Photo Credit, Daughters of Charity On March 15, the Catholic Church celebrated the annual feast of St. Louise de Marillac, co-founder with St. Vincent de Paul, of the Daughters of Charity. She is the inspiration and patron for the many congregations of charity which have threaded their way across the world in the mission to serve the... Continue Reading →
An Outbreak of Kindness and COVID-19
Photo Credit: Pixaby A Harvard medical professor and member of the Threatening Health Systems Project, Dr. Margaret Bourdeux, ended an interview with CNN’s Brianna Keilor in a most surprising way this week. She was summarizing ways U.S. citizens could help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. But in addition to all the scientific information... Continue Reading →
Fasting and Kindness
Photo Credit: Pixaby I recently read that a young Christian physician had finally met a woman who suited his desires and needs as a potential marriage partner. Before he proposed to her, he made several intermittent days of fasting to help in his discernment of whether to “pop the question” to her. Wow! For years I had... Continue Reading →
Ashes, Lent, and Kindness
Photo Credit: Pixaby A few years ago I heard a wonderful talk by Sister Teresa Maya which she had delivered to the Leadership Conference of Women Religious at their annual meeting. Sister Teresa drew an analogy between the ashes of volcanic eruptions, in this case that of St. Helen’s volcano in Washington State, and the... Continue Reading →
A Growing Awareness of Radical Kindness
At the end of our prayer meeting this past week, a woman presented me with a handmade bookmark in the shape of a heart with words to the effect that receiving the bookmark should remind me to do an act of kindness for someone. The woman said, “It is National Radical Kindness Week and I thought... Continue Reading →
Loneliness and the Call to Radical Kindness
A few months ago, someone in our monthly prayer group dropped an anonymous petition in the basket requesting prayers to handle her loneliness. In our next session, we addressed the problem of loneliness and how important spirituality is in facing it. As I began researching the reality of loneliness in our culture, I was surprised... Continue Reading →
Jesus, Kindness, and Dogs
Let’s take a pause. We need some levity. We need some warm, fuzzy comfort in the midst of a debate leaving many Americans feeling angry and divided more than ever. Bring on The Westminster Dog Show!!! This coming February 10 and 11, the oldest sporting event in the United States will be televised. I try never... Continue Reading →
Kindness and the “war of words.”
When I was in junior high, my family got our first television set, a floor model, black and white small screen, Philco (I think). We were enthralled. It was truly a family co-ordinate; kids sprawled on the living room floor watching Red Skelton, our favorite comedian, and the numerous quiz shows and crime stories with Mom bringing... Continue Reading →
Human Trafficking and the Need for Kindness
Photo Credit:Pixaby.com This coming week on February 3, America will slip into the cozy confines of the average family room and dig into the dip and the cheese crackers while guzzling a beverage and turning to the television where two top football teams will play their hearts out to win the Super Bowl. The host... Continue Reading →
Division and Kindness in The Two Popes
St. Peter’s Basilica: Photo Credit, Pixaby.com Similar to It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, another current movie, The Two Popes, gives us something to meditate on concerning kindness and how we live it in the face of increasing division, this time within religion. There are many reasons for recommending this movie, one being, the acting is... Continue Reading →