(art: Duccio di Buoninsegna, 1255–1319) Today marks the 5th anniversary of the Vatican's historic encyclical concerning forgiveness and reconciliation in societal relationships, Fratelli Tutti. The work was composed by Pope Francis, who quoted St. Francis of Assisi in opening the work with the words, "fratelli tutti," meaning "all brothers and sisters." The publication date of … Continue reading 5th Anniversary of Historic Vatican Forgiveness & Reconciliation Encyclical
St. Francis
Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi Today
Today is the day that the Catholic Church remembers the death of St. Francis of Assisi. Written accounts tell us that he died on October 3, 1226, a date termed his transitus. By the time of his death, St. Francis had started an entire movement, including religious orders that included clergy, nuns and laity. He … Continue reading Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi Today
Pope Leo Explains the Resurrection as Cause and Model for Forgiveness
(photo: Edgar Beltran, 2025) Pope Leo XIV had important things to say about forgiveness in his General Audience on Wednesday of this week. His remarks linked forgiveness to the example of Jesus Christ when he appeared to the disciples after his resurrection (John 20:19-31), and how Jesus appears without anger or desire for revenge, but … Continue reading Pope Leo Explains the Resurrection as Cause and Model for Forgiveness
Wishing Forgiveness, Wishing Peace
(photo: White Cheese Polyspore, Tom Delaney, Sherburne County, Minnesota, 20205) Cooler temperatures, foggy mornings and lots of moisture in the earth and air has resulted in lots of mushroom and fungus fruiting in the mixed stands of red pine and oak that we have here. In just one walk through the woods, you will see … Continue reading Wishing Forgiveness, Wishing Peace
The Way to Forgiveness: Quiet and Meditation
(photo: Mississippi River shoreline, Julian Garcia-Delaney, Minnesota, 2025) Nature is a very accurate reflection of our mental state. Look once, and you don't see anything. Look again, and suddenly you see something there that you didn't see before. What changed? Today let's consider another one of the Admonitions of St. Francis of Assisi. As I … Continue reading The Way to Forgiveness: Quiet and Meditation
Keys to Forgiveness: Patience & Humility
(photo: Tom Delaney, Stearns County, Minnesota 2025) The colors and shapes of the natural world are a joy to behold. As much as nature is set up to perform amazing displays of splendorous color, we ourselves are set up to behold these displays and experience emotional responses of awe, wonder, and joy at them. It … Continue reading Keys to Forgiveness: Patience & Humility
Franciscan Wisdom for Forgiveness: Balance
(photo: Tom Delaney, Sherburne County, Minnesota, 2025) We had a little surprise in the daily parade of deer along the woodline when this young White-Tailed Deer (Ordocoileus virginianus) buck showed up. In Anishinaabemowin, the language of the indigenous Ojibwe people of our area, these deer are called waawaashkeshi. In the language of the indigenous Dakota … Continue reading Franciscan Wisdom for Forgiveness: Balance
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
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
Live and Forgive 