We are told that Saint Catherine was very devoted to the verse from Psalm 51, “Create in me a clean heart”, and one day she had a strange experience in which it seemed that the Lord came to her and removed her physical heart! Later he inserted his own heart into her, saying “I am giving you my heart so that you can go on living with it forever.” Now whatever we think of this story, it is at least a dramatic representation of the teaching of St Paul, “I live now not I but Christ lives in me.” (Galatian 2, 20).  Our deepest identity is Christ. The age and culture in which we live is very conscious of identity. This is, unfortunately, what gives rise to new forms of tribalism and nationalism across the globe. Our identity, however, has only one source, our Creator. Each of us is made in God’s image. To have a pure heart then is to have a heart that is rooted in the mystery of God, that is continually being created and sustained by the newness of the life of God. Purity of heart clarifies things, so that we can be humble in our view of others, finding whatever is good within them. We can even see misfortune in the context of a whole vision of God’s providence and his creation. If our life is rooted in God, we shall see as God sees. God does not see lines drawn on a map. God does not see color of skin, nor does God favor any particular language or creed. To have a pure heart means that wherever you look, you are seeing an enchanted world. You are seeing God. – – – Fr. Jim (with help from a good friend, Fr. Tom Boyer)