(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!
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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
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
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
“…find rest for yourselves.”
(photo by Tom Delaney, Sherburne County, Minnesota, 2025) The Western Goatsbeard (Trapopogon dubius) is a favorite bloom around our pastures here in Central Minnesota. It is a flower that you will find open around dawn and closed by around noontime. Today's Liturgy of the Word includes a Gospel reading from Matthew with some well-known words … Continue reading “…find rest for yourselves.”
Welcome to Live and Forgive!
Ever felt the day-to-day burden of a grudge that just won’t let go? Wondered how to forgive someone who really should have known better—or how to forgive yourself when the memory of something you've done lingers a little too long? You're not alone—and you’re in the right place. Live & Forgive offers Catholic parishes and … Continue reading Welcome to Live and Forgive!