February 19.  The tongue is a fire. Peter opened the discussion amongst the youth. “Only recently has there been legislation about hate speech. Surely speaking ill of someone has been done for ever and, I think, it is even included in the Ten Commandments.”  Anne, one of the older member in the group helped out, “According to the Catechism sins against the 8th commandment include calumny and detraction. What does that mean?  It is to do with the reputation of others. Calumny is telling untruths about people while detraction is disclosing information that is true about someone’s faults and failings but harms their reputation.” “Could that be about someone being LGBTQI  or HIV positive?” Julia wanted to know, “Is that gossip and can that really be sinful?” Becoming an eco-friendly family:  Be particularly conscious of what you say about others.    

How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is an unrighteous world among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the cycle of nature and set on fire by hell. Every kind of beast and bird, reptile and sea creature can be tamed, but no human being can tame the tongue, a restless evil, full of deadly poison. James 3:1-10.   Pope Francis:  In the family we receive an integral education which enables us to grow harmoniously in personal maturity.  We learn to ask, without demanding, to say, “thank you,” to control our aggressivity and greed and to ask forgiveness when we have caused harm. These simple gestures of heartfelt courtesy help to create a culture of shared life and respect for our surroundings. LS 212.