[There is a] kind of all-embracing universality evident in…
![“[There is a] kind of all-embracing universality evident in Mother Teresa’s prayer: “May God break my heart so completely that the whole world falls in.” Not just fellow nuns, Catholics, Calcuttans, Indians. The whole world. It gives me pause to realize that, were such a prayer said by me and…” quote by David James Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/158/david-james-duncan-8032_mother-teresa_there-is-a-kind-of-all-embracing-univers_787649.png)
““[There is a] kind of all-embracing universality evident in Mother Teresa’s prayer: “May God break my heart so completely that the whole world falls in.” Not just fellow nuns, Catholics, Calcuttans, Indians. The whole world. It gives me pause to realize that, were such a prayer said by me and answered by God, I would afterward possess a heart so open that even hate-driven zealots would fall inside... [My] sense of the world as a gift, my sense of a grace operative in this world despite its terrors, propels me to allow the world to open my heart still wider, even if the openness comes by breaking—for I have seen the whole world fall into a few hearts, and nothing has ever struck me as more beautiful.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The prayer for a heart broken by divine love expands one’s capacity to love all, even enemies, suggesting that profound openness arises through suffering.
In simple terms: Opening one’s heart through suffering allows universal love.
Key Takeaway
Seek deep compassion, even if it hurts.
Themes
compassion
spirituality
universality
pain
love
Mood
hopeful
introspective
Type
spiritual
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal prayer
- spiritual practice
- social activism
Key Concepts
theology
psychology
humanism
Questions to Reflect On
- Can love survive when constantly broken?
- What boundaries protect the compassionate heart?
A Different Perspective
Such openness can be exploited or lead to burnout.