Franciscan brothers and sisters from fraternities in the Regional Fraternity of Eastern Canada have shared their reflections

The Mother Teresa Connection

Our Regional Minister, Michel David uses a short quote after his name and title, "The good you do today will often be forgotten, do good anyway" but do we know the history behind where this quote comes from?

The above quote comes from "The Paradoxical Commandments" which were written by Kent M. Keith when he was 19, a sophomore at Harvard College. He wrote them as part of a book for student leaders entitled The Silent Revolution: Dynamic Leadership in the Student Council, published by Harvard Student Agencies in 1968. The Paradoxical Commandments subsequently spread all over the world, and have been used by millions of people.

Mother Teresa put the Paradoxical Commandments up on the wall of her children's home in Calcutta. The fact that the commandments were on her wall was reported in a book compiled by Lucinda Vardey, Mother Teresa: A Simple Path, which was published in 1995. As a result, some people have attributed the Paradoxical Commandments to Mother Teresa.
ANYWAY
People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered,
LOVE THEM ANYWAY
If you do good, people will accuse you of
selfish, ulterior motives,
DO GOOD ANYWAY
If you are successful,
you win false friends and true enemies,
SUCCEED ANYWAY
The good you do will be forgotten tomorrow,
DO GOOD ANYWAY
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable,
BE HONEST AND FRANK ANYWAY
What you spent years building may be
destroyed overnight,
BUILD ANYWAY
People really need help
but may attack you if you help them,
HELP PEOPLE ANYWAY
Give the world the best you have
And you'll get kicked in the teeth,
GIVE THE WORLD THE BEST YOU'VE GOT ANYWAY.
Reflection: Article 1 of OFS Rule
Reflection: Article 8 of OFS Rule
Reflection: Article 12 of the OFS Rule
The Beatitudes : Matt 5:1-12
These reflections were developed by two Secular Franciscans in the Atlantic Area of the Regional Fraternity of Eastern Canada, Doug Hagen and Sherrill Guimond.  In a shorter form, they were presented at an Area meeting, and then, these texts became the basis for one of the retreats hosted by St. Francis of Assisi Fraternity, Cornwall, PEI.