590- Two Priests Attracting my Heart to Heaven

 

St-Takla.org Image: A Coptic Bishop (H. G. Bishop Benjamin of Menofia), and Baptism water (baptismal font), at St. Takla Himanot Church Baptistery, Alexandria, Egypt - Published with permission of the child's parents (Fady Ragy) - Photograph by Michael Ghaly for St-Takla.org, 2009. صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: أسقف قبطي (نيافة الحبر الجليل الأنبا بنيامين أسقف المنوفية)، و مياه المعمودية - جرن المعمودية في معمودية كنيسة أنبا تكلاهيمانوت القبطية الأرثوذكسية، الإسكندرية، مصر - منشورة بإذن أسرة الطفل (فادي راجي) صاحب الصورة - تصوير مايكل غالي لـ: موقع الأنبا تكلا هيمانوت، 2009 م.

Long years ago, a lady came to me to make confession. With a meek heart she said, “I come to confess with a heart longing for Heaven.”

“What stirred you up to confess?”

“Two priests took my heart to Heaven. As I entered the church I saw a priest sitting by a child making confession. The father was about to embrace the child caring for every word he said. I felt in his fatherhood a shadow of the fatherhood of God who cares for every person whoever he/she is. As I walked in, I saw a wonderful view that dragged my heart to heart. I saw another priest praying reverently before the baptismal font. His face shined with the fear of God. I felt as if he was praying before the Divine throne in Heaven. The first priest reveal to me God’s love and the second revealed the fear of God which cannot be separated from love. Thus, I desired to repent and confess to cross to my heavenly Father and live In His bosom.

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: كاهنان سحبا قلبي إلى السماء!

Grant me O Lord while practicing any church sacrament,

To be deep not literal.

Let me see You and know Your secrets.

I desire to rush to Your bosom,

Taking with me all mankind to enjoy You.

Then, Your glory would be reflected in our depth,

And Your kingdom would be established in us.

Let Your love and fear meet in me,

In order to accompany the angels who are full of love and fear.

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