Franciscan Wisdom: Use Humility to Grow Peace

/ Tom Delaney, O.F.S.

Fr. Roberto Pasolini is a Franciscan Capuchin priest who serves as the official preacher in the “Papal Household” — basically meaning Pope Leo’s house and residence. He is a gifted author and orator, and will be providing Lenten meditations from March 6 through March 27.

Franciscan Fr. Pasolini’s first meditation makes some important points about the role of humility, as stepping back from trying to control situations, in the process of drawing forth peace in our lives. When we step back we are responding to God’s call to us and allowing God’s love to change the way we see others, including people who have wronged us. This is a conversion of our heart. With the humility of stepping back we see our own flaws and failures, and then are able to see others with mercy. Seeing other with mercy, and in the light of the Gospel, sweeps bitterness from our lives.

… and yes, there’s a connection in saying “use humility to grow peace” when you know that the origin of the word “humility” is in the old Latin word “humus” meaning earth or ground. So of course, if you are going to grow something, you need to plant it in the ground and earth.

Use Humility to Grow Peace: Main Points and Summary

Here is my list of the main points of Franciscan Fr. Pasolini’s meditation on humility and conversion of the heart:

  • When we step back from wanting to take revenge or control a situation or another person, pushing our will, peace will emerge and grow in our lives.
  • It takes courage to step back from will and control in the situations in which we feel we have been wronged, in the way that we need to in order for peace to emerge and grow in our lives.
  • Stepping back from will and control in these situations is a conversion of the heart, and it is a hard task that we need to do daily if we want peace to emerge and grow in our lives.
  • Conversion of the heart happens when we respond to God’s love and grace and let it change the way we see, judge, and want to relate to others.
  • St. Francis of Assisi taught that when we admit our own flaws and failures, we can start to see others with mercy.
  • St. Francis also taught that when we see others with mercy, the Gospel can illuminate the way we think, feel and live, in a way that sweeps away bitterness in our life.

When the instinct is to defend oneself or impose oneself, that is where we see if we have truly learned the Gospel of the cross. Light, in fact, shows its strength not when everything is clear, but when darkness reigns. ~ Fr. Roberto Pasolini, O.F.M. Cap.

Homework for Today

Set aside some time today tto sit still, say a prayer, and then ask yourself to give honest answers to these questions:

  • Can you think of a person who you feel has wronged you, or a situation?
  • How would your thoughts change if you decided to step back from using your own self-centered perspective and will to judge and control the situation, especially if that has only ended up in frustration and more feelings of bitterness?
  • How would your feelings change if you did that?
  • How would the change show up in your choices and actions throughout your day, especially in your relationships with people close to you?
  • Knowing what you know, do you want to step back? If so, what is one important thing you can do today for that to happen?

Take time today to sit still and work your way through these questions. If you are keeping a journal of your work for your own spiritual growth and growth in faith, write down the answers that come to you.

This article is an original work of the author and was not composed by or with artificial intelligence (AI). The author is solely responsible for the contents of this article and the opinions and perspectives expressed in the article are solely those of the author.. © 2026 Thomas Delaney. All rights reserved.

photo: Fr. Roberto Pasolini, O.F.M. Cap., Daniel Ibáñez/CNA, 2025

If your parish or faith community is seeking a deeper experience of wellness and forgiveness as a foundation for inner renewal and spiritual growth, Live and Forgive is here to help. To begin the conversation, email Live and Forgive presenter and facilitator Tom Delaney at tom@liveandforgive.com — he will be glad to connect with you for a conversation.

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