The Doctor, the Nun, and the Handshake: The Origins of the Mayo Clinic
Two weeks ago I had the privilege of leading a retreat at Assisi Heights in Rochester, MN. Before going there, I was vagually aware that these Franciscan Sisters were somehow “connected” to the Mayo Clinic. But once I was on their beautiful grounds, their incredible story began to unfold for me. Here are a few […]
An Image of Faith: Riding the Tractor with My Dad
June 2, 1914 was my father’s birthday. As a result, he’s always on my mind in early June. I think of him a lot in early August too, because he passed away on August 10, 2003 at the age of 89. I’m wondering: do you think about your deceased loved ones on their birthdays? What […]
The Gift of Teachability
On his 51st birthday, writer H. Jackson Brown decided to jot down some of the lessons he had learned during his lifetime. As the top of a sheet of paper, he wrote, “I’ve learned that…” and came up with 25 lessons. So enjoyable was this excerise, he soon asked others to do the same thing. […]
How Well Do You Know Mary?
I can’t let May slip away without saying something about Mary, the Mother of Jesus. So, I thought we’d have a little fun today. Here’s a 12 point quiz on Mary for you to take. (I can hear some of your groaning… “A quiz? You think that’s fun?” But let me ease any anxiety you […]
Frederick Buechner: Great Writer, Old Friend
Notice: We thank God for our newly elected Pope Leo XIV, the former Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, from Chicago, IL. I will say a few words about him before our song at the end of this reflection. *********************************** The other day I came across a quote by writer Frederick Buechner. It was like running into […]
The Healing Power of Tenderness
Years ago when I was novice director, I came across this sentence in some psychology book I was reading: “A definitive sign of human maturity is tenderness.” These words came back to me as I pondered the life and ministry of Pope Francis. In one of his first encyclicals, Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the […]
Time (Again!) for a Little Laughter
The Easter season is an appropriate time for a little laughter. As someone has said, “On Easter Sunday, Jesus had the last laugh over Death and the Evil Spirit.” And I always appreciated what comedian Victor Borge said: “Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.” With that in mind, here are some items and […]
Easter Reflection: Interview with a Birder
A Happy Easter to all of you! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! I just heard the news that Pope Francis went home to God today, the Monday after Easter. We remember him in special prayer and thank God for his goodness and leadership. I will certainly write more about this beloved Pope in the weeks to come. […]
Holy Week: Celebrating Jesus’ Profound Love
What do we commemorate during Holy Week? Several significant events. On Holy Thursday we commemorate the washing of the feet and the giving of the Eucharist. On Good Friday we remember Jesus’ agony in the garden, his frightening arrest, his torture at the hands of Roman soldiers, the unjust trial, the decisive death sentence, the […]
Poetry for April
April is national poetry month. In honor of this ancient and beautiful literary form, I am offering three short poems for your enjoyment and pondering. I suggest you read each poem slowly and aloud. The first poem is by someone most of you know: John Hopkins a regular reader and responder on this blog. (I […]