A CONTEMPLATION TO LOVE AS GOD LOVES – the last Spiritual Exercise of St. Ignatius
Two things to remember: 1. Love manifests itself more in deeds than in words. 2. Love consists in mutual
communication between the two persons.
Imagine that I am before God with everyone I’ve known and all who have gone before me. Everyone
is smiling at me and singing my praises to God. Now I ask God to live more in God’s love.
First Point: I thank God for so many gifts this past year. I think of the people, places, events where I
recognize a gift given to me. I make a list. Then I consider how I can love in return. I give myself to God.
I say the “Take my heart, O Lord…” prayer.
Take my heart, O Lord, take my hopes and dreams.
Take my mind with all its plans and schemes.
(REFRAIN)
Give me nothing more than your love and grace
These alone, O God, are enough for me.
Take my thoughts, O Lord, and my memory.
Take my tears, my joy, my liberty.
I surrender, Lord, all I have and hold.
I return to you your gifts untold. (REFRAIN)
When the darkness falls on my final days,
Take the very breath that sang your praise. (REFRAIN)
by Daniel L. Schutte
Second Point: I consider that God not only creates all but remains present, sustaining. I reflect that God
dwells in me, in others. I reflect what this indwelling presence means and how it empowers and
enlightens. I breathe in this Indwelling Presence. I savor that I live IN God’s love. Then I consider how I
can love in return. I give myself to God. I say the “Take my heart, O Lord…” prayer.
Third Point: I consider that God not only dwells within but also labors, is birthing new life and love in me
and in the world, in the church, in my family, at my site of service. I notice what these “labor pains” are
like. I allow God to labor in each; I yield to God’s action in the struggle. Then I consider how I can
choose to be accepting and encouraging God’s laboring love. I give myself to God. I say the “Take my
heart, O Lord…” prayer.
Fourth Point: I consider that all beauty on earth mirrors the Divine Beauty. All goodness on earth is a
reflection of the Divine Goodness. I note how God continues to pour out from God’s being into all that is
on earth and in the universe. God pours out on us as water pours out from a pitcher or a waterfall. God
continues to pour out not only beauty and goodness, but justice, mercy, compassion again and again. I
consider how I continue to receive this Divine Beauty, Goodness, Justice, Mercy, Compassion. I open
myself to receive whatever God wants to give me now of God’s very self. I say the “Take my heart, O
Lord…” prayer.
Let Your Love pass through my heart into all my movements: Tagore The world is charged with the grandeur of God: Hopkins