While poverty can be described in many ways, the United Nations defines extreme poverty as “a condition characterized by severe deprivation of basic human needs, including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education and information. It...
The motto on the great seal of the United States is the Latin “E Pluribus Unum.” It’s translated: “Out of the Many, One.” And it contains 13 letters, one for each of the original states who, though very different from one another, decided to try to work together as...
I never gave much thought to what is involved when I hear or ask the question, “Don’t you understand?” Sometimes in frustration, I have said, “Don’t you understand”? After all, it was so obvious to me! Other times, with perhaps deeper frustration, I have felt, “You...
This post originally appeared on ssvpusa.org In 1833, President (and Spiritual Advisor) Emmanuel Bailly opened the first meeting of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul praying “Veni, Sancte Spiritus…” We continue this special devotion to the Holy Spirit today,...
Jesus is, in person, what it means to sow is to harvest and the seed that turns into a tree with large branches, so that birds can dwell in its shade. In today’s gospel, Jesus says that the kingdom of God is like the one who goes to sow and gets to harvest. That is to...
