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January 12
Aelred of Rievaulx, Swami Vivekananda, and James Farmer
David Barnhart
January 12, 2026
View from “The Most Dangerous Road in the World,” Bolivia, 2006. Own photo.
Today is the feast day of Saint Aelred of Rievaulx, who died in 1167. He wrote about Spiritual Friendship being an expression of the inclusive love of Christ. He is claimed by many gay Christians as a patron saint because of his writings, close friendships with men, and life experiences (including being “outed” in court)
Today is the birthday, in 1863, of Swami Vivekananda, Hindu religious leader who helped popularize Hinduism in the West.
Today is also the birthday, in 1920, of Rev. James Farmer, a civil rights leader who organized the first Freedom Ride in 1961. He co-founded the Committee on Racial Equality, and wrote on religion and racism. We remembered his death on July 9.
Reflection:
Saint Aelred wrote:
“Let love of self, then, be man’s first sabbath, love of neighbor the second, and love of God be the sabbath of sabbaths. …None of them can be possessed without all. And when one wavers they all diminish.”
Swami Vivekananda wrote:
“After so much austerity I have known that the highest truth is this: He is present in every being! These are all in manifold forms of him. There is no other God to seek for! He alone is worshipping God, who serves all beings!”
James Farmer wrote:
“We all have a stake—equally. Because if we do not save the environment and save the Earth, then whatever we do in civil rights or in a war against poverty will be of no meaning, because then we will have the equality of extinction and the brotherhood of the grave.”
and
“Evil societies always kill their consciences. We, who are the living, possess the past. Tomorrow is for our martyrs.”
Prayer: Holy Spirit, prevent us from killing our consciences, and unite us in saving the Earth. Amen.