Carmelitemissionaries

St. Francis Xavier Province, India

Thursday, January 7

HOLY YEAR OF MERCY



‘MERCY reawakens us to new LIFE & instills courage to look to the FUTURE with HOPE’
The MERCY of God is His LOVING concern for each one of us.
MERCY is the Bride that connects God & man.
The Jubilee Holy Year of Mercy began on 8th December 2015, (ending with November 20th 2016- the feast of Christ the King) under the patronage of Mary, the Mother of Mercy. ‘The face of Mercy’ opens with the declaration ‘Jesus is the face of the Father’s Mercy’ and this is the mystery of Christian faith. God’s mercy is His unfailing attitude and actions towards the least deserving and spiritually poor.
The Father of Mercies continues to rescue us and helps conform our thoughts, our words and our actions to the life of His Son. The Church also sets before us a well established path so we may unite ourselves to Christ and follow this way of Mercy. Pope Francis offers some practical ways to live well this path of the Holy year:   go on pilgrimage as an impetus for conversion, do not judge or condemn, avoid gossip, envy and jealousy, have a heart open to the fringes of society and bring consolation, mercy & solidarity to people who live in precarious and violent situations, take up the corporal and spiritual acts of mercy with joy.
The Pope further states that “Here is the reason for the Jubilee year of Mercy because this is the time of mercy. It is the favorable time to heal the wounds, a time not to be weary of meeting those who are waiting to see and to touch with their hands the signs of the closeness of God, a time to offer everyone the way of forgiveness and reconciliation.”
“Wherever the Church is present, the mercy of the Father must be evident. “
Wherever there are Christians, everyone should find an oasis of mercy.

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