Franciscan Spirit

There are some saints who were so immersed in prayer that their feet literally left the ground. While amazing, this is by no means unique.

Social friendship is based on the principles of the common good for each and every person and for the environment in which we live and move and have our being.

We are each unique, yet we have so much in common. We all come at things differently, yet we find common ground in sharing our experiences and profiting from each other.

As I reflected on the explosive events of January 6, I couldn’t help but recall from Pope Francis’ newest encyclical the title of Chapter 5: “A Better Kind of Politics.”

In January, we watched a rioting mob invade the US Capitol. In the days that followed many questions confronted us. What must we do to overcome such dangerous polarization?

The man who longed to be a knight, a man of war, dies a man of peace, at peace with God, with himself, and with all of creation.