Bl. Ludovico Pavoni and the Black Fishnet Cat Hose

April 1^st is Blessed Ludovico Pavoni’s feast day. He was an 18^th century religious who successfully devoted his life to education and children which is remarkable because during his lifetime, there was so much social upheaval and poverty.

We look at his life and really (and sadly) what has changed in the world since the 18^th century? Social upheaval? Check. Education under fire? Check. Poverty? Another check. And that’s just from coming to work at the middle school where I work.

My morning duty is dress code. Another staff person—Ms. K and I are charged with judging whether or not a student has violated dress code. Usually it’s very easy. I see your underwear and tell you to pull up your baggy pants. If you have holes the size of the Grand Canyon in your jeans, change them. And my personal favorite--some young lady got dress code for wearing thigh high black fish net hose with cats embroidered on them

One cold day, a student approached Ms. K and I about the tank top she was wearing. Clearly this was a dress code violation and I went through the motions of entering name and grade into a database just like I do for every violation. Then Ms. K woke me up from my apathetic stupor.

“Don’t you have a coat?” She asked the student. The student shook her head no and Ms. K immediately went and found her a coat. Immediate problem solved as well as long term problem for winter.

Why on earth did I not notice this? I know the answer and quite frankly, I don’t like it. I’ve moved from caring about the kids at the school to collecting a paycheck (and it’s not a big one by any means). I have lost sight of why I work where I do. Romans 15:2 states “Each of us must consider his neighbor's good, so that we support one another.” So thank you, Ms. K, for reminding me to care and not judge.