Mercy

The Sisters of Providence and our Providence Associates have a natural affinity for The Holy Year of Mercy proclaimed by Pope Francis.

This Holy Year begins December 8, 2015 and ends November 20, 2016. Pope Francis states in his proclamation instituting this Holy Year: “I am convinced that the whole Church will find in this jubilee the joy to rediscover and render fruitful the mercy of God, with which we are called to give consolation to every man and woman of our time.”

The Constitutions of the Sisters of Providence have as our mission “to honor Divine Providence and to further God’s loving plans by devoting itself to works of love, mercy and justice among God’s people.”

I suppose I always thought of mercy as an act of God, of Providence showing mercy to us.

After all, we say at the beginning of every Eucharist liturgy: “Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.”

One would suppose after 52 years of living the mission of the Sisters of Providence, the “penny would have dropped” a little sooner.

Whom did I think was going to devote one’s self to works of mercy?

I haven’t really thought through the difference among works of love, mercy and justice. I tend to hear them as if they are one word – works of lovemercyjustice. So thank you, Pope Francis, for a direct and simply stated “goal” for this year of mercy and beyond:

“I am convinced that the whole church will find in this jubilee year the joy to rediscover and render the faithful mercy of God, with which we are all called to give consolation to every man and woman of our time.”

How in need we are of finding ways to give that “consolation to every man and woman of our time.”

Let’s go for it – as we have for ages past.