The Crusades were raging. Christians were fighting their way to the Holy Land. Saint Francis of Assisi was also making his way across the ocean. He was on a ship bound for Egypt. He traveled not with sword in hand, but with a blessing on his lips. He sought peace. In our day and age we know what that means: […]
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Why Learn to Resolve Conflict?
We get this question a lot. There’s a fairly simple answer: unresolved conflict ruins lives. When we look around we find families ruined, nations divided, churches and parishes in turmoil. But that’s the simple answer. It’s easy to say conflict should be resolved. It’s quite another thing to do it. Yet many think resolving conflict is like walking; something you […]
I Did Not Come to Bring Peace
Are we to become peacemakers, or not? The reading for Mass today casts doubt on our project. Matthew 10:34 presents deeply disturbing words spoken by Jesus: “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” At first glance this appears to signal we should cease peacemaking efforts […]
Wisdom and Crafty Souls
… It is the worst Of errors to try to teach a crude ignorance; wisdom will never make It’s way into a crafty soul. Evil power overtops its own bounds: It doesn’t want what is right, but forces the one who does to be the same As itself. But in this it sows seed in the sand; for nature […]
Divine Collaboration
Mediators encourage parties to detach from emotional anchors that keep them tethered to past narratives. We assist the parties as they craft revised narratives that align their interests, intentions, desires, and needs, allowing them to move forward into the future without harming one another. In collaborative problem solving we seek to bring about consensus regarding mutual satisfaction of party needs. […]