During the novena before the feast of the Sacred Heart, I would receive a little note under my door each day. It had a paragraph reflecting on Christ’s heart and his love for us – moreover, in English.

I appreciated them as I had not quite considered some of the reflections that way before. One example: a mother loves her child the same even if he is deformed or disabled, and Christ loves us in this way despite being deformed by sin.

Then one day it didn’t arrive. I waiting and wondered. Then at dinner a brother came up and gave me it, “Sorry, I didn’t give this to you earlier today.” Now I knew who it was who had offered the reflections but I think he would like to remain the Sacred Heart Gnome.

How many opportunities are we offered to do hidden acts of charity? And often we can go beyond mere helpfulness to the other’s spiritual good like this brother did.