A Word to the Wise — Silence

Posted on February 23, 2016 by Daniel J. Miller

Silence [sahy-luh ns] I’ve been listening to the audio version of Thich Nhat Hanh’s book Silence: The Power of Quiet in a World Full of Noise. I’m also watching too many Presidential Primary debates. As a result -- This week’s word is silence.[1] It Read more [...]

Harper Lee R.I.P.

Posted on February 20, 2016 by Daniel J. Miller

As my children know, I am a sucker for “Clickbait” on web portal Homepages, especially the kind whose headlines have the word “favorite” in them: Five Favorite Foods of Thin People, Favorite Places to Retire, Favorite Wildflower Hikes, All-Time Read more [...]

Passing Over, Coming Back Anew

Posted on November 12, 2014 by Daniel J. Miller

Gus Zuehlke, a friend and former student of John S. Dunne, spent some time at Father Dunne’s hospital bedside and reported on his visit in a post to Notre Dame Magazine: “As I was silently praying in John’s room, a nurse walked in and said to me, Read more [...]

Maybe the Emptiness

Posted on March 22, 2014 by Daniel J. Miller

Lent is to Easter what Advent is to Christmas: the tomb of death becomes the womb of life just as the darkness holds the unseen light. During Advent we hear from Isaiah (and it is echoed in Matthew) “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great Read more [...]

The Samurai and the Monk

Posted on April 20, 2013 by Daniel J. Miller

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be conceited. Repay no one evil for evil, Read more [...]

The Reason for the Season — Really?

Posted on December 30, 2010 by Daniel J. Miller

“Jesus is the Reason for the Season” is one of those slogans that tries too hard and that came upon the scene a few years ago now with its twin sibling “Put Christ Back into Christmas.” It has always felt to me like each is meant as a not-so-subtle Read more [...]

Poetry and Faith as Participative Acts

Posted on November 17, 2010 by Daniel J. Miller

Lest those of us who are Catholic forget, the single greatest liturgical change that was set in motion at the Second Vatican Council, was not that the language of the Mass changed from Latin to the vernacular of the people gathered, nor that Monsignor Read more [...]

A Modest Proposal

Posted on March 3, 2010 by Daniel J. Miller

My modest proposal is that if we cannot always “embody the hurt” of others at least we can compassionately accompany them as they struggle to face, faithfully live, and respond to the painful parts of reality. At least we can help conquer callousness Read more [...]

The Silence that Moves Us Toward Compassion and Justice

Posted on November 29, 2009 by Daniel J. Miller

In addition to being the fertile ground for self-understanding and healthy self-care as well as the sanctuary for contemplative prayer, the silence of a listening heart is also the seedbed for reverent relationships, social compassion, and cosmic concern. Read more [...]

Solitude: The Classroom of Compassion

Posted on November 20, 2009 by Daniel J. Miller

Note: Again, originally I wrote this for pastoral caregivers but it is appropriate for all of us as we respond to Wendell Berry’s invitation (and Jesus’ charge) to practice resurrection (The theme for H&H 2009-2010). As I mentioned in October Read more [...]

The Sacred Braid

Helping Persons and Communities Weave Lives of Spiritual Depth.

Tag Archives: Compassion