"Lord, make me an instrument of your peace." ~ Traditional Franciscan Saying It's a very old saying within Franciscan tradition, sometimes even attributed to St. Francis of Assisi himself. But what does it mean. "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace?" and why would someone ever ask for that? What is peace? It's always … Continue reading Job Opening: Peacemaker, no previous experience needed
human flourishing
The Burden That Can Free You Forever
Jesus said:"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,for I am meek and humble of heart;and you will find rest for yourselves.For my yoke is easy, and my burden light." (Gospel of Matthew 11:28-30) I was fortunate to attend elementary … Continue reading The Burden That Can Free You Forever
How to Use Forgiveness for Staying Human
If you and I can agree that being a human being is basically a good thing, then we can talk about our lives being even better by being even more human. We can talk about what "humanizes" and what "dehumanizes." What humanizes us is good, because it levels up the good things about being human. … Continue reading How to Use Forgiveness for Staying Human
How to Make Your World More Forgiving for You (and Everybody Else)
If you could make the world a more forgiving place for you, would you? For as long as human beings have been around, they have looked for ways to arrange the world and its events so as to fulfill our needs, wishes, hopes, and desires. Over millennia, we have looked for these ways in science, … Continue reading How to Make Your World More Forgiving for You (and Everybody Else)
Love & Forgiveness: Process is Everything and Everything is Process
Let me tell you something about being a Franciscan that you may find insightful about your own life, and your own efforts to unfold the best parts of yourself and live your life fully. What I have learned about being a Franciscan is that it's more like a process than it is a status. Yes, … Continue reading Love & Forgiveness: Process is Everything and Everything is Process
Your Wake-Up Call from Love Today
If you follow the daily biblical readings in the Liturgy of the Word for the Catholic Church, you will see that today's reading from John's first letter includes the most straightforward, and in some ways complete, explanation of God that there is: God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God, and God … Continue reading Your Wake-Up Call from Love Today
Forgiveness Keeps the Sanctity of Your Relationships
Every evening, a rabbit we came to name "Francis" makes its rounds through the pastures. The rabbit has figured prominently in the mythology of many cultures, including the Ojibwe and Dakota cultures indigenous to our part of Central Minnesota. Seeing Francis is an opportunity to experience a long time historical and important spiritual legacy related … Continue reading Forgiveness Keeps the Sanctity of Your Relationships
Love is Your Key to Human Flourishing
For a very long time, and all around the world, thinkers have asked whether we can clearly define a good life, or the best life, for ourselves. The idea is that if we could clearly define it, then we would know what we need to do in order to get it and have it for … Continue reading Love is Your Key to Human Flourishing
Saturday! 2026 Catholic Men’s Conference!
This Saturday, I will be doing a session during all three scheduled breakouts at the 2026 Catholic Men's Conference at Saint John's University (MN). Consider joining me for this informative and inspiring event on the historical and beautiful campus of St. John' University and St. John's Abbey! If you have to miss this event, but … Continue reading Saturday! 2026 Catholic Men’s Conference!
Notre Dame Professor Melissa Moschella Explains Natural Law and Human Flourishing
This article summarizes a recent interview in OSV News of Dr. Melissa Moschella, a professor of the practice in philosophy at the University of Notre Dame’s McGrath Institute for Church Life, on the topic of natural law and human flourishing. Natural law and human flourishing are explained, as well as the connection between them (photo: … Continue reading Notre Dame Professor Melissa Moschella Explains Natural Law and Human Flourishing
Live and Forgive 