Loretto Speaks Out: Living Our Lives Boldly

The Evangelists – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – who gave birth to the New Testament and the words and stories of Jesus that we embrace today, were all writing and speaking the truth in confidence and love. Their goal was that we come to know Christ and his works, that we be strong in our faith to take on Jesus’ practice of speaking words of justice and peace. The Loretto Community is grounded in these Gospels and relentless in its desire to be in solidarity with people who are poor and oppressed.

German Lutheran theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, writing in “Life Together,” states, “Followers of Christ must be like the Samaritan, willing to have God constantly crossing our paths and sending us people with claims and petitions.” Loretto has many times encouraged people to cross our path. We say, “Tell us your story. What do you need? How can we best learn from you?” Christian people cannot just stand back and watch others suffer. We speak out. We listen to the words of I Am the Way, Loretto’s Constitutions, our guide for our life and mission: “As we stand with Mary at the foot of the cross, we strive to bring the healing Spirit of God into our world and we commit ourselves to improving the conditions of those who suffer from injustice, oppression and deprivation of dignity. In this way, we participate in the church’s mission of proclaiming the transforming love of God.” (#33)

This week on Loretto’s Facebook posts we will feature examples of Loretto speaking out and standing up for others. “God, give us the courage to live our lives boldly,” Loretto activist, religious scholar and feminist Sister Ann Patrick Ware once wrote. May we have the grace to do so.