Now is a time of mercy: Pope issues new Apostolic Letter

Although the Extraordinary Jubilee Year has concluded, we are still living in a “time of mercy.” That was the message of Pope Francis in a lengthy Apostolic Letter, entitled Misericordia et misera, (“Mercy and Misery”), issued on Monday following the close of the Year of Mercy.

The experience of mercy, he noted, gives rise to the joy of knowing we are loved and turns us into instruments of mercy.

The Pope then reflected on the various ways in which the Church celebrates mercy—in the Mass, the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick, in hearing and reading Sacred Scripture—as well as important ways in which the Church lives out mercy.

In this context, the Pope announced the continuation of some initiatives of the jubilee year, such as the encouragement to hold 24 hours of confessions around the Fourth Sunday of Lent, as well as new initiatives, such as the celebration of the Day of the Poor on the Sunday before the Feast of Christ the King, and devoting a Sunday making Sacred Scripture better known.

The Pope indefinitely extended faculties to Missionaries of Mercy to absolve sins reserved to the Holy See and extended faculties to all priests to absolve the sin of abortion.

“This is the time of mercy,” the Pope concluded. “It is the time of mercy because no sinner can ever tire of asking forgiveness, and all can feel the welcoming embrace of the Father.

Read full report from Vatican Radio here.

Full text of Pope Francis apostolic letter HERE.

• A Priest Forgiven for an Abortion: The Church is Merciful - "The Church is all about mercy" reflects a man of the cloth, who himself was guilty of abortion
• Pope issues apostolic letter on mercy, extends faculties for SSPX, abortion absolutions
• A quick summary of pope’s letter ending the Year of Mercy
• Pope extends forgiveness for abortion, creates Day of the Poor

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Fr John Zuhlsdorf the online blogger and commentator made the point:

Priests have long had the power to forgive the sin of abortion. However, procuring an abortion incurs also a censure of excommunication, which is to be absolved in a separate step. Canon law reserves the lifting of this particular excommunication to the bishop. Pope Francis extended this faculty to lift the excommunication to all priests. Most of the bishops in these USA have already given this faculty to their priests as a response to the growing numbers of abortions performed. That speeds up the reconciliation process many times. 

ALSO… and this is important.  It is not just the women who go for the abortion who commit the sin and incur the censure.  Men involved can incur it.  Anyone directly involved can commit the sin and incur the censure.   There are many ways to participate in the sin of another person.

Ed Condon writing in the Catholic Herald also clarifies the poor choice of language used -  The Pope’s abortion comments have provoked confusion. The Curia could have avoided this

Pope Francis closes the Holy Door of St Peters and officially ends the Year of Mercy

Rome Reports - On Sunday morning, November 20, Pope Francis has officially closed the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica, thus concluding the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy. 

This Jubilee Year was the first one in history to be launched by two pontiffs, both Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.

While "Mercy” was the theme for the year, "Compassionate like the Father,” was the motto. The year began on December 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and is ending on the Solemnity of Christ the King.

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‘Even if the Holy Door closes, the true door of mercy which is the heart of Christ always remains open wide for us’

Closing the Holy Doors

(Vatican Radio) Sunday 13 November saw the celebration of special Masses in churches and basilicas across the world – as well as in Rome’s Papal Basilicas – which included the solemn rite of the closing of the Holy Doors.
   
That’s with the exception of the Holy Door leading into St. Peter’s Basilica which will be shut by Pope Francis himself on the feast of Christ the King, on Sunday 20 November, as indicated by the Pope himself in the bull announcing the jubilee.

Representing the Pope in the Basilicas of St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls were the archpriests of the Basilicas, respectively: Cardinal Agostino Vallini, Cardinal Santos Abril y Castelló and Cardinal James Michael Harvey.

According to Archbishop Rino Fisichella, President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization, it is estimated that 20.4 million people attended Year of Mercy events at the Vatican over the course of this year, many of them crossing the thresholds of the Holy Doors.
The opening of the door symbolically illustrates the concept that pilgrims are offered an “extraordinary path” toward salvation during the time of Jubilee, and walking through the Holy  Door they were able to receive a plenary indulgence.

During his homily for the Mass at St. John Lateran, Cardinal Agostino Vallini spoke about how the Holy Door, just closed, was a visible sign of the Jubilee of Mercy, a year in which we learned “once again” that the fate of the world is not in the hands of men, “but in the mercy of God.”
He said that meditating on God’s mercy this year we have learnt that mercy is not a sign of weakness or surrender, but the “strong, magnanimous,” radiation of the loving omnipotence of the Father, who “heals our weaknesses, raises us from our falls and urges us to do good.”

Cardinal Abril y Castelló pointed out that although the Holy Door is being closed, “God’s door of mercy is always open” and he urged the faithful to be strong in this certainty and become credible witnesses of mercy in the world.

And in his homily, Cardinal Harvey also referred to the solemn closing of the Basilica’s Holy Door saying that “at the same time, we open an inner door to the next stage of our journey of faith, hope and charity”. 

13th November 2016 - Jubilee of Mercy - 33rd Sunday in Ordinary time Year C

On this weeks programme John and Lorraine reflect once more on the Jubilee of Mercy which closes Sunday week November 20th with the feast of Christ the King. We have our regular reflection on this weeks Sunday gospel as well as liturgical odds and ends.

You can listen to the podcast of this weeks full programme HERE.

Jubilee of Mercy

On this weeks programme, Lorraine takes us through a reflection on the Jubilee of Mercy which is in its final week. 

On April 11, 2015, right before First Vespers of the Vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday, the Holy Father stood before the closed and sealed Holy Door in St. Peter's Basilica and announced an historic event: an extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy. "Jesus Christ is the face of the Father's mercy," Pope Francis says in opening his papal bull Misericordiae Vultus (The Face of Mercy). In this light, "Merciful like the Father" is the motto he chose for the Jubilee Year. It comes from Luke 6:36, "Be merciful just as your Father is merciful." 

The extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy ran from Dec. 8, 2015, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, up until next week Nov. 20, 2016, the solemnity of Christ the King. By calling for the Jubilee Year, Pope Francis has underscored the signature message of his pontificate: mercy. 

Mercy is the Holy Father's answer to evil, following the teaching of St. John Paul II who, in his last book, Memory and Identity, wrote "[T]he limit imposed upon evil, of which man is both perpetrator and victim, is ultimately Divine Mercy."  Pope Francis explained, "Here, then, is the reason for the Jubilee: because this is the time for mercy. It is the favourable time to heal wounds, a time not to be weary of meeting all 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." 

You can listen to the podcast of this part of the programme excerpted HERE.

Previous posts from SS102fm on the Jubilee of Mercy are HERE.

Vatican Radio resources on Jubilee of Mercy HERE

Mercy in Action in Limerick

A special Year of Mercy celebration will take place in St John’s Cathedral on Sunday November 20th at 4.00 pm. A number of local and national organisations have agreed to be part of the story of the liturgy and it promises to be a reflective and meaningful experience for young and old alike.


Please spread the word so we have a full Cathedral with representatives from every parish to bring the works of Mercy to every home, parish, community and workplace across Limerick in a meaningful way.

Gospel - Luke 21: 5-19

The Prophecy of the Destruction of the Temple" by James Tissot. 

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Word on Fire

English Dominicans

Sunday Reflections

Centre for Liturgy

Liturgical odds & ends

Liturgy of the Hours: psalter week 1; 33rd week in ordinary time

Saints of the Week

November 14th - St Lawrence O'Toole

November 15th - St Albert the Great

November 16th - St Margaret of Scotland also St Gertrude

November 17th - St Elizabeth of Hungary

November 18th - Dedication of the Basilicas of St Peters and St Paul's-outside-the-Walls

November 19th - Blessed James Benefatti

Pope Francis on refugee crisis: We have the duty of welcoming those who flee from war or hunger

 

Papal Weekly General Audience - “If God has forgiven us, why can we not forgive?”

Summary of the Pope's Catechesis:

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

In our Gospel passage this morning, we are reminded of our call to be merciful even as our heavenly Father is merciful (cf. Lk 6:36). When we look at salvation history, we see that God’s whole revelation is his untiring love for humanity which culminates in Jesus’ death on the Cross. So great a love can be expressed only by God. Jesus’ call to humanity to be as merciful as the Father, however, is not a question of quantity. Instead it is a summons to be signs, channels and witnesses to his mercy. This is the Church’s mission, to be God’s sacrament of mercy in every place and time.

As Christians, therefore, God asks us to be his witnesses, first by opening our own hearts to his divine mercy, and then by sharing that mercy towards all people, especially those who suffer. In this way, our works of mercy and charity will offer to the world a glimpse of the face of Christ. In the Gospel, Jesus explains that we especially show the Father’s mercy when we pardon one another, for we express the free gift of God’s love, and help one another on the way of conversion. Jesus invites us also to give freely, for all we have has been freely given to us by God, and we will receive only in the measure that we freely give to others. Merciful love is the only path, for by it we are able to make known the Father’s mercy that has no end.

I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, particularly those from England, Scotland, Ireland, Denmark, Norway, Japan, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, South Africa, Australia, Canada and the United States of America. May you open your lives to the Lord’s gift of mercy, and share this gift with all whom you know. As children of our Heavenly Father, may you be missionaries of his merciful love. May God bless you all!

18th September 2016 - Triduum in Honour of St. Padre Pio - 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

On this week's programme Fr. John Mockler of the Servi Della Sofferenza (Servants of Suffering) chats with Lorraine about the upcoming triduum in honour of St. Padre Pio which will be held in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Newcastle West, Co. Limerick, from September 21st to 23rd 2016. You can listen to the podcast for this week's programme HERE.

Triduum in Honour of St. Padre Pio

Fr. John begins by explaining why he has organised a triduum in honour of St. Pio and why St. Pio is the saint for our times. St. Pio, who was the first priest who had the stigmata (the wounds of Christ), is the saint for our times, because in bearing the wounds of Jesus, he witnessed to the fact of the Resurrection in his wounds.

St. Pio also participated in the redemptive suffering of Jesus, as St. Paul says: "completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church" (Col 1:24). By uniting his suffering with that of Christ he was able to bring many people back to Christ in the confessional. For this reason, Pope Francis named him a 'Servant of Mercy' and one of the patrons for the Year of Mercy.

Fr. John speaks to us about the spirituality of St. Pio and what message he has both for young people and those who are not so young. 

Fr. John also shares about his own devotion to St. Pio and how he came to hear about and became a consecrated priest of the secular institute of the Servi Della Sofferenza (The Servants of Suffering) which Our Lady requested be set up to continue the work of St. Pio in the world.

The triduum in honour of St. Pio will include an opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation as St. Pio is the saint of the confessional, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the rosary and veneration of and blessing with the first class relic of St. Pio. 

A first class relic contains a part of the saint's body, in this case it is part of a bandage that contains the blood of St. Pio. Of course, as we know relics are not magic, nor are they to be used superstitiously. When we venerate the relics of a saint we are professing our belief in:

"(1) the belief in everlasting life for those who have obediently witnessed to Christ and His Holy Gospel here on earth; (2) the truth of the resurrection of the body for all persons on the last day; (3) the doctrine of the splendour of the human body and the respect which all should show toward the bodies of both the living and the deceased; (4) the belief in the special intercessory power which the saints enjoy in heaven because of their intimate relationship with Christ the King; and (5) the truth of our closeness to the saints because of our connection in the communion of saints we as members of the Church militant or pilgrim Church, they as members of the Church triumphant." (H/T to the Catholic Education Resource Center where you can read more about the Catholic understanding of relics HERE).

The following video contains rare footage of the final Mass that St. Pio celebrated on the day before he died:

Fr. John will return to the programme at a later date to speak to us more about his vocation journey and the Servants of Suffering.

Gospel - Luke 16:1-13

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘There was a rich man and he had a steward denounced to him for being wasteful with his property. He called for the man and said, “What is this I hear about you? Draw me up an account of your stewardship because you are not to be my steward any longer.” Then the steward said to himself, “Now that my master is taking the stewardship from me, what am I to do? Dig? I am not strong enough. Go begging? I should be too ashamed. Ah, I know what I will do to make sure that when I am dismissed from office there will be some to welcome me into their homes.”

Then he called his master’s debtors one by one. To the first he said, “How much do you owe my master?” “One hundred measures of oil” was the reply. The steward said, “Here, take your bond; sit down straight away and write fifty”. To another he said, “And you, sir, how much do you owe?” “One hundred measures of wheat” was the reply. The steward said, “Here, take your bond and write eighty”.

‘The master praised the dishonest steward for his astuteness. For the children of this world are more astute in dealing with their own kind than are the children of light.’

‘And so I tell you this: use money, tainted as it is, to win you friends, and thus make sure that when it fails you, they will welcome you into the tents of eternity. The man who can be trusted in little things can be trusted in great; the man who is dishonest in little things will be dishonest in great. If then you cannot be trusted with money, that tainted thing, who will trust you with genuine riches? And if you cannot be trusted with what is not yours, who will give you what is your very own?

‘No servant can be the slave of two masters: he will either hate the first and love the second, or treat the first with respect and the second with scorn. You cannot be the slave both of God and of money.’

Reflections on this week's gospel:

Word on Fire
English Dominicans
Sunday Reflections
Centre for Liturgy

Liturgical Odds & Ends

Liturgy of the Hours - Psalter week 1, 25th week in Ordinary Time

Saints of the Week

Sept 19th - St. Januarius
Sept 20th - St. Andrew Kim Taegon, Paul Chong Hasang and Companion Martyrs
Sept 21st - St. Matthew
Sept 22nd - St. Maurice
Sept 23rd - St. Pius of Pietrelcina (St. Padre Pio)
Sept 24th - Our Lady of Walsingham

Pope Francis weekly general audience - Holy Door is meeting point between pain of humanity and compassion of God

Pope Francis visits Assisi and reminds christians to seek and give forgiveness

Vatican Radio - Pope in Assisi: forgiveness can truly renew Church and world

SS102fm@WYD2016 - Pilgrimage of Mercy

This morning (Tuesday) we completed our Pilgrimage of Mercy walk from the St John Paul II Sanctuary to the Divine Mercy Sanctuary. Fr Chris shared with us about St John Paul II and St Faustyna and the Divine Mercy devotion. We prayed the divine mercy chaplet between both sanctuaries and went through the door of mercy at the Divine Mercy Sanctuary where we had the opportunity to entrust to God's mercy all those whom we carry on our hearts.

24th July 2016 - The Mercy of God : A reflection with Marie Beirne

On this weeks programme John has a recording of a reflection on God's mercy from Maire  Beirne, a Charismatic Renewal speaker from Co Leitrim. The reflection was recorded at the Limerick Maranatha Prayer Group during May 2015. 

 

Maire lead a wonderful reflection in May 2015 and shared many stories and examples of the mercy of God in every day life. She reminds us that the mercy of God is flowing down from heaven and we can  do nothing to earn it. What we have to do is open up and receive this mercy which is eternal, new each day and powerful. Our response must start with prayer, we should not take the gift of prayer for granted.

 

The best way to receive the mercy of God is to take to heart what Jesus said in the Beatitudes - How blessed are the merciful, they shall have mercy shown to them. We are called to let the mercy of God flow out through us to others. let us ask the Lord to give us a 'Heart Transplant' so that his mercy and forgiveness can flow out through us to others. As this mercy flows from us to others, mercy will flow into us.

You can listen to the full programme podcast HERE with the reflection from Maire excerpted HERE.

Gospel - Luke 11:1-13

He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.’ ²He said to them, ‘When you pray, say:
Father,^* hallowed be your name.
   Your kingdom come.^*
3   Give us each day our daily bread.^*
4   And forgive us our sins,
     for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
   And do not bring us to the time of trial.’^*

Perseverance in Prayer

5
And he said to them, ‘Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; ⁶for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.” ⁷And he answers from within, “Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.” ⁸I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.
9 
"So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. ¹⁰For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. ¹¹Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for^* a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? ¹²Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? ¹³If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit^* to those who ask him!’

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Word on Fire
Sunday Reflections
Centre for Liturgy
English Dominicans

Liturgical odds & ends

Liturgy of the Hours - psalter week 1; 17th week in ordinary time

Saints of the Week

July 25th - St James the Great
July 26th - St Joachim & St Anne
July 27th - St Declan
July 28th - Blessed John Soreth
July 29th - St Martha
July 30th - St Peter Chrysologus

Divine Mercy Sunday in Rome during the Year of Mercy

In this Jubilee Year of Mercy, Pope Francis has lead the celebrations of Divine Mercy Sunday which is held on the second Sunday of Easter.

Vatican Radio - Pope at Divine Mercy Mass: Be Apostles of mercy
Pope Francis presided over Mass in St Peter’s Square on Sunday for the Feast of Divine Mercy, and encouraged the faithful to be “apostles of mercy” toward those in need. “We are all called to become living writers of the Gospel, heralds of the Good News to all men and women today,” the Pope told the crowds during his homily. “We do this by practicing the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, which are the hallmarks of the Christian life. - Continue reading at Vatican Radio link. 

Vatican Radio - Pope Francis leads prayer vigil for Divine Mercy
Pope Francis on Saturday lead a prayer vigil for Divine Mercy, in which he spoke of the many faces of the mercy of God. The prayer vigil took place on the eve of Divine Mercy Sunday and coincided with the 11th anniversary of Pope St. John Paul II’s death. Continue reading at the Vatican Radio link.

CNA - Mercy is an open book – and it's our task to write it, Pope says
Whispers in the Loggia - "Jesus Wishes To Throw Open Our Closed Doors" – On Mercy Sunday, The Pope's Coming "Gospel"
Crux - On Divine Mercy Sunday, a primer on St. Faustina’s devotion
OSV - Saint John Paul II’s Ways of Divine Mercy

24 Hours for the Lord

In the Diocese of Limerick the 24 hours for the Lord initiative will take place in Saint Augustine’s Church, O’Connell Street, Limerick beginning with Mass at 4pm on Friday 4 March and concluding with Mass for the sick at 3pm on Saturday 5 March.

There will be opportunities for the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the 24 hours and in keeping with the theme for the time of prayer, people are encouraged to make a special effort in the season of Lent, to celebrate the love and mercy of God.

All are welcome to participate in this initiative.

Engaging the Heart - March 12th & 13th - Knock Shrine - John McAreavey to speak at Knock faith event

John McAreavey is to speak about his personal faith journey since the tragic loss of his wife, Michaela, as part of a faith festival at Knock Shrine next month. 

‘Engaging the Heart’ is a free weekend event on Saturday and Sunday, March 12 and 13, featuring a full programme of talks, workshops and a choral concert in Knock Basilica.

The theme of the weekend is ‘forgiveness, hope, healing and reconciliation’ and it has been organised to celebrate Pope Francis’ ‘Jubilee of Mercy’.

Mr McAreavey is to give a personal testimony at 11.45am on Saturday, March 12, about his faith journey, including forgiveness, healing and hope, following the tragic death of his wife Michaela in 2011. Mr McAreavey is the co-founder of the Michaela Foundation, a youth orientated charity that promotes wellbeing and faith through summer camps for girls across Ireland.

Well-known Northern Ireland peace and reconciliation campaigner, Rev Ruth Patterson, will also speak at the event. Rev Patterson is a Presbyterian minister and the director of Restoration Ministries, a non-denominational, Christian organisation committed to peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland. She was awarded an OBE in 2003 for her efforts in reconciliation and has authored four books and numerous articles stemming from her commitment to unity and peace. Rev Patterson will deliver a talk and a workshop over the weekend.

Another highlight of the weekend is a free choral concert on Saturday evening at 7.30pm. Choirs from across Ireland will join together in song and praise in the beautiful surrounds of the newly refurbished Knock Basilica.

Speaking about the weekend, Fr Richard Gibbons, parish priest and rector, Knock Shrine, encouraged individuals and parish groups to come along and join in the talks and workshops on one or both days. “There is a fantastic line-up of speakers and talks throughout the two days and an excellent workshop programme. I have no doubt this will be a wonderful event and a vibrant celebration of faith,” said Fr Gibbons.

“Engaging the Heart is an ideal opportunity to celebrate the Jubilee of Mercy and is also very relevant for the Lenten journey and Easter preparations.”

For the full weekend programme and further information, please visit www.knockshrine.ie/mercy or telephone (094) 93 88100.

Rome Reports: The Botero Way of the Cross arrives in Rome for the Jubilee

Pope Francis reflects on the role of priests during Confession and on the Missionaries of Mercy

 

The Pope made a surprise visit to pray at the relics of Padre Pio and Saint Leopold Mandic - Rome Reports

Jubilee of Mercy - Updates from Rome - Arrival of relics of Padre Pio and Leopoldo Madic

(Vatican Radio) The relics of St. Pius of Pietralcina – Padre Pio, as he is popularly known around the world – and St. Leopold Mandic, made their way on Friday afternoon from the Church of San Salvatore in Lauro to St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.

 

The relics of the two great saints – both of whom were Capuchin Franciscan friars and priests who were renowned as confessors – have come to Rome by the desire of Pope Francis in connection with the Jubilee Year of Mercy, as part of efforts to renew, rekindle and strengthen interest in and love for the Sacrament of Penance or Reconciliation. Click hear to hear Vatican Radio's report

 

 (CNA) - Padre Pio's incorrupt body is in Rome – here's why

 

Moyross Jesuit ‘mercy envoy’ for Pope - Moyross Parish Priest Tony O’Riordan SJ is among a group of priests from around the world chosen by Pope Francis to play a special role in the Holy Year of Mercy which began on 8 December. He has been invited to come to Rome on Monday 8 February to receive the special mandate in person during an Ash Wednesday ceremony in St. Peter’s Basilica on 10 February.

Pope Francis makes a surprise visit to an elderly home - Rome Reports

Summing up the messaage of the Jubilee of Mercy

“The most important thing in the life of every man and every woman is not that they should never fall along the way. The important thing is always to get back up, not to stay on the ground licking your wounds. The Lord of mercy always forgives me; he always offers me the possibility of starting over. He loves me for what I am, he wants to raise me up, and he extends his hand to me. This is one of the tasks of the Church: to help people perceive that there are no situations that they cannot get out of. For as long as we are alive it is always possible to start over, all we have to do is let Jesus embrace us and
forgive us.”

- Pope Francis in "The Name of God is Mercy"