Year of Mercy

Last March 2015 Pope Francis announced an Extraordinary Jubilee, a Holy Year of Mercy. It is to commence on December 8, 2015, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and conclude on Sunday, November 20, 2016, the Feast of Christ the King. In announcing the Holy Year of Mercy the Pope said: “I am confident that the whole Church, which is in such need of mercy for we are sinners, will be able to find in this jubilee the joy of rediscovering and rendering fruitful God’s mercy, with which we are all called to give comfort to every man and woman of our time. Do not forget that God forgives all, and God forgives always. Let us never tire of asking forgiveness. Let us henceforth entrust this Year to the Mother of Mercy, that she turn her gaze upon us and watch over our journey: our penitential journey, our year-long journey with an open heart,…to receive the Mercy of God.”

Pope Francis has often spoken with great heart about the depth of God’s mercy. He not only invites us to approach the throne of God’s mercy with complete trust that God will forgive, but urges us to extend that mercy to others, especially to the often forgotten and those on the fringes. During the Holy Year of Mercy he is therefore, not only urging us to seek God’s forgiveness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation but to extend it to others through a greater commitment to the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. We are to be merciful as God our Father is merciful. He writes: “The experience of mercy, indeed, becomes visible in the witness of concrete signs as Jesus himself taught us.”
I urge all St. Gerard Parishioners to enter into the spirit of the Holy Year of Mercy. Humbly seek God’s mercy, the forgiveness of your sins. As Pope Francis stated, God forgives all and God forgives always. Having been forgiven by our God who is ever merciful and ready to forgive, strive to be merciful toward others. Seek to reconcile with those from whom you are estranged. Commit to a greater commitment to the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. Let this be a year of grace for you and for all who are part of your life.