Father Ron Rolheiser

On Oct. 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, Pope Francis released a new encyclical titled “Fratelli Tutti” (“On Fraternity and Social Friendship).” It can appear a rather depressing read because of its searing realism, except it plays the long game of Christian hope.

“The excusable doesn’t need to be excused and the inexcusable cannot be excused.”

“The last temptation is the greatest treason: To do the right deed for the wrong reason.”

What kinds of things help induce mysticism in our lives? I was asked that question recently and this was my immediate, non-reflected, answer: whatever brings tears to your eyes in either genuine sorrow or genuine joy; but that response was predicated on a lot of things.

“The last temptation is the greatest treason: To do the right deed for the wrong reason.” T.S. Eliot wrote those words to describe how difficult it is to purge our motivation of selfish concerns, to do things for reasons that are not ultimately about ourselves.