The Holy Year of Mercy

December 8th, 2015 - November 20, 2016

          This past year, Pope Francis declared 2016 to be a Year of Mercy.  November 27th, was the First Sunday of Advent. So, everyone got to  wish each other a Happy Advent and a beginning of a New Year in our church of the Immaculate Conception. In the past year the Vatican and other churches had a Door of Mercy; that you could walk thru.  Celebrating the Feast of Christ the King on November 20th, was the official closing of the Year of Mercy. Pope Francis insisted, "We have received mercy in order to be merciful.  Every day the church in her Liturgy of the Hours remembers the mercy of God. So, because the past year was dedicated to mercy; does that mean; we can go back

to our usual ways of being uncharitable, judging others wrongly; when we don't even know them of their life story,being critical and unloving? Not to show mercy to others; is not to obey His greatest commandment,"To love one another as ourselves."

          Well, I felt inspired to share and article from the magazine, The Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate.  This article was written by their Foundress, Servant of God Mary Teresa Tallon.  the title is: The Mercy of the Sacred Heart

                  What is the meaning of Mercy? It means to show a love that others do not deserve. We have seen mothers give special kindness to a wayward child. We wonder at this; but, it was God who put the mother's heart. Jesus was the kindest of men. The heart of the best mothers bears no comparison to the kindness of His.  When He is good to us it is with pure Mercy because it is love we don't deserve; but, still, it give us cause for confidence and makes our souls glow with joy to think the we have a God-Man for our best friend.  Love deserves the response of complete surrender.  The Crucifix shows how far that mercy has gone for us. But God will not be mocked. He demands our love in return. We must give it to Him and help others to love Him.

                So, folks, even though the church's Year of Mercy has come to an end; that does not mean to Stop; it really means Go and continue on for another Year of Mercy. You might ned some tips on how to do this; here they are:

CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY                                     SPIRITUAL WORKS OF MERCY

To Feed the Hungry                                                                To Convert Sinners

To Give Drink to the Thirsty                                                   To Instruct the Ignorant

To Clothe the Naked                                                                To Advise the Doubtful

To Shelter the Homeless                                                           To Comfort the Sorrowful

To Care for the Sick                                                                 To Bear Wrongs Patiently

To Visit the Imprisoned                                                            To Forgive Injuries

To Bury the Dead                                                                      To Pray for the Living & the Dead

               Of course; none of us were meant to do all of these; all of the time! But, there are many ways to put these Words of Mercy into practice,i.e. Kindness to a stranger, just by smiling or saying a hello!saying," Have a Blessed Week!" to your fellow church goers;when leaving mass or worship.

Pray to the Holy Spirit to inspire you and he will! 

Amen and a Tiny Tim would have said, "God Bless you, Each and Everyone!"

*Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy:

Catechism of the Catholic Church