(photo: Sherburne County, Minnesota (USA), Tom Delaney, 2025) And just like that...it's winter here in Central Minnesota. The snow fell overnight while a stiff wind blew from the north that shook the forest. Fittingly, today's Liturgy of the Word includes the beautiful canticle from Daniel (Chapter 3) and ... Cold and chill, bless the Lord;Praise … Continue reading “New Things” in Theology Point to the Science of Mental Health
trauma
Vatican Convenes “Ministry of Hope” Catholic Forum on Mental Well-Being
(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
Acceptance and Self-Forgiveness: Keys to Personal Growth After Trauma
(art: Le Bal Bullier, Sonia Delaunay, 1913) Research continues to confirm the important role of forgiveness and forgiveness processes for persons recovering from traumatic experiences, and for personal growth after traumatic experiences (post-traumatic growth, or "PTG"). In a recent article published in Spirituality in Clinical Practice, researcher Margaret Poandl and colleagues (2025) at Virginia Commonwealth … Continue reading Acceptance and Self-Forgiveness: Keys to Personal Growth After Trauma
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 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
Moral Distress & Moral Injury in Forgiveness
(photo: Скорбящая Mать, Sergey Cherny, 2012) Forgiveness models and processes often involve moral distress and moral injury a person has experienced, including in practicing a forgiveness process in small groups and guided retreats. Having good definitions of moral distress and moral injury and an understanding of their relationship can improve the quality of forgiveness processes … Continue reading Moral Distress & Moral Injury in Forgiveness
Forgiving Makes More Forgiveness
(photo: Prairie Deer Mouse by Tom Delaney, Sherburne County, Minnesota, 2025) An important part of my day is the time I spend in our stable, hay shed, and on our pastures. Regularly doing some outdoor work caring for animals and little ecosystems like pastures, keeps gives me a daily connection to nature and the proverbial … Continue reading Forgiving Makes More Forgiveness
New Heart, Natural Heart
(photo by Tom Delaney, Sherburne County, Minnesota, 2025) One thing that you start seeing in the woods around the oak savanna this time of year is a noticeable addition of mushrooms. This trend starts in late summer and will have a crescendo in the fall. These mushrooms caught my eye as I was walking through … Continue reading New Heart, Natural Heart
When you know how important you are, you know how important your forgiveness is!
(photo by Tom Delaney, Sherburne County, Minnesota, 2025) An amazing summer for wildlflowers continues on the oak savanna here in Central Minnesota. A patch of sage by the pastures does well every year, ans this year hosts a guest Black Eyed Susan. Today's Liturgy of the Hours and Liturgy of the Word again gives us … Continue reading When you know how important you are, you know how important your forgiveness is!
Live and Forgive 