Greetings from Aotearoa, the Land of the Long White Cloud, New Zealand, the first Nation to Herald the Jubilee "Year of Mercy." TITIRO KI TE KANOHI O ATAWHAI, KO TATOU TE KANOHI O ATAWHAI. SEE THE FACE OF MERCY, BE THE FACE OF MERCY. The Mercy Prayer of Pope Francis. Lord Jesus Christ, you have taught us to be merciful like the heavenly Father, And have told us that whoever sees you sees Him, Show us your face and we will be saved. Your loving gaze freed Zacchaeus and Matthew from being enslaved by money; The adulterous and Magdalene ftom seeking happiness only in created things; Made Peter weep after his betrayal, And assured Paradise to the repentant thief. Let us hear,as if addressed to each one of us, the words that you spoke to the Samaritan woman: "If you knew the gift of God." You are the visible face of the invisible Father, Of the God who manifests his power above all by forgiveness and mercy: Let the Church be your visible face in the world, Its Lord risen and glorified. You willed that your ministers would also be clothed in weakness in order that they might feel compassion for those in ignorance and error: Let everyone who approaches them feel sought after, Loved and forgiven by God. Send your Spirit and consecrate every one of us with its annointing, so that the Jubilee of Mercy may be a year of grace from the Lord, And your Church, with renewed enthusiasm may bring good news to the poor, Proclaim liberty to captives and the oppressed, and restore sight to the blind. We ask this of You, Lord Jesus, through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Mercy; You who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. AMEN.
Just in from Zenit News---LETS BEGIN THE YEAR WITH UNITY!! Pope: Anniversary of End of Orthodox-Catholic Excommunications a Fitting Beginning to Year of Mercy Francis Notes Paul VI’s and Athenagoras’ Declaration of Dec. 7, 1965 There can be no path toward unity without a petition for forgiveness, says Pope Francis, which means that the anniversary of the removal of the mutual Catholic-Orthodox excommunications is a providential beginning to the Year of Mercy. The Holy Father made this observation today after praying the midday Angelus with those gathered in St. Peter’s Square. On Dec. 7, 1965, on the eve of the end of the Second Vatican Council, Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras made a common declaration to remove the excommunications mutually leveled in 1054 at the beginning of the Great Schism. “It is truly providential that this historic gesture of reconciliation, which created the conditions for a new dialogue between Orthodox and Catholics in love and truth, would be marked precisely at the beginning of the Jubilee of Mercy,” Pope Francis said today. “There is no authentic path toward unity without a petition for forgiveness, to God and between us, for the sin of division,” he added. The Holy Father invited the faithful to pray for “the dear Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the other leaders of the Orthodox Churches and let us ask the Lord that relations between Catholics and Orthodox be always inspired by fraternal love.” On ZENIT's Web page: Full text: http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/angelus-address-on-my-own-need-for-conversion
In the narratives of the Old Testament we see displays of God’s patient mercy and also His just wrath. But it’s in the death of Jesus on the cross, where Mercy and Justice meet! Psalm 85: 10-13 10 Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. 11 Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,and righteousness will look down from the sky. 12 Yea, the Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase. 13 Righteousness will go before him, and make his footsteps a way. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mercy and justice come together on the hill of Calvary. Look upon His cross and dying shame, Oh, my soul, it was for thee! Look, He took thy guilt, thy sin, thy blame, As He died on Calvary. That day turned to night and from that fight Sprang salvation’s Genesis; And on the Cross in shining light Mercy and Justice kissed. – David Benning
Fantastic start to the year, this must have the lovers of division, masons, antichrists etc seething and foaming at the mouth. Good work starting this thread. Let us also not forget all the prayer needed from all of us over the next year.
Yes this is a great year, a great idea by Pope Francis who has genuinely reached out in launching it, even validating SSPX confessions during it, for example. Hopefully it will work and convert many people. If not we are in big trouble because we are told that if you spurn His mercy you will have to face His justice!
Some great and practical ideas on how to live this Year of Mercy. As a on-line forum, maybe we all should carefully contemplate #8 on the list. http://aleteia.org/2015/12/07/54-ways-to-be-merciful-during-the-jubiliee-year-of-mercy/
Number 8 in rugby is the man who anchors and guards the other 7 forwards in the pack. Your number 8 will preserve the strength and unity of our team and its game plan of Mercy. Cheers Miker.
And so here om MOG we witness the first of God's soldiers taking two steps forward volunteering for God's mission of Mercy. My heart swells with holy pride in this forum and those members and all those who will join them over the coming year. What a great gift you have given the world Padraig in this vehicle that carries God's message of Mercy. As Miker suggests, let us keep it in good working order.
I live literally across the road from my beautiful new church. Sadly because of the shortage of priests we have no mass that I could attend here for the Immaculate Conception. So I drove over to Hamilton for 6.30am mass. Fr Dan, a lovely wee Fijian priest who is dying of cancer struggled through mass for us. You could hear every laboured breath he took. (When he was a young man he was a champion athlete) Yet his voice was strong and clear. The question he put to us was "What does the Immaculate Conception mean to you personally." This personal dimension is real in my relationship to Jesus but I realized I had not consciously considered this in relation to Mary. I had somehow just taken this for granted. But as soon as I asked it the answer came that for me the Immaculate Conception is the ultimate expression of God's mercy next to the Sacrifice of His Son. God's relentless pursuit of love. He never gives up on us. Its as if God wracked His mind to find a solution to the fall of Adam and he found it in the conception of Mary. And just as Jesus died for me so Mary was conceived for me. This is what the Immaculate Conception means personsonally to me. It means that in God's plan of Mercy I could be saved not only through the fiat of Mary the co- redemptrix but first through Her stainless conception. Amazing: Mary was conceived for me and I owe my life to this, to Her.
So happy to read that Pope Emeritus Benedict will join Pope Francis in opening the Holy Door at St. Peter's. What a historical time. http://aleteia.org/2015/12/07/pope-benedict-xvi-will-be-present-at-opening-of-holy-door/
Tonight our parish had its Advent Reconciliation Service in preparation for the Year of Mercy. As preparation for individual sacramental confession we were given an example of a brief examination of conscience based on the Ten Commandments. As Mercy is to Justice so is Repentance to Forgiveness. I hope you find the following useful in your own preparation for the coming year. 1. I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD: YOU SHALL NOT HAVE STRANGE GODS BEFORE ME. Have I treated people, events or things as more important than God? 2. YOU SHALL NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD YOUR GOD IN VANE. Have my words, actively or passively, put down God, the Church, or people? 3. REMEMBER TO KEEP HOLY THE LORD'S DAY. Do I go to Mass every Sunday ( or Saturday Vigil) and on Holy Days of Obligation? Do I avoid, when possible, work that impedes worship to God, joy for the Lord's Day and proper relaxation of mind and body? Do I look for ways to spend time with family or in service on Sunday? 4. HONOUR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER. Do I show my parents due respect? Do I seek to maintain good communication with my parents where possible? Do I criticise them for lacking skills I think they should have? 5. YOU SHALL NOT KILL. Have I harmed another through physical, verbal, or emotional means, including gossip or manipulation of any kind? 6. YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY. Have I respected the physical and sexual dignity of others and of myself? 7. YOU SHALL NOT STEAL. Have I taken or wasted time or resources that belonged to another? 8. YOUR SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS AGAINST YOUR NEIGHBOUR. Have I gossiped, told lies, or embellished stories at the expense of another? 9. YOU SHALL NOT COVET YOUR NEIGHBOURS SPOUSE. Have I honoured my spouse with my full affection and exclusive love? 10. YOU SHALL NOT COVET YOUR NEIGHBOURS GOODS. Am I content with my own means and needs, or do I compare myself to others unnecessarily?
Another list I was given also helped me in examination of conscience. It was suggested I look at my pride, self-pity, intolerance, self centeredness, selfisness, greed, envy, arrogance, impatience, lust, gluttony, jealousy, dihonesty and sloth/procrastination. What part did these play in harming my relationship with God and people? Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.
I am not tech savvy so if anyone can post video and photos, supportive articles etc of the launch of The Year of Mercy that would be great. I typed all the above into my phone. Must learn the easy way!
Divine Mercy of Jesus I trust in Thee. Eternal Father I offer Thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in atonement for our sins and the sins of the whole world. View attachment 3856
HISTORY OF OUR LADY OF MERCY Recompiled by SCTJM THE BLESSED VIRGIN MOTHER AND St PETER NOLASCO The title is first of all “mercy”. The Virgin is merciful and her children should be also. This means that we must come to her first of all with the desire to become like Jesus merciful. It was during the time in which Muslims would plunder the coasts and would take Christians as slaves to Africa. The horrendous condition of these victims was indescribable. Many would loose their faith thinking that God has abandoned them. Peter Nolasco was a merchant. He decided to invest his fortune to free the greatest number of slaves possible. He would remember the phrase from the Gospel: “But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:20). In the year 1203 Peter Nolasco a lay man began the freeing of the captives in Venice, freeing with his own wealth 300 captives. He forms a group willing to place their goods in common and organizes expeditions to negotiate the freeing of the slaves. Their trade as merchants made this work easier. They would trade to rescue slaves. When their money ran out they formed confraternities to raise funds “almsgiving for the captives”. But there comes a time when all help is exhausted and Peter Nolasco intends to enter a religious order or retire to the dessert. He enters a stage of reflection and profound prayer. THE VIRGIN RESPONDS Nolasco asks God for help, and as a sign of divine mercy, the Blessed Virgin Mary responds that he should found a liberating congregation. The night of August 1 through 2 of 1218, the Blessed Virgin appears to Peter Nolasco, to Raimundo de Peñafort, and to King James I of Aragón and communicates to each one of them her desire to found a congregation that would free captives. The Blessed Virgin Mary moved the heart of Peter Nolasco to formalize the work that he and his companions were already doing. The Blessed Virgin calls Peter Nolasco and reveals her desire of liberator through an order dedicated to the freeing of the captives from the Muslims, exposed to loose their faith. Nolasco responds to the Blessed Virgin Mary: Nolasco-“Who are you, that to me, and indignant servant, ask me to accomplish such a hard task, of such great charity, that is so pleasing to God and of such merit to me?: Blessed Virgin Mary – “I am Mary, the one that gave flesh to the Son of God, taking it from my pure blood, for the reconciliation of the human race. I am the one that received the prophecy of Simeon, when I offered my Son in the temple: contradictedpierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. (Luke 2:34-35).” Nolasco- “Oh Virgin Mary, mother of grace, mother of mercy! Who could believe (that it is you who send me)? Blessed Virgin Mary – do not doubt in nothing, because it is the will of God that an order of this kind be founded in my honor; it will be an order in which the brothers and professed, in imitation of my Son Jesus Christ, will be destined for the rise and fall of many in Israel (that is to say, among the Christians) and they will be a sign of contradiction for many.” A LAY CONGREGATION That is how it was at the beginning. The first location was the hospital of St. Eulalia, next to the royal palace in Barcelona. There they would take in the homeless, poor, and captives that had returned from the moor lands and had no place to go. They continued the labor that they were once doing of creating conscience of the slaves in order to raise money to free them. They would go out each year on expeditions to liberate the slaves. St. Peter personally continued his trips seeking Christian slaves. En Argelia Africa, they made him a prisoner but he was able to obtain his liberty. Taking advantage of his gifts and skills as a merchant, he organized with success collections for the slaves in many cities. FOURTH VOW Besides the three vows of religious life, poverty, chastity and obedience, they made a fourth vow: to dedicate their lives to free the slaves. They were committed to take the place of a slave that was at risk of loosing their faith, when there was not enough money for their rescue. That is what St. Peter Ermengol did, a noble man who entered the order after a immoral youth. This fourth vow is what distinguished the new community of the Mercedarios. Pope Gregory IX approved the community and St. Peter Nolasco was named General Superior. King James would say that the conquest of Venice was due to the prayers of Peter Nolasco. Each triumph they achieved he attributed to his prayers. DEATH OF SAINT PETER NOLASCO Peter Nolasco, at 77 years old, pronounced Psalm 76: “We thank you, God, we give thanks; we call upon your name, we declare your wonderful deeds. And with your strong arm you rescued the captive and oppressed.” And then he fell asleep in the mantle of Our Lady. His intercession obtained many miracles and he was canonized in 1628. In the year 1696, Pope Innocent XII extended the feast of Our Lady of Mercy for the whole Church, and set its date for September 24. PRAYERS TO OUR LADY OF MERCY -Our Lady and Virgin of Mercy we beg you that through your maternal intercession before your Son Jesus Christ, you obtain for us the true freedom of the children of God and that you make us free of any slavery, so that we may experience the joy of salvation. Amen. -Mary, Mother of God, gift from Christ to all men. The Blessed Trinity sent you to Barcelona, as messenger of liberty and mercy, so that through Peter Nolasco, you may show yourself co-redemptrix, mediator, Mother of all, tenderness of God for the poor. Mother of Mercy, teach us to value our Christian faith, make us capable of loving with merciful charity, transform us into bearers of your peace. That your kisses may melt the violence that envelops us, until we recuperate, in your maternal mantle, the hope of family, that the world may be transformed into a home. Bless this, your city which proclaims you its patron and its princess and delights itself in calling you Mother.
A video of the full Inauguration of the Jubilee of Mercy can be viewed below. You can see a very frail looking Pope Benedict meeting Pope Francis at approximately 1 hours 50 minutes into the video:
Yes he does look frail and will pray for him. Still, something quite remarkable to see him and Francis together. Another sign of the unique times we are in.
