05/17/2025
“For words too, not only weapons, can wound and even kill.” Those resonant words from our new Pope Leo XIV strike hard, because we all know they are true. Some years back, when I was still actively serving in Couples for Christ, the session on “Taming the Tongue” taught me a simple rule: bite your lip, sift your thoughts, then decide if a comment really needs to be spoken. More often than not, silence turns out kinder—both to others and to myself.
I learned this the painful way in college. I no longer recall every detail, but I vividly remember the shock and hurt on a friend’s face after I blurted a thoughtless, unfounded word. One careless syllable nearly shattered a solid friendship. By grace, three humble words—“I am sorry”—became the bridge back to trust, yet the lesson stuck: a single utterance can either scar or heal.
In a world where talk is instant and chatter is endless, may we weigh each word like precious gold—letting only those that lift, soothe, or bless pass our lips. Speak to build, not to break. May we always remember Pope Leo's quote that "words too... can wound and even kill."
