WEEK ONE

DAY ONE

Spiritual Exercise for Day True Heart Time

Take a moment to ask God for this grace: “Lord, open me to the knowledge of my own heart.”  

The heart is where the important work of prayer takes place. The mind reveals facts, but the heart reveals the truth, your innermost being. The “heart” is the word used in Scripture for the most important aspects of the human condition. 

Listen to the passages below, and “listen” to which statements strike your own heart. Discover which ones have the strongest impact, stir you, give you hope. Notice the ones that feel like they are “just for you.” 

Mark those and write in your journal the reason you think they are meaningful for you.

Here are the examples:

+ The heart reveals the state of corruption caused by sin.  

+ The heart is where the process of conversion and forgiveness takes place.  

+ A True Heart enables one to see God. 

+ The heart is the center of compassion. 

+ The heart is the vessel holding the secrets that illuminate the true meaning of life (Mt 6:21; Lk 24:32; Ps 85:9).

+ The heart is defined as the center of human consciousness...  

+ The heart perceives love as the ultimate end, gift and purpose of being (1 Cor 13). 

+ The testimony of Christ in Scripture speaks to the heart’s desire for innocence., .  

+ Christ gives the conviction that He can be found in hearts who seek Him.  

Seek knowledge of the heart, and ask God for the grace to open a pathway to your heart. Seek, also, knowledge of God’s heart, present in Christ’s Sacred Heart. This grace will help to unite your heart to the heart of Christ. 

Say out loud: “Lord, open me to the knowledge of my heart.” 

Every day, pay close attention to what your heart senses and believes.

SPIRITUAL LOG

THREE PERIODS

1. Morning True Heart Time — 20 Minutes Total

Location___________   I Trained   Yes___ No___  (If no, why?___________________________)

2. Evening True Heart Time — 20 Minutes Total

Location___________   I Trained Yes___ No___  (If no, why?___________________________)

3. Day True Heart Time — A Contiguous 45 Minutes

Location___________   I Trained   Yes___ No___  (If no, why?___________________________)

THREE PRAYERS

1. When-I-Awake-in-the-Morning Prayer — 2 Minutes Total

Location___________   I Trained   Yes___ No___  (If no, why?___________________________)

2. TRUE HEART Prayer — 15 Minutes Total

Location___________   I Trained Yes___ No___  (If no, why?___________________________)

3. As-I-Lay-Down-to-Sleep Prayer — 2 Minutes Total

Location___________   I Trained Yes___ No___ (If no, why?____________________________)

THREE EXERCISES

1. Daily Spiritual Exercise — 15-20 Minutes Daily

Location___________   I Trained Yes___ No___ (If no, why?____________________________)

2. Daily Spiritual Reflection Exercise — 1-3 Minutes Daily

Location___________   I Trained Yes___ No___ (If no, why?____________________________)

3. Exercise Journal — 1-2 Minutes Daily

Location___________   I Trained Yes___ No___ (If no, why?____________________________)

JOURNAL ENTRIES

---A “vain, self-centered” fantasy or action that decreased my faith, hope and love of God and neighbor.

---A “holy, self-less” fantasy or action that increased my faith, hope and love of God and neighbor.

CONSIDER PRAYING WITH THE EXAMEN MEDITATION BELOW AT NOON OR AT THE CLOSE OF YOUR DAY

ALTERNATELY, YOU CAN PRAY WITH IT DURING YOUR UNSTRUCTURED TRUE HEART TIME