(photo: Catherine Scott, 2012) Today Vatican News is reporting that the Vatican is convening the "Ministry of Hope" Catholic Forum on Mental Well-Being. The aims of the three-day convening are: Strengthen the Church's pastoral engagement with mental wellbeing. Foster listening, reflection, and collaboration among those accompanying individuals and communities facing psychological, social, and spiritual distress. … Continue reading Vatican Convenes “Ministry of Hope” Catholic Forum on Mental Well-Being
prayer
Update: Pope Leo XIV Announces Worldwide November Prayer Intention for Suicide Prevention
Since the publication of my November 3rd article Is there divine forgiveness for suicide? here on Live and Forgive, Pope Leo XIV set a worldwide intention of prayer for the Catholic Church in this month of November (2025) for the prevention of suicide. The announcement includes a video that you can view: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcME5I05LOg&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vaticannews.va%2F&embeds_referring_origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vaticannews.va&source_ve_path=OTY3MTQ Please share these … Continue reading Update: Pope Leo XIV Announces Worldwide November Prayer Intention for Suicide Prevention
Acceptance is Engagement with Reality of Forgiveness
(art: God Answering Job from the Whirlwind, William Blake, 1805 to 1806) Acceptance of a hurtful event or transgression is so important for forgiveness that it can be truly be said that forgiveness is not possible without acceptance. In the forgiveness process, acceptance in terms of "yes, this is what really happened," is involved in … Continue reading Acceptance is Engagement with Reality of Forgiveness
Middle East Bishop Lives Forgiveness as Path to Peace
(photo: Sidon, Lebanon, Vyacheslav Argenberg, 2008) Catholic Maronite Bishop Mounir Khairallah of Batrun (Lebanon) has been a vocal advocate for peace in the Middle East, as well as for interpersonal forgiveness. He was recently interviewed by Paulina Guzik for OSV News, and shared his personal story of forgiveness and his thoughts on the relationship of … Continue reading Middle East Bishop Lives Forgiveness as Path to Peace
Is there divine forgiveness for suicide?
One of the greatest tragedies and griefs that a person may experience in their lifetime is the death of a loved one when they take their own life. The despair of the loved one that first led them to taking their own life doesn't stop there, but rather extends its devastation to encircle the living … Continue reading Is there divine forgiveness for suicide?
Recognizing Hidden Anger is Step #1 in Forgiveness
(art: Hope, George Frederick Watts, 1886) Anger is a normal and temporarily helpful response to a hurtful event. As an emotion, anger can help us summon the energy to protect ourselves in a situation, or to hastily remove ourselves from a situation even if it means needing a burst of exertion to get past barriers. … Continue reading Recognizing Hidden Anger is Step #1 in Forgiveness
Pope Leo Delivers Message of Hope for the Downcast, Weary, and Suffering
(photo: Pope Leo XIV, Edgar Beltran, 2025) Forgiveness offers both the forgiver and forgiven a relief from the painful and burdensome negative emotions that are experienced when forgiveness has not happened. Particularly when someone has experienced moral distress and moral injury in a hurtful event, we know that these events are commonly followed by: guilt … Continue reading Pope Leo Delivers Message of Hope for the Downcast, Weary, and Suffering
Forgiveness: Receiving and Giving God’s Grace
(photo: Tom Delaney, Sherburne County, Minnesota, 2025) "Frost and cold, bless the Lord!" (Daniel 3:69) Yesterday morning we woke up to our first frost of this autumn here in on the oak savanna in Central Minnesota. The pastures were white and silver that tuned to a brilliant gold as the rising sun cast it's first … Continue reading Forgiveness: Receiving and Giving God’s Grace
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
Pray for Annunciation School
As news of the shooting this morning at Annunciation School in Minneapolis unfolds, we pray especially for the children and their mothers, knowing that God and angels are with them in this terrifying time. (The Annunciation, Henry Ossawa Tanner, 1898)
Live and Forgive 