Our Lady of Sorrows

The Guardian (UK), my favorite newspaper, published an article on Edward Snowden in its US edition with this quote as the headline:

'Edward Snowden did this country a great service. 
Let him come home'

I sorrow for this intelligent, articulate, sweet-faced young whistleblower who is condemned to an exile he does not desire because he faces a potential death penalty if he returns. The American Civil Liberties Union and other organizations have joined together to ask President Obama to pardon him. (Presidents leaving office generally pardon individuals whose prosecution or imprisonment they deem unjust.)

I wrote to President Obama today on Ed Snowden's behalf. 
I invite you to do the same. Help turn sorrow into joy.

Another sorrow. I received a letter from Sabine, a former classmate from Germany, kind and sweet and beautiful, telling me she is recovering from surgery for a cancer that has returned after several years.

However you pray, could you spare a few words of blessing and healing for this schöne fräulein? Danke schön. Merci mille fois. Grácias.

Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for all of us, as we bear the burdens of other people's sorrows.