• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe

The gift of our selves

June 6, 2019
By Father Joseph Breighner
Filed Under: Commentary, Wit & Wisdom

As I daily visit my friend with dementia, I obviously get to know some of the other residents at the assisted living facility. Allow me to share a few thoughts about Sigrid.

Sigrid was born in Nuremberg, Germany, just before World War II. As a little girl she remembers the huge rallies that Hitler staged. As I later learned from a PBS special, Hitler used Nuremberg because it had one of the largest plazas, one that would hold throngs of people. Hitler would use these rallies for propaganda films.

When the war started, Sigrid remembers the daily bombing of Germany by the Allies. The British bombed by night. The Americans bombed by day.

Sigrid remembered the Nuremberg trials, when many of Hitler’s associates were convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Hitler avoided the trials by committing suicide.

Despite this traumatic start to her life, Sigrid persevered. She studied music, and became an opera star. When there were evenings of entertainment at the retirement facility, Sigrid would often sing softly in the background. I could hear a whisper of the voice that once thrilled audiences.

At night, Sigrid would walk past my friend’s apartment. We always left the door open. I would chat with Sigrid for just a minute or two every evening. Invariably she would thank me for being there. “I feel safe when you are here,” she would say.

Sigrid died recently. Her voice now joins the choirs of angels in heaven.

I tell her story, however, because I know that many people find it difficult to visit people in retirement facilities. “What would I say?” “She doesn’t always know who I am.”

The questions and doubts often go on and on. But I would encourage you to visit friends and relatives. Visit as a volunteer. It’s not important what you say. It’s only important that you are there, that you listen, that you care.

On any given day, we may not remember all the things that Jesus said and did. But we do know that God came to be with us. That’s what really matters.

I remember another elderly lady. She would be visited at Christmas by family, bringing her all kinds of presents. She would say to them, very simply: “It’s your presence, not your presents, that matters to me.” It’s the gift of ourselves that really matters. That’s why God gave himself to us. He couldn’t think of anything better to give.

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

Father Joseph Breighner

View all posts from this author

| Recent Commentary |

Cupcakes with 2025 graduation toothpicks in them and a bowl of cookies

Our 31-hour Road Trip

St. Paul and discovering that sin is ‘missing the mark’

Six lit candles on a chocolate birthday cake

Making a birthday wish come true

Pilgrims of Hope: Walking the Way of St. Francis in the Year of Jubilee

The fisherman and the pharisee

| Recent Local News |

St. Mary’s purchases former Annapolis Area Christian School

Radio Interview: Exploring the Nicene Creed – Part Two

St. Clement Mary Hofbauer adapts to times, cultures as it celebrates 100th anniversary

Archbishop Lori and Supreme Knight Kelly meet with Pope Leo

Hope rises from ashes for St. Rita parishioners

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • St. Mary’s purchases former Annapolis Area Christian School
  • Pope’s prayer intention for July: That the faithful might again learn how to discern
  • Barron: With no clergy-penitent exception, WA abuse law threatens religious liberty
  • Augustinian prior opens up about papal vacation, first encyclical, appointments and tennis
  • Radio Interview: Exploring the Nicene Creed – Part Two
  • 3 North Americans named to Vatican dicasteries for ecumenism, interreligious dialogue
  • ANALYSIS: ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ cuts expected to outweigh benefits for low-income families
  • Safeguarding remains a top priority with new appointment, US cardinal says
  • Pope at Angelus: Be a laborer in the field of mission

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED