Mercy Minute #3; February 2016
By Fr. Wade Menezes, CPM
for the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy
“Some Concrete Actions for the Jubilee Year of Mercy”
Hello, friends. Fr. Wade Menezes here of the Fathers of Mercy with another “Mercy Minute” for the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy called for by Pope Francis.
What are some concrete actions – both spiritual and temporal – that we can carry out during this Jubilee Year of Mercy to really “enter-into” this Holy Year of Mercy in a more profound way? For answers to this question, look no further than the 28-page Papal Bull written by Pope Francis officially calling for the Jubilee Year of Mercy. It’s title? Misericordia Vultus (Latin for: The Face of Mercy).
In this document, Pope Francis provides us with a blueprint of both spiritual and temporal activities to really help “flesh out” this Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy. He proposes such concrete actions as forgiving those who have hurt you or who have done you wrong; forgiving debts owed to you and returning collateral whenever possible; going to Confession regularly and faithfully – at least once a month or even weekly, but without scrupulosity; and reading and meditating on the Sacred Scriptures, especially the Gospel of Luke, which is often referred to as the “Gospel of Mercy.”
Pope Francis also suggests going on a pilgrimage either locally, nationally or internationally to a cathedral, basilica, church or shrine that has been designated an official Jubilee Year of Mercy site and striving for the Plenary Indulgence associated with such a pilgrimage. The Holy Father also suggests performing one or more of the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy each day, and sharing with others the Good News of God’s mercy worked in your own life through your kind words and good deeds.
Other spiritual activities include praying the Stations of the Cross at least weekly during the Jubilee Year of Mercy and especially on Fridays at 3:00 p.m. – the Hour of Great Mercy. And daily praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet as Our Lord gave it to St. Faustina, the Divine Mercy seer who revealed it to the world.
These are just a few suggestions, friends, as to how you can enter more deeply into this wonderful Jubilee Year of Mercy with some dedicated concrete actions. To obtain your copy of the Papal Bull Misericordia Vultus, simply go to the Vatican’s website: www.vatican.va.
And that’s another Mercy Minute. I’m Fr. Wade Menezes of the Fathers of Mercy. Be sure to visit the Fathers of Mercy website at www.fathersofmercy.com and follow us on Facebook. God bless you!