Advent III - Intercessory Prayer of Mercy

One of the key ways that this Year of Mercy can be observed is to put into practice the Works of Mercy. They are -

CORPORAL WORKS of MERCY: Feed the hungry + Give drink to the thirsty + Clothe the naked + Shelter the homeless + Visit those in prison + Comfort the sick + Bury the dead.

SPIRITUAL WORKS of MERCY: Admonish sinners + Instruct the uninformed + Counsel the doubtful + Comfort the sorrowful + Be patient with those in error + Forgive offenses + Pray for the living and the dead.

Since this blog is devoted to the practice of prayer, a special page has been set up that will be a resource for the Spiritual Work - Praying for the Living and the Dead.

MERCY + PRAYER of INTERCESSION = EVANGELIZATION

This Year of Mercy is directly associated with the Church's focus on Evangelization. The Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization will be responsible for the various resources associated with the observance of this Jubilee Year. This will be a year full of grace and prayer will be key in our observance of the Jubilee Year of Mercy.

Go to the page - Year of Mercy - Prayer of Intercession

Advent II - Merciful and Gracious is the LORD

Holy Door, Cathedral Basilica Christ the King Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits

He pardons all your iniquities, he heals all your ills. He redeems your life from destruction, he crowns you with kindness and compassion. Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger and abounding in kindness. Not according to our sins does he deal with us nor does he requite us according to our crimes. Psalm PS 103

Pope Francis Opening the Holy Doors 08/10/2015

Advent I - Official Hymn for the Year of Mercy

Update 05/12/2015

Video showing the ceremony in Rome of the formal proclamation of the Bull of indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy -Misericordiae Vultus - with full text - LINK

Official Hymn for the Year of Mercy

English-language version of the hymn  Misericordes sicut Pater!  [from Luke 6:36, the official motto of the Jubilee] 1. We give thanks to the Father, for he is good  [from Psalm 135:6] in aeternum mercy eius He created the world with wisdom in aeternum mercy eius He leads his people in history in aeternum mercy eius He forgives and welcomes His children [from Luke 15] in aeternum mercy eius 2. Let us give thanks to the Son, Light of the nations in aeternum mercy eius He loved us with a heart of flesh [from John 15:12] in aeternum mercy eius we receive from Him, to Him we give ourselves in aeternum mercy eius the heart to open to those who hunger and thirst [from Matthew 25,31ss] in aeternum mercy eius Misericordes sicut Pater! Misericordes sicut Pater! 3. We ask the Spirit the seven holy gifts in aeternum mercy eius source of all good, sweet relief in aeternum mercy eius comforted by Him, offer comfort [from John 15: 26-27] in aeternum mercy eius I love hopes and endures all things [from 1 Cor 13.7] in aeternum mercy eius 4. We call for peace to the God of all peace in aeternum mercy eius the earth awaits the gospel of the Kingdom [from Matthew 24,14] in aeternum mercy eius grace and joy to those who love and forgive in aeternum mercy eius will be the new heavens and the earth [from Revelation 21.1] in aeternum mercy eius Misericordes sicut Pater!

Visit these scripture references as a source for your meditation.

Advent I - Merciful Like the Father

In his apostolic letter announcing this Year of Mercy, Pope Francis said this; "It is indeed my wish that the Jubilee be a living experience of the closeness of the Father, whose tenderness is almost tangible, so that the faith of every believer may be strengthened and thus testimony to it be ever more effective."

The official logo for the Year of Mercy contains the title; Merciful Like the Father. The Holy Father's wish is that during this year of grace, we will:

• ... have a living experience
• ... of the closeness of the Father
• ... who's tenderness is almost tangible

Have you ever met or spoken with someone who had just been forgiven, unconditionally, for something serious they had done? Have you, personally, experienced such forgiveness? These know what mercy really is - what it does to you in the depths of of your soul. You become a different person. Mercy purges one of the corruption of pride, freeing them to go out of themselves and live as God intended for them when he created them. The lepers who encountered Jesus' healing mercy are a compelling image of the transformation mercy brings. Luke 5:12

Perhaps, the most revealing example of mercy is found in Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son. Luke 15:11. The whole of chapter 15: focuses our attention on Jesus' mission of mercy. We need to return often to this text to enter ever more deeply into its lessons on Mercy.

Here are a few points to get us started.

Parable of the Prodigal Son - Luke 15:11-32 + There are two sons, loved by their father - both belong in the "Father's House." + Both are infected by pride, but in different ways.

Younger Son	Older Son
I want it all	I deserve it all
Inheritance wasted	Inheritance coveted
Blinded by pleasure	Blinded by resentment
Self-destruction	Self-pity
“Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.”	“Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders;”
But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’	“My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.”

THE FACE OF MERCY