(photo: Seth Willingham, 2016) This article is for Catholics who want to be better at forgiving themselves or help others forgive themselves. This article reviews new research that demonstrates the connection of self-kindness to self-forgiveness, and explains how a person can improve their kindness to themselves as a way of more easily engaging in self-forgiveness. … Continue reading New Research: Here’s How Self-Kindness and Being Social Can Support Your Self-Forgiveness
education
Little Flowers: Forgiveness and Liberation in Captivity
(photo: Robben Island Prison, Michael Coghlan, 2011) Storytelling is a way to do a few important things. Telling a story is a way of teaching, such that a person gains an awareness of something, or an understanding, insight, or new point of view -- the things we associate with instruction and learning in general. Because … Continue reading Little Flowers: Forgiveness and Liberation in Captivity
Forgiveness Education is Mental Health Education Grounded in Love of God and Neighbor
(photo: Bishop Timothy Dolan, OSV News, Gregory A. Shemitz, 2025) Bishop Dolan is a vocal advocate for the work of the Catholic Church to promote mental health in all of its communities. He founded the International Association of Catholic Health Ministers after experiencing the suicide of his brother, and several family members before him. OSV … Continue reading Forgiveness Education is Mental Health Education Grounded in Love of God and Neighbor
Forgiveness Starts with Self-Awareness
(photo: Gnothi Sauton at Reichert-Haus in Ludwigshafen, Immanuel Giel, 2006) There is an old saying, and it's quite simple: "Know thyself." As short and simple as it is, in the (really) old days, it was understood to be such an important thing to do that it was carved into the rock at the Temple of … Continue reading Forgiveness Starts with Self-Awareness
Connecting with Nature Helps Forgiveness
(photo: Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network, 2025) The Vatican News reports that Pope Leo XIV has announced a prayer intention for this month of September "for our relationship with all of creation." In his explanation available via video. Pope Leo XIV specifically recognizes the “the beauty of creation” as a revelation of God and “as the … Continue reading Connecting with Nature Helps Forgiveness
Mercy Makes Forgiveness
(photo: Pope Leo XIV and author Diane Foley, Vatican Media, 2025) I have a theory: Learning from experience is fundamentally human. We learn from our experiences, and what we learn changes the way we think, feel, and act -- sometimes a little, but sometimes in ways that transform us. When we are in community with … Continue reading Mercy Makes Forgiveness
Forgiving Makes More Forgiveness
(photo: Prairie Deer Mouse by Tom Delaney, Sherburne County, Minnesota, 2025) An important part of my day is the time I spend in our stable, hay shed, and on our pastures. Regularly doing some outdoor work caring for animals and little ecosystems like pastures, keeps gives me a daily connection to nature and the proverbial … Continue reading Forgiving Makes More Forgiveness
What Becomes of the Brokenhearted
(photo by Tom Delaney, Sherburne County, Minnesota, 2025) This little patch of Black Eyed Susans (Rudbeckia herta) showed up in our woods for the first time this year. There must be just enough of a break in the overhead canopy of pines to provide the sunlight that these flowers bask in. Black Eyed Susans are … Continue reading What Becomes of the Brokenhearted
Daily Well-Being and Happiness
(photo New day, new hope by Takky edine, 2014) I want to talk about how some things we learn from the morning prayers (Lauds) in the Liturgy of the Hours today relate to forgiveness, and reinforce the importance of forgiveness. But before I do that, I think I need to do something I haven't done … Continue reading Daily Well-Being and Happiness
“I fall to pieces…”
(photo by Tom Delaney, Sherburne County, Minnesota, 2025) The weather is a bot cooler this weekend in Central Minnesota. It may just be a coincidence, but there seem to be more large dragonflies flying this weekend. The cooler temperatures make pasture management a pleasant day outdoors. I came upon this Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata) on … Continue reading “I fall to pieces…”
Live and Forgive 