My Jesus, you know I have placed you as a seal on my heart. St. Bernadette

Important documents often include a seal as an indication of their importance and authenticity. The origin of St. Bernadette’s use of the term “seal on my heart” can be traced to the Bible (Song of Solomon, 8:6-7) and suggests a depth of bond and commitment with God, reminiscent of the singularity of the marriage bond. It may be well be the greatest of mysteries: most astonishingly, the One who creates and sustains all things with unmatched precision also “stoops down” to reveal the personal dimension of his care and love.

So, how does  this analogy apply to one’s relationship to God? In faith, we can trust that God’s end of the commitment does not change. As Fr. Richard Rohr puts it, “There is nothing you can do to make God love you more and nothing you can do to make Him love you less.”

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The loving Lord does not need extraordinary works; He desires only love. Bl Blandine Merton

There is something in our human nature that prompts us to “do” special things for the people we love. We may even do “extraordinary things” and tell ourselves that we are doing them for God’s glory; however, according to Blessed Blandine, they remain tokens only.

Why are tokens of love always limited?  Because they fail to satisfactorily express the profound mystery of love that is only known and experienced within. However, we typically say and do things that help express that reality. So, while tokens of love are important, they ought not to be equated with how much one loves or is loved.

Blessed Blandine’s words resonate with those of two other saints:  Therese of Lisieux, and Teresa of Kolkata. Both have affirmed the importance of doing “little things with great love”. Parents understand this reality when they receive a poorly fashioned (in the eyes to the world) creation from their child. In the same way, I believe that God delights in our (always) meagre and heart-felt tokens of love. While the grand cathedrals of Europe are wonderous achievements, motivated at least in part by love of God, they do not “rate higher” in God’s eyes than a simple shrine of crude materials lovingly constructed nor by our care and compassion for the poor and weak, who are always “with us”. (Matt. 26:11-, John, 12-8)

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I shall love You. I shall love You always: when day breaks, when evening turns into night, at every hour, at every moment; I shall love You always, always, always. St. Bernadette

Love God, all you live on earth, for he has made all things for no other end than to be loved by you. Bl Osanna of Mantua

St. Bernadette’s quote is reminiscent of a book published in 1692, Practice of the presence of God by Carmelite Friar Brother Lawrence. In it, he emphasizes that one ought to be as mindful as possible of God’s living and loving presence in our lives. His use of the various “personifications” of God we imagine(e.g. friend, king, teacher) is most helpful in better understanding one’s own unique spiritual journey as we seek to live in the Presence.

Blessed Osanna’s words may help answer the question of how one may grow in continuous love of God as described by St. Bernadette: it is through loving “all things”. Ossanna doesn’t keep it at a general level, she uses the exquisitely personal “you”; the beautiful tree on your block was in a sense “made for you to love”. What a difference it would make in our day to day lives if we were to take that to heart and learn to gratefully return of God’s love for us in and through creation.

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O God You are the light of minds that know You, the life of the souls that love You, and the strength of wills that serve You; help us to know You that we may truly love You, so to love You, that we may fully serve You. St. Augustine

Love God, serve God, everything is in that. St. Claire of Assisi

St. Augustine’s words are a good reminder that all our faculties (head, heart, and body) need to be fully engaged to, as St. Clare affirms, “love God and Serve God”. It’s a deep knowing that the wholeness of both ourselves and the world we inhabit are given to us out of love and for our love.  to love

 In Matthew 25:40, we read “Whatever you did to one of these brothers of mine, you did to me” which some have interpreted as a glimpse of the final judgement. While scholars may debate as to whether it is to be considered as such or a parable, the point is clear: there is a seamlessness and dynamism between our loving service to the weak and marginalized and love of God.