Pope Francis leaves no room for doubt about where he stands on what abortion. He has been unambiguously clear that the humanity of an unborn child must always be protected. Will we win the pervasive threats to life in a “throw-away culture”?
Mindwalk Podcasts: Latest posts and thoughts…
Are You a Vincentian Cricket?
St. VIncent was one of the great influencers. He lived the prayer “May love light up my mortal frame until others catch the living flame.” He set hearts afire!
What Questions Get You Thinking?
How do I want the world to be different because I lived in it?
How do I want to be different because I lived in this world?
What is wrong with the picture I see?
What is the next thing that needs to be done?
I Predict the Synod will…
The Church has just begun a three-year process focused on not only truly listening to each other. We are called to listen to the Holy Spirit whose view spans all of time and eternity. Most visitors to Vincentian Mindwalk are aware that Pope Francis is playing the “long game”on reading the signs of the times today just as Vatican II did in the mid 20th century. I predict … at least 3 simultaneous “synods”!
Do we need a reset?
Over the next three years of the “synodal process”, Jesus is asking us to gather in the upper rooms of our homes, dioceses, countries, and finally in Rome. To respectfully wait for and listen to the Spirit speaking not only to our hearts but in the hearts of our sisters and brothers. He is asking us to walk together.
Playing the Short Game Or the Long Game?
Jesus could have handed out copies of his encyclicals – the Sermon on the Mount, Beatitudes, the Our Father. Rather, he gave us his preaching as guides to understand the next stage of the journey of the Body of Christ to discover the fulness of eternal life in God!
How Can You Disagree With the Pope… and others?
The church is a family, “God’s people”. Family fights are the worst. But disagreements are part of any family or community. Suppressing them leads to frustration and dysfunctional behavior. Our goal must be to be reconcilers, not dividers.
Mary’s Memories – the Rosary As Her Scrapbook
“She kept all these things, pondering them in her heart” (Lk 2:19; cf. 2:51)
To me, that’s another way of saying she kept her scrapbook of memories of special memories of her son in her heart.
How Christ-like Do You Think You Are?
When St. Paul asks us to “put on the mind of Christ” he has much more in mind than mouthing Jesus’ words. I believe he is asking us to look at our attitudes and actions. We are called to “walk the talk”!
The “Dead Horse Theory” of Ministry
Organizations… and individuals… develop all kinds of strategies to cope with change. Some strategies are more successful than others. There is one strategy that has many lives … the “dead horse” theory.
The Courage to See Ourselves As God Sees Us?
As I think about contemplation, I realize that the phrase “the courage to be” might be adapted to understanding of contemplation. It takes courage to become aware of God’s long, loving look at me.
Have You Tried Christianity?
“… in the modern world we are primarily confronted with the extraordinary spectacle of people turning to new ideals because that have not tried the old. Men have got tired of Christianity; they have never found enough Christianity to get tired of.” Chesterton
Pope Francis Wants To Hear From You!
The Synod is “intended to inspire people to dream about the church we are called to be, to make people’s hopes flourish, to stimulate trust, to bind up wounds, to weave new and deeper relationships, to learn from one another, to build bridges, to enlighten minds, warm hearts, and restore strength to our hands for our common mission.”