RE-humanize this Lent
Reflection Questions and ResponsesSee below the reflection responses and feedback from some of our members who attended RE-humanize the Lent. We offer these as a way to open dialogue and thus build relationships, something desperately needed in these troubling times.
Each week’s questions will be posted below the appropriate heading. (Jump to each specific week using the bookmarks in the beige strip below.)
To submit a response, click here.
Week One
What are my initial thoughts about the connection between speech that demonizes others and potential violence as well as polarization? Did anything I heard in the presentations surprise me or make me see the issue in a new light? Might I be called to re-examine my own speech during this sacred season?
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Week Two
In the Gospel according to Luke (4:1-13), Jesus is tempted by the devil to abuse his power as the Son of God in several ways. As a child of God, can I think of times when I have underestimated or undervalued the power of my speech, thereby causing harm, even if unintentionally? And times when I’ve underestimated the power of my speech to do good?
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I Was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me: A Century of Franciscan Solidarity with Migrants
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Join us for Using Our Power: Nonviolence & Noncooperation In History & Today
1-Hour Online Webinar with Maria Stephan and Rivera SunWednesday, March 19, 20251-2pm PT // 2-3pm MT // 3-4pm CT // 4-5pm ETFree, suggested donation...
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Click here to see the FAN Shows Up page for 2024. Click here to see the FAN Shows Up page for 2023. An important part of advocacy for social...
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Discover the Power of Franciscan Community & Civic Engagement Join Franciscan hearted people from across the country this October 18-20, 2025 in...
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Please review the work of the Franciscan Action Network (FAN) in our 2023 Annual Report and let us know how we are doing. Please send your feedback...
Week Three
Cardinal Sean O’Malley has quoted Pope Paul VI in saying that dehumanizing discourse, including racism, not only wounds its target but that the speaker is also “mutilated by their selfishness.” In what way might my selfishness–the perceived self-interest that causes me to distance myself from others with whom I am at odds–mutilate me? Has my image of anyone been “mutilated” after I heard that person use dehumanizing or demonizing language about another?
(Sources: See this recent talk by Cardinal O’Malley, as well as this 2007 post.)
Suggested action: Take a walk outside to find signs of the changing season, such as green shoots or blooms on plants springing out of older, dried out growth. Take a photo and use it to remind yourself that you can change–and others can as well.
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Join us for Using Our Power: Nonviolence & Noncooperation In History & Today
1-Hour Online Webinar with Maria Stephan and Rivera SunWednesday, March 19, 20251-2pm PT // 2-3pm MT // 3-4pm CT // 4-5pm ETFree, suggested donation...
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Click here to see the FAN Shows Up page for 2024. Click here to see the FAN Shows Up page for 2023. An important part of advocacy for social...
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Discover the Power of Franciscan Community & Civic Engagement Join Franciscan hearted people from across the country this October 18-20, 2025 in...
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When: Sunday, January 5, 2025 | 3:30 PM ET / 12:30 PM PT In-Person: Lutheran Church of the Reformation (212 East Capitol St NE, Washington DC)...
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October was not only the month Franciscans celebrated and honored St. Francis of Assisi, but it also brought us another reason to celebrate when...
Webinar: Protect Oak Flat: Preserving a Sacred Site in Arizona from Mining
Please join Franciscan Action Network (FAN) for the first webinar of our 2024 Environmental Justice series, “Protect Oak Flat: Preserving Sacred...
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Please review the work of the Franciscan Action Network (FAN) in our 2023 Annual Report and let us know how we are doing. Please send your feedback...
Week Four
When was the last time you gave yourself the opportunity to have a serious conversation with someone with whom you didn’t agree, thereby allowing yourself to learn and grow? If you have avoided such conversations–or had them and regretted how they went–how could you approach the next one with a re-humanizing lens so as to be more open to growth?
FAN Supports Partners Working to End Human Trafficking
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I Was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me: A Century of Franciscan Solidarity with Migrants
Please join the Franciscan Action Network (FAN) for our annual benefit program, “I Was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me: A Century of Franciscan...
Join us for Using Our Power: Nonviolence & Noncooperation In History & Today
1-Hour Online Webinar with Maria Stephan and Rivera SunWednesday, March 19, 20251-2pm PT // 2-3pm MT // 3-4pm CT // 4-5pm ETFree, suggested donation...
FAN Shows Up – 2025 Actions and Events
Click here to see the FAN Shows Up page for 2024. Click here to see the FAN Shows Up page for 2023. An important part of advocacy for social...
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Discover the Power of Franciscan Community & Civic Engagement Join Franciscan hearted people from across the country this October 18-20, 2025 in...
“Faith in Democracy” Interfaith Prayer Vigil
When: Sunday, January 5, 2025 | 3:30 PM ET / 12:30 PM PT In-Person: Lutheran Church of the Reformation (212 East Capitol St NE, Washington DC)...
2024 Franciscan Justice Leadership Conference: Acting for Peace, People, Planet!
October was not only the month Franciscans celebrated and honored St. Francis of Assisi, but it also brought us another reason to celebrate when...
Webinar: Protect Oak Flat: Preserving a Sacred Site in Arizona from Mining
Please join Franciscan Action Network (FAN) for the first webinar of our 2024 Environmental Justice series, “Protect Oak Flat: Preserving Sacred...
2023 Annual Report
Please review the work of the Franciscan Action Network (FAN) in our 2023 Annual Report and let us know how we are doing. Please send your feedback...
Week Five
While we often think of political violence as involving many people (rioting, insurgency, etc.) or targeting elected officials, it can also involve acts or threats against ordinary citizens. A recent poll of nearly 600 local electoral officials showed that 77% believed that threats to their safety had increased in recent years and 17% had personally experienced threats, which often started with being demonized as “traitors.”
Ask yourself: How can I become more alert to potential violence or threats of violence taking place in my state or community?
FAN Supports Partners Working to End Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is an exploitation of vulnerability and migrants are among the most vulnerable populations. St. Josephine Bakhita (pictured), who...
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I Was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me: A Century of Franciscan Solidarity with Migrants
Please join the Franciscan Action Network (FAN) for our annual benefit program, “I Was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me: A Century of Franciscan...
Join us for Using Our Power: Nonviolence & Noncooperation In History & Today
1-Hour Online Webinar with Maria Stephan and Rivera SunWednesday, March 19, 20251-2pm PT // 2-3pm MT // 3-4pm CT // 4-5pm ETFree, suggested donation...
FAN Shows Up – 2025 Actions and Events
Click here to see the FAN Shows Up page for 2024. Click here to see the FAN Shows Up page for 2023. An important part of advocacy for social...
2025 Franciscan Justice Leadership Conference: Love in Action
Discover the Power of Franciscan Community & Civic Engagement Join Franciscan hearted people from across the country this October 18-20, 2025 in...
“Faith in Democracy” Interfaith Prayer Vigil
When: Sunday, January 5, 2025 | 3:30 PM ET / 12:30 PM PT In-Person: Lutheran Church of the Reformation (212 East Capitol St NE, Washington DC)...
2024 Franciscan Justice Leadership Conference: Acting for Peace, People, Planet!
October was not only the month Franciscans celebrated and honored St. Francis of Assisi, but it also brought us another reason to celebrate when...
Webinar: Protect Oak Flat: Preserving a Sacred Site in Arizona from Mining
Please join Franciscan Action Network (FAN) for the first webinar of our 2024 Environmental Justice series, “Protect Oak Flat: Preserving Sacred...
2023 Annual Report
Please review the work of the Franciscan Action Network (FAN) in our 2023 Annual Report and let us know how we are doing. Please send your feedback...
Week Six
When have I spoken up for someone else who was dehumanized or demonized for their views? Was it someone with whose views I agreed or disagreed? What words did I use to object to their dehumanization and how did that go?
FAN Supports Partners Working to End Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is an exploitation of vulnerability and migrants are among the most vulnerable populations. St. Josephine Bakhita (pictured), who...
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I Was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me: A Century of Franciscan Solidarity with Migrants
Please join the Franciscan Action Network (FAN) for our annual benefit program, “I Was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me: A Century of Franciscan...
Join us for Using Our Power: Nonviolence & Noncooperation In History & Today
1-Hour Online Webinar with Maria Stephan and Rivera SunWednesday, March 19, 20251-2pm PT // 2-3pm MT // 3-4pm CT // 4-5pm ETFree, suggested donation...
FAN Shows Up – 2025 Actions and Events
Click here to see the FAN Shows Up page for 2024. Click here to see the FAN Shows Up page for 2023. An important part of advocacy for social...
2025 Franciscan Justice Leadership Conference: Love in Action
Discover the Power of Franciscan Community & Civic Engagement Join Franciscan hearted people from across the country this October 18-20, 2025 in...
“Faith in Democracy” Interfaith Prayer Vigil
When: Sunday, January 5, 2025 | 3:30 PM ET / 12:30 PM PT In-Person: Lutheran Church of the Reformation (212 East Capitol St NE, Washington DC)...
2024 Franciscan Justice Leadership Conference: Acting for Peace, People, Planet!
October was not only the month Franciscans celebrated and honored St. Francis of Assisi, but it also brought us another reason to celebrate when...
Webinar: Protect Oak Flat: Preserving a Sacred Site in Arizona from Mining
Please join Franciscan Action Network (FAN) for the first webinar of our 2024 Environmental Justice series, “Protect Oak Flat: Preserving Sacred...
2023 Annual Report
Please review the work of the Franciscan Action Network (FAN) in our 2023 Annual Report and let us know how we are doing. Please send your feedback...
Week Seven
How has this Lenten process of considering the links among dehumanization, polarization, and political violence changed my way of thinking and/or behaving? What new tools have I acquired to cope with these issues? What’s the best tip I have learned to help me be a RE-humanizer? What new questions do I have?
FAN Supports Partners Working to End Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is an exploitation of vulnerability and migrants are among the most vulnerable populations. St. Josephine Bakhita (pictured), who...
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I Was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me: A Century of Franciscan Solidarity with Migrants
Please join the Franciscan Action Network (FAN) for our annual benefit program, “I Was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me: A Century of Franciscan...
Join us for Using Our Power: Nonviolence & Noncooperation In History & Today
1-Hour Online Webinar with Maria Stephan and Rivera SunWednesday, March 19, 20251-2pm PT // 2-3pm MT // 3-4pm CT // 4-5pm ETFree, suggested donation...
FAN Shows Up – 2025 Actions and Events
Click here to see the FAN Shows Up page for 2024. Click here to see the FAN Shows Up page for 2023. An important part of advocacy for social...
2025 Franciscan Justice Leadership Conference: Love in Action
Discover the Power of Franciscan Community & Civic Engagement Join Franciscan hearted people from across the country this October 18-20, 2025 in...
“Faith in Democracy” Interfaith Prayer Vigil
When: Sunday, January 5, 2025 | 3:30 PM ET / 12:30 PM PT In-Person: Lutheran Church of the Reformation (212 East Capitol St NE, Washington DC)...
2024 Franciscan Justice Leadership Conference: Acting for Peace, People, Planet!
October was not only the month Franciscans celebrated and honored St. Francis of Assisi, but it also brought us another reason to celebrate when...
Webinar: Protect Oak Flat: Preserving a Sacred Site in Arizona from Mining
Please join Franciscan Action Network (FAN) for the first webinar of our 2024 Environmental Justice series, “Protect Oak Flat: Preserving Sacred...
2023 Annual Report
Please review the work of the Franciscan Action Network (FAN) in our 2023 Annual Report and let us know how we are doing. Please send your feedback...