Year of Mercy

[simpleazon-image align=”left” asin=”159325282X” locale=”us” height=”375″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51qqTqnbHjL.jpg” width=”246″]In March of this year, while presiding over a penitential service, Holy Father, Pope Francis announced an extraordinary Jubilee year of Mercy.  In his sermon, Pope Francis said that he had  often thought about how the Church might make clear its mission of being a witness to mercy. “It is journey that begins with a spiritual conversion,” he said. “For this reason, I have decided to call an extraordinary Jubilee that is to have the mercy of God at its center. It shall be a Holy Year of Mercy. We want to live this Year in the light of the Lord’s words: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:36)”

Pope Francis said that this Holy Year of Mercy will begin on this coming Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and will end on November 20, 2016, on the feast Christ the King of the Universe – and living face of the Father’s mercy. Pope Francis said that he had placed the organization of this Jubilee on the Pontifical Council for Promotion of the New Evangelization, that might animate it as a new stage in the journey of the Church on its mission to bring to every person the Gospel of mercy.  One of the great hallmarks of the Pontiff has been his attempts not to leave anyone behind.  He has often emphasized in the past taking the Joy of the Gospel to all, regardless of their walk in life.

In closing, Pope Francis said, “I am convinced that the whole Church will find in this Jubilee the joy needed to rediscover and make fruitful the mercy of God, with which all of us are called to give consolation to every man and woman of our time.”

Pope Francis ended by entrusting the Year of Mercy to the Mother of Mercy, and prayed that she might turn her gaze upon us and watch over our journey.

The Holy Year of Mercy will be tremendous opportunity to encourage every Christian to meet people’s “real needs” in love and with concrete assistance.  The yearlong extraordinary jubilee also will include several individual jubilee days, such as for the Roman Curia, catechists, teenagers and prisoners.