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Softener of Evil Hearts icon

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[[Image:SoftenerofHearts.jpeg|right|200px|Icon]] The '''Softener of Evil Hearts''' [[icon]] is also called the '''Prophecy of Simon''' (or ''Simons Prophecy'') since St Symeon said to Mary, upon the presentation of Our Lord in the temple:
''"Behold, this child is set for the falling and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sin which shall be spoken against. Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."''<ref>Just as Christ would be pierced with nails and a spear, so the soul of Mary would be pierced by a certain weapon of sorrow and pain in the heart, when she saw her Son's suffering. After that, the heretofore hidden thoughts of the people regarding the Messiah would be revealed, and they would face a choice: to be with Christ, or against Him. Such an interpretation of Symeon's prophecy became the subject of a number of icons of the Theotokos. All those who turn to them in prayer sense that with the softening of evil hearts comes an easing of spiritual and physical suffering. People come to recognize that when they pray for their enemies before such icons, their feelings of enmity are softened, and that internecine strife and hatreds abate, giving way to kindness.</ref>
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