El año de la Misericordia se inicia este año 2015
Which of these three, do you think, proved a neighbour to the man who fell among the robbers? He said: ‘The one who showed mercy on him’. Jesus said: ‘Go and do likewise” (Luke 10:36). Earlier this year, Pope Francis announced the Extraordinary Year of Mercy, beginning on December 8th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is the First Holy Year to celebrate not an anniversary of any kind, but a distinctive quality of the Lord Himself which is highlighted so much in the Old and the New Testaments: His Mercy. The logo for the Holy Year is in itself a summary of the theme of mercy. This logo shows Jesus, like the Good Samaritan, taking on His shoulders the lost and strayed. The colours of the background go from darkness to light, as they extend towards the outer edge and this suggests the way by which Christ carries humanity out of a life of sin and death. The motto of the Holy Year is ‘Merciful Like the Father’ and this serves as an invitation to follow the example of the Father and not judge or condemn but to forgive and to show mercy and love. JUBILEE YEAR OF MERCY 2015/2016 Pope Francis wants to extend the Jubilee Celebration out to the whole world so that those who cannot come to Rome can be part of this great pilgrimage of mercy and receive the Jubilee indulgence. The Holy Father will open the traditional Jubilee Holy Door in Rome. He has asked that a Holy Door be designated in every diocese throughout the world. The Holy Door or Door of Mercy which has been chosen in this Diocese is in St. Francis’ Church here in the city, a church which has been closely associated with the sacrament of mercy – the sacrament of confession -down through the years. Pope Francis has described the Church as a “fi eld hospital” where all are welcome. Hopefully, the Door of Mercy will lead us to the door of the Confessional. Our thoughts, also, turn to Mary, the Mother of Mercy, during this Jubilee Year. In her hymn of praise, sung at the door of the home of Elizabeth, she spoke about the mercy of the Lord which extends from generation to generation. At the foot of the cross, Mary, together with John, the disciple of love, witnessed the words of forgiveness spoken by Jesus: ‘Father forgive them for they know not what they do’. We pray to her in the words of ‘The Hail Holy Queen’, that prayer, ever ancient and ever new, so that she may never grow weary of turning her merciful eyes upon us. May Mary accompany us during this Jubilee Year of Mercy. +John Buckley, Bishop of Cork and Ross, The Holy Door in Rome To understand mercy, we must have a deep appreciation of our sinfulness. We should not think that mercy means that the Lord overlooks our sins or does not really care about our sins. If that is so, then mercy is not needed. “If you don’t know the bad news, the good news is no news” (Irish Proverb). And the bad news is that we are all sinners, that we all need mercy and forgiveness. There is a powerful speech in one of Shakespeare’s plays about the quality of mercy: ‘It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath; it is twice blest: It blesseth him that gives and him that takes; ‘Tis mightiest in the mightiest’ In other words, mercy is something that we receive but it is also something that we are asked to give, and we are blessed when we receive mercy or when we offer it to others. When it comes from the heart, it is greater than any exercise of power. Pope Francis has encouraged us especially during this Jubilee Year of Mercy to confess our sins. We should never be ashamed to go to confession. This shame, which happens to all of us, prepares us to experience the love of Jesus who always forgives and always forgives everything. In the confessional, Jesus is waiting for us, longing for us to come to him so that He may say to us: ‘Your sins are forgiven, go in peace’. In the Gospels, Jesus talks about the good shepherd who leaves the ninety nine sheep and goes off in search of the one that has strayed. Jesus never takes his eyes off us, not to catch us out but because He loves us so much
Which of these three, do you think, proved a neighbour to the man who fell among the robbers? He said: ‘The one who showed mercy on him’. Jesus said: ‘Go and do likewise” (Luke 10:36). Earlier this year, Pope Francis announced the Extraordinary Year of Mercy, beginning on December 8th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is the First Holy Year to celebrate not an anniversary of any kind, but a distinctive quality of the Lord Himself which is highlighted so much in the Old and the New Testaments: His Mercy. The logo for the Holy Year is in itself a summary of the theme of mercy. This logo shows Jesus, like the Good Samaritan, taking on His shoulders the lost and strayed. The colours of the background go from darkness to light, as they extend towards the outer edge and this suggests the way by which Christ carries humanity out of a life of sin and death. The motto of the Holy Year is ‘Merciful Like the Father’ and this serves as an invitation to follow the example of the Father and not judge or condemn but to forgive and to show mercy and love. JUBILEE YEAR OF MERCY 2015/2016 Pope Francis wants to extend the Jubilee Celebration out to the whole world so that those who cannot come to Rome can be part of this great pilgrimage of mercy and receive the Jubilee indulgence. The Holy Father will open the traditional Jubilee Holy Door in Rome. He has asked that a Holy Door be designated in every diocese throughout the world. The Holy Door or Door of Mercy which has been chosen in this Diocese is in St. Francis’ Church here in the city, a church which has been closely associated with the sacrament of mercy – the sacrament of confession -down through the years. Pope Francis has described the Church as a “fi eld hospital” where all are welcome. Hopefully, the Door of Mercy will lead us to the door of the Confessional. Our thoughts, also, turn to Mary, the Mother of Mercy, during this Jubilee Year. In her hymn of praise, sung at the door of the home of Elizabeth, she spoke about the mercy of the Lord which extends from generation to generation. At the foot of the cross, Mary, together with John, the disciple of love, witnessed the words of forgiveness spoken by Jesus: ‘Father forgive them for they know not what they do’. We pray to her in the words of ‘The Hail Holy Queen’, that prayer, ever ancient and ever new, so that she may never grow weary of turning her merciful eyes upon us. May Mary accompany us during this Jubilee Year of Mercy. +John Buckley, Bishop of Cork and Ross, The Holy Door in Rome To understand mercy, we must have a deep appreciation of our sinfulness. We should not think that mercy means that the Lord overlooks our sins or does not really care about our sins. If that is so, then mercy is not needed. “If you don’t know the bad news, the good news is no news” (Irish Proverb). And the bad news is that we are all sinners, that we all need mercy and forgiveness. There is a powerful speech in one of Shakespeare’s plays about the quality of mercy: ‘It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath; it is twice blest: It blesseth him that gives and him that takes; ‘Tis mightiest in the mightiest’ In other words, mercy is something that we receive but it is also something that we are asked to give, and we are blessed when we receive mercy or when we offer it to others. When it comes from the heart, it is greater than any exercise of power. Pope Francis has encouraged us especially during this Jubilee Year of Mercy to confess our sins. We should never be ashamed to go to confession. This shame, which happens to all of us, prepares us to experience the love of Jesus who always forgives and always forgives everything. In the confessional, Jesus is waiting for us, longing for us to come to him so that He may say to us: ‘Your sins are forgiven, go in peace’. In the Gospels, Jesus talks about the good shepherd who leaves the ninety nine sheep and goes off in search of the one that has strayed. Jesus never takes his eyes off us, not to catch us out but because He loves us so much
