In a hermeneutic of generosity, I suspect Patrick wanted to baptize his former captors because he could see how the chains of enslavement bind even its purported victors into sin. Slavery binds even the “masters” into submission to evil. Slavery denies the God-bearing image inherent to all people; should you see in the eyes of the ones you oppress your own salvation, you might know you have no freedom at all.

My spiritual director asked me, “Have you ever heard of Mary, Untier of Knots?”

The Church living into its call to economic justice can lead the way both by diminishing its own economic power to pay off debts and finance reform, but also to advocate for an end to predatory practices.