This article is for Catholics and others who want to learn about restorative justice, how restorative justice is an important way to live the Catholic faith, and basics for implementing restorative justice groups in parishes and communities. Related points in a recent Vatican News article linking restorative justice practices to Pope Leo's address on 2026 … Continue reading How Restorative Justice Puts Catholic Faith into Action
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Franciscan Wisdom: Wellness Needs Openness to Change
This article is for Catholics and anyone who feels and sees a need for change in their life, especially with a desire to experience greater wellness for themselves than what they are experiencing in their current situation. This article explains how openness to change is required for attaining and improving wellness and the personal and … Continue reading Franciscan Wisdom: Wellness Needs Openness to Change
How to Improve Your Digital Wellness and Life Wellbeing with Better Friendships
This article is for Catholics and others who want to improve their digital wellness (personal use of the internet, technology, social media, artificial intelligence, etc.) and life wellbeing. Wellbeing or wellness is explained as having eight dimensions. Friendships are explained as important to at least three of those dimensions: the social, emotional and spiritual dimensions. … Continue reading How to Improve Your Digital Wellness and Life Wellbeing with Better Friendships
Pope Sets New Jubilee for 800th Anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi’s Death
Death and Ascension of St. Francis, Giotto di Bondone, 1325, Basilica of Santa Croce Big news for our community of Secular Franciscans in Central Minnesota today! Pope Leo XIV has decreed a special Jubilee Year of Saint Francis to take place from January 10, 2026 to January 10, 2027, on the occasion of the eighth … Continue reading Pope Sets New Jubilee for 800th Anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi’s Death
How to “Know, Pray, Do” for Better Forgiveness
(art: La Vierge aux Lys, William-Adolphe Bouguereau, 1899) This article is for Catholics who want to renew and grow in their practice of forgiveness, especially in the new year of 2026. This article highlights insights into forgiveness by Pope Leo XIV during the 2026 Solemnity of Mary homily for the mass and Angelus. The insights … Continue reading How to “Know, Pray, Do” for Better Forgiveness
New Research: Here’s How Self-Kindness and Being Social Can Support Your Self-Forgiveness
(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
Forgiveness is the Holy Door of the Heart
(photo: Holy Door at Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major, Berthold Werner, 2007) This article excerpts key points of the address given by Cardinal Archpriest Rolandas Macrickas at the closing of the Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Sant Mary Major that relate to forgiveness. The key points can help understand what forgiveness is, … Continue reading Forgiveness is the Holy Door of the Heart
Franciscan Advice: When forgiveness isn’t enough you need to clean house too! Here’s how!
(photo: Sherburne County, Minnesota (USA), Tom Delaney, 2025) Central Minnesota is blanketed in deep snow. The contours and features of the land get to be rounded and softer now, with a more resplendent and sparkling reflection of any glimmer of light. It makes you wonder if we are not cable of the same transformation -- … Continue reading Franciscan Advice: When forgiveness isn’t enough you need to clean house too! Here’s how!
Four Steps to Restore Harmony in Your Life: Repent, Repair, Reconcile, Rejoice
This post is for Catholic parishioners and community members who want a step-by-step process of restoring harmony to their lives, especially after an event or series of events that caused moral stress or moral injury for themselves, others, or both. A four step process for restoring is proposed based on the homily of Pope Leo … Continue reading Four Steps to Restore Harmony in Your Life: Repent, Repair, Reconcile, Rejoice
Franciscan Advice for Entering Advent
(photo: Geheimnis der Weihnacht, Turris Davidica, 2014) Today is the day of Advent, are you ready? Are you wondering what there is to be ready for? Advent is an important liturgical season because it does two things for us: it memorializes, and it invites. Let's take a closer look at how Advent each of these … Continue reading Franciscan Advice for Entering Advent
Live and Forgive 