Fratelli Tutti calls world to live Gospel values

Crape Myrtle bloom in Motherhouse gardens in spring.

In his recent encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, "On the Fraternity and Social Friendship," Pope Francis calls the world to meet the challenges of Gospel charity. Using the parable of the Good Samaritan and many other sources, he urges us to a change of heart, attitudes and lifestyles.

Reading this during the COVID-19 pandemic and a presidential election year in our country, it was easy to see how the world would be a much better place if we tried to live as the Holy Father suggests.

In Chapter Six of the encyclical, "Dialogue and Friendship in Society," the pope brings out the need for dialogue, which he defines as "approaching, speaking, listening, looking at, coming to know and understand one another, and to find common ground." This kind of dialogue is not accomplished through social media.

At the end of Chapter Six is a section entitled "Recovering Kindness." It starts with the following statement:

Consumerist individualism has led to great injustice. Other persons come to be viewed simply as obstacles to our own serene existence; we end up treating them as annoyances and we become increasingly aggressive. This is even more the case in times of crisis, catastrophe and hardship, when we are tempted to think in terms of the old saying, "every man for himself." Yet even then, we can choose to cultivate kindness. Those who do so become stars shining in the midst of darkness.

Lantana blooms in backyard of Motherhouse.

The Holy Father cites St. Paul (Gal. 5:22) who describes kindness as a fruit of the Holy Spirit. The Greek word Paul uses is chrestotes, an attitude that is gentle, pleasant and supportive, not rude and coarse. Pope Francis says kindness ought to be cultivated.

Precisely because it entails esteem and respect for others, once kindness becomes a culture within society it transforms lifestyles, relationships and the ways ideas are discussed and compared. Kindness facilitates the quest for consensus; it opens new paths where hostility and conflict would burn all bridges.

With the pandemic still infecting thousands, with a deeply divided country as shown by the results of the presidential election, with many out of work and at risk of being evicted, with school systems and health care systems struggling to cope with the realities of the pandemic, we could use respect and kindness towards others being cultivated amid the seeds of uncertainty.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving this month, maybe in a different way than we usually do, let us give thanks for all the many blessings in our life and pray that we all become better at cultivating kindness towards each other.

Maxim 64 of Father Jean-Pierre Medaille, the Jesuit founder of the Sisters of St. Joseph in 17th century France, says "Strive to be kind always to everyone and unkind to no one."

Happy Thanksgiving!

Angel Trumpet plant bloom in Motherhouse gardens.