Today was shopping day at the Mansion, and most of my meditation class was out buying things at Walmart. I had a small class but a good and very attentive one. I read from Joan  Chittiser’s diary about “the attitude of gratitude” – “application for the small goods of life: the taste of warm, fresh bread, the birthday card in the mailbox, the hour of quiet that returns us to ourselves – is itself a spiritual exercise. It stops us from being whiners. It keeps us in touch with the goodness of God.”

I read more about St. Terese and her “Little Way” of love and good, inspiring me in my work. They love hearing about St. Terese, who died at the age of 24 and was soon made a Saint by the Vatican in 1927. I’m not a Christian, but St. Terese has significantly influenced my life, along with Thomas Merton and other early Christian philosophers and writers.

St. Terese kept her promise to help people there and now.

I’m going to bring white flowers to the class regularly. We also did intense breathing exercises, which they seemed to love. I heard them inhale with strength and meaning. It’s a beautiful class to teach.

There is a lot going on, but please don’t forget the Mansion Fund; they have a lot of needs as summer approaches: Jon Katz, Mansion Fund, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, New York, or via Paypal, [email protected] or Venmo, Jon Katz@Jon-Katz-13. Or by check, Jon Katz, Mansion Fund, P.O. Box 205, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816. Thank you. Small donations really help.

Zinnia has a new job at the Mansion; I’m training her to walk Art (above) and other residents to the dining room after our Meditation Class. Art needs to remember how to get there.

Art’s companion, June, a meditation class member, was moved to another facility last week and was a bit lost. I need to get him another book on automobiles; it cheers him up.

I told the residents about St. Terese and her love of white roses, which she distributed to those she helped. I brought them one which they loved. I’ll get some every week.