A Prayer to Sense the Mind of Christ *
Who can know the mind of the Lord, so who can teach him?
But we are those who have the mind of Christ. (1 Cor 2:16).
What man indeed can know the intentions of God?
Who can divine the will of the Lord? (Wisdom 9:13)
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Above all, give me that sensus Christi – the sensing of Christ about which St Paul speaks: that I may feel with your feelings, with the sentiments of your heart, which basically are love for your Father and love for humanity.
Teach me your way of relating to disciples, to sinners, to children, to Pharisees, Pilates and Herods.
Teach me how you deal with your disciples. How delicately you treat them on Lake Tiberias, even preparing breakfast for them! How you washed their feet!
May I learn from you and from your ways, as St Ignatius did: how to eat and drink; how to attend banquets; how to act when hungry or thirsty, when tired from the ministry, when in need of rest or sleep.
Teach me how to be compassionate to the suffering, to the poor, the blind, the lame and the lepers.
Teach me your way of looking at people: as you glanced at Peter after his denial, as you penetrated the heart of the rich young man and the hearts of your disciples.
We have to learn from you the secret of a close bond or union with God: in the more trivial, everyday actions, with that total dedication to loving the Father and all humanity.
Give me that grace, that sensus Christi, your very heartbeat, that I may live all my life, interiorly and exteriorly, proceeding and discerning with your spirit, exactly as you did during your mortal life.
- Pedro Arrupe sj (1907-1991).