Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart - 17

Heart of Jesus, deepest desire of the human heart, have mercy on us ...


Some say they long for shining gold,
some want beauty's kiss,
health is precious to the old,
and drugs provide deceptive bliss.


All the gifts that life can offer
and our hearts are empty still.
Earth has nothing it can proffer,
no magic wand, no miracle pill.


For our hearts are ever breaking
without the balm that He provides.
Only love can ease the aching,
perfect love where Christ abides.

Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart - 16

Heart of Jesus whose fullness we have all received, have mercy on us ...


All created things long to be filled -
the depths of the Earth drink rain and become oceans,
air settles between the mountains and spills above, enveloping the world,
stars spin out from the center, fleeing across space to fill infinity -
Only the human soul stayed empty -
until You came, precious Lord.

Interlude

Hello! "Interlude" is that rare occasion when I may have a comment to make. Mostly, the poems speak for themselves. I'm about halfway through the Litany of the Sacred Heart, one of my favorite prayers. I view the poems as a meditation on the litany. All the poems on this site are more or less first drafts -- it's the Internet version of the journal I used to keep -- so I don't consider any of them are finished. If and when I come back to a poem, I may well rewrite it beyond recognition. In the meantime, if one speaks to you, feel free to copy it for your personal use.  And thanks for visiting!

Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart -15

Heart of Jesus, in which the Father is well pleased, have mercy on us ...


Pearl of greatest price,
perfection beyond compare,
haven of the homeless,
listener to our prayer.


Flawless source of truth,
healer of our pains,
shepherd of our souls,
king who ever reigns.


Praises sung forever
and yet scarce begun,
could not yet express
the beauty of the Son.

Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart - 14

Heart of Jesus in which dwells all the fullness of the Godhead, have mercy on us ...


A gentle human heart
A sacred love divine -
undreamed of purest mixture,
O heavenly, precious wine.


My thirsty soul drinks deep
from a cup that's ever full.
His open side feeds
His people here below.


No hunger can surpass
His grace beyond compare.
His fullness fills us up
and gives us peace to share.

Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart - 13

Heart of Jesus in which are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, have mercy on us ...


In ancient tales winged dragons guard their gold
and threaten with flame any who dare take hold.


Pirates in their cruel ships steal upon the sea,
and drown their victims without sympathy.


Kings hoard their treasures with wanton greed
and deny even the food their people need.


Jesus enthroned in heaven opens wide his embrace
and from his heart true treasure pours in endless grace.

Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart - 12

Heart of Jesus, king and center of all hearts, have mercy on us ...


You are the center, the king of kings.
Creation flows from your throne,
angels gaze on you in wonder,
the saints fall down before you,
even demons kneel at your feet,
folding their proud wings.


Journey north, south, east or west.
Nowhere will you find
what you seek until
you turn, return, go back to Him
and like the Beloved Disciple,
lay your head upon his breast.

Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart - 11

Heart of Jesus, worthy of all praise, have mercy on us ...


Sing a soaring song,
Pray a perfect prayer,
give your heart to the One
who heals our every care.


Whisper low His praises,
Shout them to the sky,
Proclaim the glory of our King
who ever reigns on high.

Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart - 10

Heart of Jesus, never-ending source of all virtues, have mercy on us ...


Like a mighty flood
sweeping all before it,
your torrential virtue pours
into my empty heart -
sweet waters of blessing,
pure streams of your love,
grace for another start.

Reflections on the Litary of the Sacred Heart - 9

Heart of Jesus, vessel of justice and love, have mercy on us ...


Justice and love fought with each other,
for one was stern, the other mild.
When the guilty came before them,
justice frowned and love just smiled.


Justice spoke for the downtrodden,
love for those who mercy need.
What is one without the other?
Their quarrel before God's throne they plead.


God poured them in a precious vessel
where they joined in sweet embrace.
Justice and love kissed each other,
and became the balm of grace.

Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart - 8

Heart of Jesus, burning furnace of charity, have mercy on us ...


Light a candle in the night.
Light a flame upon the hearth.
Light the torches in parade.
Spread your light over all the Earth.


Let the oceans boil with heat.
Let volcanoes belch out flame.
Let our proudest towers burn.
Let the cities melt in shame.


See the stars like diamonds blaze.
See the galaxies explode.
See the universe consumed
'til all is fire and all is sowed.


But a single spark, it falls
into the light of infinity.
Burning angels cry out "Holy!"
All on fire with love comes to Thee.

Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart - 7

Heart of Jesus, house of God and gate of heaven, have mercy on us ...


Come, the gate has opened wide.
Such a heart has room for all.
Here's the home so long desired.
Say a prayer and pass inside.


Come, the gate is barred for none.
Call your family, call your foe,
bid them join you in new life,
bid them seek God's only son.


Look beyond the gate where they
stand and pray and wait for you--
all you loved and thought you lost
lies but one strong step away.

Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart - 6

Heart of Jesus, tabernacle of the Most High, have mercy on us ...


Moving God --
You hurled the stars into the void.
You sent the sun soaring through the depths of space
and set each world spinning in its place.


Moving God --
You poured out the ocean, never to be still.
You raised the mountains up to pierce the sky,
You bid the wind to blow and rivers flow.


Moving God --
You gave us hearts that beat with endless longing,
a soul that ever searches, never done,
until at last we find You in the heart of your Son.

Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart - 5

Heart of Jesus, holy temple of God, have mercy on us ...


Here in the shadowed silence
the Lord sit and listens.
Here the restless feel peace enfold
the seething turmoil of their soul.


Here is the altar ever ready
to receive your sacrifice.
A contrite heart pleases Him,
a whispered prayer cleanses sin.

Reflections on the Litany of the Sacred Heart - 4

Heart of Jesus of infinite majesty, have mercy on us ...


In blackest space new stars take flight
and with their light blazing bright,
worship His majesty.


The flaming sun returns each day
and grateful hearts in wonder say,
worship His majesty.


Cloud-crowned mountains pierce the sky,
down their slopes the echoes cry,
worship His majesty.


At mass each day the faithful come,
to pledge their love to the Son,
worship His majesty.