By Sr. Mary Catherine Blanding, Catholic Exchange - I feel so alone!... This aching cry—whispered in a hospital bed, shouted in despair, or left unspoken in a sleepless night—asks a simple question: Is anyone really there? Many of us have witnessed this plea, and perhaps even felt it ourselves. In a world of fewer shared meals, less face-to-face conversation, and heavy reliance on texting and social media, loneliness has become epidemic... Empathy shines as a quiet light. Society values it as a sign of friendship and leadership, but faith reveals a deeper truth: attentiveness to others’ hearts is a spiritual gift. St. John Henry exemplifies this, offering guidance both practical and profound.