The Name Of God Is Mercy
Pope Francis called 2016 the Year of Mercy (the Holy Year of Mercy, the Jubilee of Mercy). The Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy (Latin: Iubilaeum Extraordinarium Misericordiae) was announced by Francis in St. Peter’s Basilica on March 13, 2015. It commenced on December 8, 2015 (the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception) and concluded on November 20, 2016 (the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe).
We should look at the Year of Mercy as an invitation to love, kindness, and unbounded generosity. By calling 2016 the Year of Mercy Francis was offering people the opportunity to encounter the infinite (unfathomable, bottomless, inscrutable, inconceivable) mercy of God. It can transform our lives, our relationships and our abilities to embrace and experience all of life. Francis says that the Holy Year is a response to the world’s need for a “revolution of tenderness" from which “justice and all the rest derives.” He also says: “We are used to bad news, cruel news, and to even bigger atrocities, which offend the name and life of God” and emphasizes that ending those tragedies requires a spirit of mercy. Francis wanted the Jubilee Year of Mercy to be a far-reaching Christian witness of mercy to the world.
In conjunction with the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, on January 12, 2016 was released Pope Francis’ first book “The Name of God is Mercy”. The main theme of the book is mercy and Francis’ reasons for proclaiming a Holy Year of Mercy. In this book Francis reveals his vision of God’s mercy in a series of interviews with Andrea Tornielli, an Italian journalist and the coordinator for the Vatican Insider news website. Tornielli says in the forward: “I thought how wonderful it would be to ask him a few questions that focused on the theme of mercy and forgiveness, to analyze what those words mean to him as a man and a priest.” He hoped that such an interview “would reveal the heart of Francis and his vision” and be a “text that would open doors, especially during the Holy Year of Mercy, when the Church wants to show, in a very special and even more significant way, its face of mercy.” In the book Francis invites all people to an intimate and personal dialogue on the subject closest to his heart – mercy. Mercy has long been the cornerstone of his faith and is now the central teaching of his papacy. Francis states that mercy is “Jesus’ most important message”. He says that mercy is essential because all people are sinners and need God’s forgiveness and God’s mercy. It is especially necessary today, at a time when “humanity is wounded,” suffering from “the many slaveries of the third millennium” – not just war, poverty and social exclusion, but also fatalism, hardheartedness and self-righteousness.
In “The Name of God is Mercy” Francis explains that he considers the present day a special time of mercy for the Church. He chose to hold a Year for Mercy through prayer and reflection on the teachings of recent Popes, as well as his own thought of the Church as a field hospital for sinners. He states: “Mercy is God’s identity card. God of Mercy, merciful God. For me, this really is the Lord’s identity.” Francis also openly says: “The Pope is a man who needs the mercy of God.”
The World Youth Day (WYD) 2016 in Krakow, Poland, with the theme “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” (Mt 5: 7) was also part of the Holy Year of Mercy. In his Message for WYD 2016, dated 15 August 2015 (Solemnity of the Assumption of the B.V. Mary), Francis writes about the meaning of the Jubilee Year, the meaning of divine mercy and the importance of being instruments of God’s mercy. He also says that he believes that Divine Providence led him to the decision to celebrate the Youth Jubilee in Krakow, the city of two great apostles of Divine Mercy in our times: Saint Faustina Kowalska and Saint John Paul II.
In his Message for WYD 2016 Francis states that Saint John Paul II “realized that this is the time of mercy” and entrusted the world to Divine Mercy:
“In 2002 he personally inaugurated the Divine Mercy Shrine in Krakow and entrusted the world to Divine Mercy, in the desire that this message would reach all the peoples of the earth and fill their hearts with hope: 'This spark needs to be lighted by the grace of God. This fire of mercy needs to be passed on to the world. In the mercy of God the world will find peace and mankind will find happiness!' (Homily at the Dedication of the Divine Mercy Shrine in Krakow, 17 August 2002)”.
At the end of his Message for WYD 2016 Francis says:
“Come to Him [Jesus Christ] and do not be afraid! Come to him [sic] and say from the depths of your hearts: 'Jesus, I trust in You!'. Let yourselves be touched by his boundless mercy, so that in turn you may become apostles of mercy by your actions, words and prayers in our world, wounded by selfishness, hatred and so much despair.
Carry with you the flame of Christ’s merciful love – as Saint John Paul II said – in every sphere of your daily life and to the very ends of the earth. In this mission, I am with you with my encouragement and prayers.”
Please reflect deeply on the following quotations.
I. In the Book of Psalms we read:
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. (Ps 103: 8)
II. In the Gospel of St Luke, Jesus says:
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Lk 6: 36)
III. In the First Letter of St John we read:
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. […]
God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. […]
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he [God ] first loved us. Those who say, ’I love God,’ and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. (1 Jn 4: 7-8, 16, 18-20)
IV. Jesus says to Sister Faustina ("Diary". Divine Mercy in My Soul):
... encourage the souls with whom you come in contact to trust in My infinite mercy. Oh, how I love those souls who have complete confidence in Me - I will do everything for them. (294)
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Proclaim that mercy is the greatest attribute of God. All works of My hands are crowned with mercy. (301)
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I desire that the whole world know My infinite mercy. I desire to grant unimaginable graces to those souls who trust in My mercy. (687)
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My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy. (699)
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I perform works of mercy in every soul. The greater the sinner, the greater the right he has to My mercy. (723)
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I desire trust from My creatures. Encourage souls to place great trust in My fathomless mercy. Let the weak, sinful soul have no fear to approach Me, for even if it had more sins than there are grains of sand in the world, all would be drowned in the unmeasurable [immeasurable] depth of My mercy. (1059)
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Tell the world about My mercy and My love.
The flames of mercy are burning Me. I desire to pour them out upon human souls. Oh, what pain they cause Me when they do not want to accept them.
Tell aching mankind to snuggle close to My merciful Heart, and I will fill it with peace.
Tell [all people], My daughter, that I am Love and Mercy itself. When a soul approaches Me with trust, I fill it with such an abundance of graces that it cannot contain them within itself, but radiates them to other souls. (1074)
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Everything that exists is enclosed in the bowels of My mercy, more deeply than an infant in its mother’s womb. How painfully distrust of My goodness wounds Me! Sins of distrust wound Me most painfully. (1076)
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[Let] the greatest sinners place their trust in My mercy. They have the right before others to trust in the abyss of My mercy. My daughter, write about My mercy towards tormented souls. Souls that make an appeal to My mercy delight Me. To such souls I grant even more graces than they ask. I cannot punish even the greatest sinner if he makes an appeal to My compassion, but on the contrary, I justify him in My unfathomable and inscrutable mercy. Write: before I come as a just Judge, I first open wide the door of My mercy. He who refuses to pass through the door of My mercy must pass through the door of My justice… (1146)
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Everything that exists is enclosed in the bowels of My mercy, more deeply than an infant in its mother’s womb. How painfully distrust of My goodness wounds Me! Sins of distrust wound Me most painfully.” (1076“Know, My daughter, that between Me and you there is a bottomless abyss, an abyss which separates the Creator from the creature. But this abyss is filled with My mercy. I raise you up to Myself, not that I have need of you, but it is solely out of mercy that I grant you the grace of union with Myself. (1576)
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Tell souls not to place within their own hearts obstacles to My mercy, which so greatly wants to act within them. My mercy works in all those hearts which open their doors to it. Both the sinner and the righteous person have need of My mercy. Conversion, as well as perseverance, is a grace of My mercy. (1577)
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The graces of My mercy are drawn by means of one vessel only, and that is – trust. The more a soul trusts, the more it will receive. Souls that trust boundlessly are a great comfort to Me, because I pour all the treasures of My graces into them. I rejoice that they ask for much, because it is My desire to give much, very much. On the other hand, I am sad when souls ask for little, when they narrow their hearts. (1578)
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I do not want to punish aching mankind, but I desire to heal it, pressing [cuddling] it to My Merciful Heart. (1588)
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My daughter, even if you were to speak at one and the same time in all human and angelic tongues, even then you would not have said very much, but on the contrary, you would have sung in only a small measure the praises of My goodness - of My unfathomable mercy. (1605)
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Be always merciful as I am merciful. Love everyone out of love for Me, even your greatest enemies, so that My mercy may be fully reflected in your heart. (1695)
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You know what love demands: one thing only, reciprocity... (1770)
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Write: I am Thrice Holy, and I detest the smallest sin. I cannot love a soul which is stained with sin; but when it repents, there is no limit to My generosity toward it. My mercy embraces and justifies it. With My mercy, I pursue sinners along all their paths, and My Heart rejoices when they return to Me. I forget the bitterness with which they fed My Heart and rejoice at their return.
My daughter, know that My Heart is mercy itself. From this sea of mercy, graces flow out upon the whole world. No soul that has approached Me has ever gone away unconsoled. All misery gets buried in the depths of My mercy, and every saving and sanctifying grace flows from this fountain….
Sooner would heaven and earth turn into nothingness than would My mercy not embrace a trusting soul. (1777)
V. In his book “The Name of God is Mercy” Francis says that no one can put a limit on God’s mercy and that there are no situations we cannot get out of:
“The Church Fathers teach us that a shattered heart is the most pleasing gift to God. It is the sign that we are conscious of our sins, of the evil we have done, of our wretchedness, and of our need for forgiveness and mercy.”
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“We need to remember and remind ourselves where we come from, what we are, our nothingness.”
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“The fragility of our era is this, too: we don’t believe that there is a chance for redemption; for a hand to raise you up; for an embrace to save you, forgive you, pick you up, flood you with infinite, patient, indulgent love; to put you back on your feet. We need mercy.”
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“Justice on its own is not enough. With mercy and forgiveness, God goes beyond justice, he subsumes it and exceeds it in a higher event in which we experience love, which is at the root of true justice.”
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“There are no situations we cannot get out of, we are not condemned to sink into quicksand, in which the more we move the deeper we sink. Jesus is there, his hand extended, ready to reach out to us and pull us out of the mud, out of sin, out of the abyss of evil into which we have fallen. We need only be conscious of our state, be honest with ourselves, and not lick our wounds. We need to ask for the grace to recognize ourselves as sinners. The more we acknowledge that we are in need, the more shame and humility we feel, the sooner we will feel his embrace of grace. Jesus waits for us, he goes ahead of us, he extends his hand to us, he is patient with us. God is faithful. Mercy will always be greater than any sin, no one can put a limit on the love of the all-forgiving God. Just by looking at him, just by raising our eyes from ourselves and our wounds, we leave an opening for the action of his grace. Jesus performs miracles with our sins, with what we are, with our nothingness, with our wretchedness.”
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“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.”
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“God is a careful and attentive father, ready to welcome any person who takes a step or even expresses the desire to take a step that leads home. He is there, staring out at the horizon, expecting us, waiting for us. No human sin -- however serious -- can prevail over or limit mercy.”
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“God awaits us with open arms; we need only to take a step toward him like the Prodigal Son. But if, weak as we are, we don't have the strength to take that step, just the desire to take it is enough.”
VI. In this book Francis also says that money does not make us happy:
“Do not fall into the terrible trap of thinking that life depends on money and that, in comparison with money, anything else is devoid of value or dignity. This is nothing but an illusion! We cannot take money with us into the life beyond. Money does not bring us happiness.”
VII. In the same book Francis emphasizes that we should be ministers of God’s mercy and reminds us of the protocol for which we will all be judged in the evening of life:
“People are looking for someone to listen to them. Someone willing to grant them time, to listen to their dramas and difficulties. This is what I call the 'apostolate of the ear,' and it is important. Very important. I feel compelled to say to confessors: talk, listen with patience, and above all tell people that God loves them.”
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“The more conscious we are of our own wretchedness and our sins, the more we experience the love and infinite mercy of God among us, the more capable we are of looking upon the many ‘wounded’ we meet along the way with acceptance and mercy.”
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“We are called to serve Christ the Crucified through every marginalized person. We touch the flesh of Christ in he who is outcast, hungry, thirsty, naked, imprisoned, ill, unemployed, persecuted, in search of refuge. That is where we find our God, that is where we touch the Lord. Jesus himself told us, explaining the protocol for which we will all be judged: 'whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did it for me' (Matthew 25: 40).”
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“By welcoming a marginalized person whose body is wounded and by welcoming the sinner whose soul is wounded, we put our credibility as Christians on the line. Let us always remember the words of Saint John of the Cross: 'In the evening of life, we will be judged on love alone.' “
VIII. Francis says that God’s mercy toward us is linked to our mercy toward our neighbour:
“… God’s mercy toward us is linked to our mercy toward our neighbour; when this is lacking, also that of not finding room in our closed heart, He cannot enter. If I do not thrust open the door of my heart to the poor, that door remains closed. Even to God. This is terrible. […]
In order to convert, we must not wait for prodigious events, but open our heart to the Word of God, which calls us to love God and neighbour. The Word of God may revive a withered heart and cure it of its blindness. The rich man [in the parable of the rich man and the poor Lazarus (cf. Lk 16: 19-31)] knew the Word of God, but did not let it enter his heart, he did not listen to it, and thus was incapable of opening his eyes and of having compassion for the poor man. No messenger and no message can take the place of the poor whom we meet on the journey, because in them Jesus himself comes to meet us: ‘as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me’ (Mt 25: 40), Jesus says. Thus hidden in the reversal of fate that the parable describes lies the mystery of our salvation, in which Christ links poverty with mercy.” (Reflection on poverty and mercy made during general audience in St. Peter’s Square, May 18, 2016)
IX. Emphasizing that we should be missionaries of the Gospel, Francis encourages us to bring about a culture of mercy and put ourselves at the service of the civilization of love.
Francis tweets (Pope Francis@Pontifex):
“We must not believe the Evil One when he tells us that there is nothing we can do in the face of violence, injustice and sin.” (March 24, 2013)
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“God is so merciful toward us. We too should learn to be merciful, especially with those who suffer.” (July 17, 2013)
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“Mercy is the true power that can save humanity and the world from sin and evil.” (October 7, 2013)
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“We cannot give up in the face of evil. God is Love and he has defeated evil through Christ’s death and resurrection.” (October 18, 2013)
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“We are all sinners. But God heals us with an abundance of grace, mercy and tenderness.” (October 28, 2013)
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“To be saints is not a privilege for the few, but a vocation for everyone.” (November 21, 2013)
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“Holiness doesn’t mean doing extraordinary things, but doing ordinary things with love and faith.” (December 5, 2013)
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“It is not enough to say we are Christians. We must live the faith, not only with our words, but with our actions.” (January 20, 2014)
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“Do not be afraid! Open the doors to Christ!” (May 3, 2014)
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“We will never be disillusioned or lose our way if we are guided by God.” (May 22, 2014)
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“To live by faith means to put our lives in the hands of God, especially in our most difficult moments.” (May 23, 2014)
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“There is never a reason to lose hope. Jesus says: ‘I am with you until the end of the world’ ”. (June 19, 2014)
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“It is by God’s mercy that we are saved. May we never tire of spreading this joyful message to the world.” (August 17, 2014)
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“Let us allow God to fill our hearts with his goodness and mercy.” (March 17, 2015)
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“We Christians are called to go out of ourselves to bring the mercy and tenderness of God to all.” (April 25, 2015)
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“The light of the Gospel guides all who put themselves at the service of the civilization of love.” (June 2, 2015)
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“How wonderful it is to proclaim to everyone the love of God which saves us and gives meaning to our lives!” (June 3, 2015)
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“We are all sinners. Let us be transformed by God’s mercy.” (August 8, 2015)
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“Open your heart to mercy! Divine mercy is stronger than the sins of men.” (March 3, 2016)
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“Before the spiritual and moral abysses of mankind, only God’s infinite mercy can bring us salvation.” (April 28, 2016)
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“If our hearts and actions are inspired by charity, by divine love, then our communication will be touched by God’s own power.” (May 13, 2016)
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“To communicate with mercy means to help create a healthy, free and fraternal closeness among the children of God.” (May 14, 2016)
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“The world needs the courage, hope, faith and perseverance of Christ’s followers.” (May 17, 2016)
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“We are stewards, not masters of our earth. Each of us has a personal responsibility to care for the precious gift of God’s creation.” (May 30, 2016)
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“The tenderness of God is present in the lives of all those who attend the sick and understand their needs, with eyes full of love.” (June 10, 2016)
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“Being Christian involves joining one’s own life, in all its aspects, to the person of Jesus and, through Him, to the Father.” (June 22, 2016)
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“If God is present in our life, the joy of bringing the Gospel will be our strength and our happiness.” (June 28, 2016)
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“Anyone who performs works of mercy is not afraid of death.” (July 29, 2016)
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“We have come into the world in order to leave a mark.” (July 30, 2016)
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“Jesus is calling you to leave your mark on life: one that transforms your own life and the lives of others.” (July 30, 2016)
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“God counts on you for who you are, not for what you have. You are valuable in His eyes and your value is priceless.” (July 31, 2016)
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“Jesus speaks to you every day. Let His Gospel become yours and let Him be your ‘navigator’ on life’s journey!” (July 31, 2016)
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“We oppose hatred and destruction with goodness. We live in societies of different cultures and religions, but we are brothers and sisters.” (August 7, 2016)
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“May people see the Gospel in our lives: in our generous and faithful love for Christ and our brothers and sisters.” (August 13, 2016)
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“Mercy does not just mean being a ‘good person’ nor is it mere sentimentality. It is the measure of our authenticity as disciples of Jesus.” (August 21, 2016)
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“May God’s mercy towards us move us to be merciful towards our neighbors.” (August 29, 2016)
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“Serving with love and tenderness those who are in need helps us to grow in humanity.” (August 31, 2016)
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“Let us imitate Mother Teresa who made works of mercy the guide of her life and the path towards holiness.” (September 3, 2016)
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“To offer today’s world the witness of mercy is a task from which none of us can feel exempted.” (September 8, 2016)
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“The Lord presents himself each day and knocks at the door of our heart.” (September 9, 2016)
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“Mercy can truly contribute to the building up of a more humane world.” (September 19, 2016)
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“The more we let ourselves be enveloped by the love of God, the more our lives are renewed.” (September 22, 2016)
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“The world needs concrete signs of solidarity, especially before the temptation of indifference.” (September 25, 2016)
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“In the brother we help we recognize the face of God which no one sees anymore.” (September 26, 2016)
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“God is not known through grand ideas and extensive study, but rather through the littleness of a humble and trusting heart.” (October 1, 2016)
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“The poor and weak are the flesh of Christ, who call upon Christians of every confession.” (October 1, 2016)
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“God changes the world by transforming our hearts. When God finds an open and trusting heart, he can work wonders there.” (October 2, 2016)
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“It is by loving that the God-who-is-Love is proclaimed to the world.” (October 6, 2016)
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“The sick, the poor, as well as the unborn, are all made in the image of God and worthy of the highest respect.” (October 21, 2016)
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“ 'Do not be afraid! Open wide the doors for Christ!' – Saint John Paul II, 22 October 1978.” (October 22, 2016)
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“Prophecy is saying that there is something truer, more beautiful, greater, of greater good to which we are all called.” (November 7, 2016)
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“Dear Friends, never forget that in our encounter with people in need we meet Jesus himself.” (November 11, 2016)
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“If you want to find God, seek him where he is hidden: in the neediest, the sick, the hungry, the imprisoned.” (November 13, 2016)
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“In a world which has been damaged by the virus of indifference, the works of mercy are the best antidote.” (November 14, 2016)
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“If every one of us, every day, does a work of mercy, there will be a revolution in the world!” (November 15, 2016)
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“It is not enough to experience God’s mercy in one’s life; whoever receives it must also become a sign and instrument for others.” (November 17, 2016)
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“If you want a heart full of love, be mercifull [sic].” (November 18, 2016)
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“May the balm of mercy reach everyone, both believers and those far away, as a sign that the Kingdom of God is already present in our midst!” (November 20, 2016)
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“How much I desire that the years to come will be full of mercy, so that every person can experience the goodness and tenderness of God!” (November 22, 2016)
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“Jesus calls us to be bearers of joy and consolation as his merciful witnesses.” (November 29, 2016)
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“We are all called to go out as missionaries and bring the message of God’s love to every person in every area of life.” (December 3, 2016)
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“Everyone can help bring about a culture of mercy, in which no one looks at another with indifference.” (January 11, 2017)
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“Let us imitate the attitude of Jesus toward the sick: he [sic] takes care of everyone, He shares their suffering and opens their hearts to hope.” (January 31, 2017)
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“Let us follow in the footsteps of Christ, especially by dedicating ourselves to our brothers and sisters in need.” (April 5, 2017)
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“Jesus comes to save us; we are called to choose his way: the way of service, of giving, of forgetfulness of ourselves.” (April 11, 2017)
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“God makes His most beautiful flowers grow among the driest stones.” (May 18, 2017)
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“We are called to live not as one without others, above or against others, but with and for others.” (May 22, 2017)
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“Let us allow ourselves to be humbly led by the Holy Spirit in order to avoid taking the wrong road and closing our hearts.” (June 4, 2017)
X. Mother Teresa says:
“Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty.”
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“Even the rich are hungry for love, for being cared for, for being wanted, for having someone to call their own.”
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“The greatest disease in the West today is not TB or leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for. We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness is love. There are many in the world who are dying for a piece of bread but there are many more dying for a little love. The poverty in the West is a different kind of poverty – it is not only a poverty of loneliness but also of spirituality. There’s a hunger for love, as there is a hunger for God.”
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“The spiritual poverty of the West is greater than ours. […] You, in the West, have millions of people who suffer such terrible loneliness and emptiness. […] They feel unloved and unwanted. These people are not hungry in the physical sense, but they are in another way. They know they need something more than money, yet they don’t know what it is. What they are missing, really, is a living relationship with God.”
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“The greatest disease of mankind is the absence of love.”
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“The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread.”
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“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
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“I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.”
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“Intense love does not measure, it just gives.”
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“The success of love is in the loving – it is not in the result of loving. Of course it is natural in love to want the best for the other person, but whether it turns out that way or not does not determine the value of what we have done.”
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“In loving one another through our works we bring an increase of grace and a growth in divine love.”
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“We must know that we have been created for greater things, not just to be a number in the world, not just to go for diplomas and degrees, this work and that work. We have been created in order to love and to be loved.”
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“I’m just a little pencil in the hand of a writing God sending a love letter to the world.”
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“It is not the magnitude of our actions, but the amount of love that is put into them that matters.”
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“At the hour of death when we come face-to-face with God, we are going to be judged on love; not how much we have done, but how much love we put into the doing.”
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“Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts.”
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“Prayer makes your heart bigger, until it is capable of containing the gift of God himself. Prayer begets faith, faith begets love, and love begets service on behalf of the poor.”
We should look at the Year of Mercy as an invitation to love, kindness, and unbounded generosity. By calling 2016 the Year of Mercy Francis was offering people the opportunity to encounter the infinite (unfathomable, bottomless, inscrutable, inconceivable) mercy of God. It can transform our lives, our relationships and our abilities to embrace and experience all of life. Francis says that the Holy Year is a response to the world’s need for a “revolution of tenderness" from which “justice and all the rest derives.” He also says: “We are used to bad news, cruel news, and to even bigger atrocities, which offend the name and life of God” and emphasizes that ending those tragedies requires a spirit of mercy. Francis wanted the Jubilee Year of Mercy to be a far-reaching Christian witness of mercy to the world.
In conjunction with the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, on January 12, 2016 was released Pope Francis’ first book “The Name of God is Mercy”. The main theme of the book is mercy and Francis’ reasons for proclaiming a Holy Year of Mercy. In this book Francis reveals his vision of God’s mercy in a series of interviews with Andrea Tornielli, an Italian journalist and the coordinator for the Vatican Insider news website. Tornielli says in the forward: “I thought how wonderful it would be to ask him a few questions that focused on the theme of mercy and forgiveness, to analyze what those words mean to him as a man and a priest.” He hoped that such an interview “would reveal the heart of Francis and his vision” and be a “text that would open doors, especially during the Holy Year of Mercy, when the Church wants to show, in a very special and even more significant way, its face of mercy.” In the book Francis invites all people to an intimate and personal dialogue on the subject closest to his heart – mercy. Mercy has long been the cornerstone of his faith and is now the central teaching of his papacy. Francis states that mercy is “Jesus’ most important message”. He says that mercy is essential because all people are sinners and need God’s forgiveness and God’s mercy. It is especially necessary today, at a time when “humanity is wounded,” suffering from “the many slaveries of the third millennium” – not just war, poverty and social exclusion, but also fatalism, hardheartedness and self-righteousness.
In “The Name of God is Mercy” Francis explains that he considers the present day a special time of mercy for the Church. He chose to hold a Year for Mercy through prayer and reflection on the teachings of recent Popes, as well as his own thought of the Church as a field hospital for sinners. He states: “Mercy is God’s identity card. God of Mercy, merciful God. For me, this really is the Lord’s identity.” Francis also openly says: “The Pope is a man who needs the mercy of God.”
The World Youth Day (WYD) 2016 in Krakow, Poland, with the theme “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” (Mt 5: 7) was also part of the Holy Year of Mercy. In his Message for WYD 2016, dated 15 August 2015 (Solemnity of the Assumption of the B.V. Mary), Francis writes about the meaning of the Jubilee Year, the meaning of divine mercy and the importance of being instruments of God’s mercy. He also says that he believes that Divine Providence led him to the decision to celebrate the Youth Jubilee in Krakow, the city of two great apostles of Divine Mercy in our times: Saint Faustina Kowalska and Saint John Paul II.
In his Message for WYD 2016 Francis states that Saint John Paul II “realized that this is the time of mercy” and entrusted the world to Divine Mercy:
“In 2002 he personally inaugurated the Divine Mercy Shrine in Krakow and entrusted the world to Divine Mercy, in the desire that this message would reach all the peoples of the earth and fill their hearts with hope: 'This spark needs to be lighted by the grace of God. This fire of mercy needs to be passed on to the world. In the mercy of God the world will find peace and mankind will find happiness!' (Homily at the Dedication of the Divine Mercy Shrine in Krakow, 17 August 2002)”.
At the end of his Message for WYD 2016 Francis says:
“Come to Him [Jesus Christ] and do not be afraid! Come to him [sic] and say from the depths of your hearts: 'Jesus, I trust in You!'. Let yourselves be touched by his boundless mercy, so that in turn you may become apostles of mercy by your actions, words and prayers in our world, wounded by selfishness, hatred and so much despair.
Carry with you the flame of Christ’s merciful love – as Saint John Paul II said – in every sphere of your daily life and to the very ends of the earth. In this mission, I am with you with my encouragement and prayers.”
Please reflect deeply on the following quotations.
I. In the Book of Psalms we read:
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. (Ps 103: 8)
II. In the Gospel of St Luke, Jesus says:
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Lk 6: 36)
III. In the First Letter of St John we read:
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. […]
God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. […]
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he [God ] first loved us. Those who say, ’I love God,’ and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. (1 Jn 4: 7-8, 16, 18-20)
IV. Jesus says to Sister Faustina ("Diary". Divine Mercy in My Soul):
... encourage the souls with whom you come in contact to trust in My infinite mercy. Oh, how I love those souls who have complete confidence in Me - I will do everything for them. (294)
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Proclaim that mercy is the greatest attribute of God. All works of My hands are crowned with mercy. (301)
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I desire that the whole world know My infinite mercy. I desire to grant unimaginable graces to those souls who trust in My mercy. (687)
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My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy. (699)
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I perform works of mercy in every soul. The greater the sinner, the greater the right he has to My mercy. (723)
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I desire trust from My creatures. Encourage souls to place great trust in My fathomless mercy. Let the weak, sinful soul have no fear to approach Me, for even if it had more sins than there are grains of sand in the world, all would be drowned in the unmeasurable [immeasurable] depth of My mercy. (1059)
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Tell the world about My mercy and My love.
The flames of mercy are burning Me. I desire to pour them out upon human souls. Oh, what pain they cause Me when they do not want to accept them.
Tell aching mankind to snuggle close to My merciful Heart, and I will fill it with peace.
Tell [all people], My daughter, that I am Love and Mercy itself. When a soul approaches Me with trust, I fill it with such an abundance of graces that it cannot contain them within itself, but radiates them to other souls. (1074)
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Everything that exists is enclosed in the bowels of My mercy, more deeply than an infant in its mother’s womb. How painfully distrust of My goodness wounds Me! Sins of distrust wound Me most painfully. (1076)
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[Let] the greatest sinners place their trust in My mercy. They have the right before others to trust in the abyss of My mercy. My daughter, write about My mercy towards tormented souls. Souls that make an appeal to My mercy delight Me. To such souls I grant even more graces than they ask. I cannot punish even the greatest sinner if he makes an appeal to My compassion, but on the contrary, I justify him in My unfathomable and inscrutable mercy. Write: before I come as a just Judge, I first open wide the door of My mercy. He who refuses to pass through the door of My mercy must pass through the door of My justice… (1146)
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Everything that exists is enclosed in the bowels of My mercy, more deeply than an infant in its mother’s womb. How painfully distrust of My goodness wounds Me! Sins of distrust wound Me most painfully.” (1076“Know, My daughter, that between Me and you there is a bottomless abyss, an abyss which separates the Creator from the creature. But this abyss is filled with My mercy. I raise you up to Myself, not that I have need of you, but it is solely out of mercy that I grant you the grace of union with Myself. (1576)
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Tell souls not to place within their own hearts obstacles to My mercy, which so greatly wants to act within them. My mercy works in all those hearts which open their doors to it. Both the sinner and the righteous person have need of My mercy. Conversion, as well as perseverance, is a grace of My mercy. (1577)
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The graces of My mercy are drawn by means of one vessel only, and that is – trust. The more a soul trusts, the more it will receive. Souls that trust boundlessly are a great comfort to Me, because I pour all the treasures of My graces into them. I rejoice that they ask for much, because it is My desire to give much, very much. On the other hand, I am sad when souls ask for little, when they narrow their hearts. (1578)
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I do not want to punish aching mankind, but I desire to heal it, pressing [cuddling] it to My Merciful Heart. (1588)
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My daughter, even if you were to speak at one and the same time in all human and angelic tongues, even then you would not have said very much, but on the contrary, you would have sung in only a small measure the praises of My goodness - of My unfathomable mercy. (1605)
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Be always merciful as I am merciful. Love everyone out of love for Me, even your greatest enemies, so that My mercy may be fully reflected in your heart. (1695)
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You know what love demands: one thing only, reciprocity... (1770)
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Write: I am Thrice Holy, and I detest the smallest sin. I cannot love a soul which is stained with sin; but when it repents, there is no limit to My generosity toward it. My mercy embraces and justifies it. With My mercy, I pursue sinners along all their paths, and My Heart rejoices when they return to Me. I forget the bitterness with which they fed My Heart and rejoice at their return.
My daughter, know that My Heart is mercy itself. From this sea of mercy, graces flow out upon the whole world. No soul that has approached Me has ever gone away unconsoled. All misery gets buried in the depths of My mercy, and every saving and sanctifying grace flows from this fountain….
Sooner would heaven and earth turn into nothingness than would My mercy not embrace a trusting soul. (1777)
V. In his book “The Name of God is Mercy” Francis says that no one can put a limit on God’s mercy and that there are no situations we cannot get out of:
“The Church Fathers teach us that a shattered heart is the most pleasing gift to God. It is the sign that we are conscious of our sins, of the evil we have done, of our wretchedness, and of our need for forgiveness and mercy.”
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“We need to remember and remind ourselves where we come from, what we are, our nothingness.”
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“The fragility of our era is this, too: we don’t believe that there is a chance for redemption; for a hand to raise you up; for an embrace to save you, forgive you, pick you up, flood you with infinite, patient, indulgent love; to put you back on your feet. We need mercy.”
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“Justice on its own is not enough. With mercy and forgiveness, God goes beyond justice, he subsumes it and exceeds it in a higher event in which we experience love, which is at the root of true justice.”
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“There are no situations we cannot get out of, we are not condemned to sink into quicksand, in which the more we move the deeper we sink. Jesus is there, his hand extended, ready to reach out to us and pull us out of the mud, out of sin, out of the abyss of evil into which we have fallen. We need only be conscious of our state, be honest with ourselves, and not lick our wounds. We need to ask for the grace to recognize ourselves as sinners. The more we acknowledge that we are in need, the more shame and humility we feel, the sooner we will feel his embrace of grace. Jesus waits for us, he goes ahead of us, he extends his hand to us, he is patient with us. God is faithful. Mercy will always be greater than any sin, no one can put a limit on the love of the all-forgiving God. Just by looking at him, just by raising our eyes from ourselves and our wounds, we leave an opening for the action of his grace. Jesus performs miracles with our sins, with what we are, with our nothingness, with our wretchedness.”
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“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.”
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“God is a careful and attentive father, ready to welcome any person who takes a step or even expresses the desire to take a step that leads home. He is there, staring out at the horizon, expecting us, waiting for us. No human sin -- however serious -- can prevail over or limit mercy.”
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“God awaits us with open arms; we need only to take a step toward him like the Prodigal Son. But if, weak as we are, we don't have the strength to take that step, just the desire to take it is enough.”
VI. In this book Francis also says that money does not make us happy:
“Do not fall into the terrible trap of thinking that life depends on money and that, in comparison with money, anything else is devoid of value or dignity. This is nothing but an illusion! We cannot take money with us into the life beyond. Money does not bring us happiness.”
VII. In the same book Francis emphasizes that we should be ministers of God’s mercy and reminds us of the protocol for which we will all be judged in the evening of life:
“People are looking for someone to listen to them. Someone willing to grant them time, to listen to their dramas and difficulties. This is what I call the 'apostolate of the ear,' and it is important. Very important. I feel compelled to say to confessors: talk, listen with patience, and above all tell people that God loves them.”
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“The more conscious we are of our own wretchedness and our sins, the more we experience the love and infinite mercy of God among us, the more capable we are of looking upon the many ‘wounded’ we meet along the way with acceptance and mercy.”
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“We are called to serve Christ the Crucified through every marginalized person. We touch the flesh of Christ in he who is outcast, hungry, thirsty, naked, imprisoned, ill, unemployed, persecuted, in search of refuge. That is where we find our God, that is where we touch the Lord. Jesus himself told us, explaining the protocol for which we will all be judged: 'whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did it for me' (Matthew 25: 40).”
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“By welcoming a marginalized person whose body is wounded and by welcoming the sinner whose soul is wounded, we put our credibility as Christians on the line. Let us always remember the words of Saint John of the Cross: 'In the evening of life, we will be judged on love alone.' “
VIII. Francis says that God’s mercy toward us is linked to our mercy toward our neighbour:
“… God’s mercy toward us is linked to our mercy toward our neighbour; when this is lacking, also that of not finding room in our closed heart, He cannot enter. If I do not thrust open the door of my heart to the poor, that door remains closed. Even to God. This is terrible. […]
In order to convert, we must not wait for prodigious events, but open our heart to the Word of God, which calls us to love God and neighbour. The Word of God may revive a withered heart and cure it of its blindness. The rich man [in the parable of the rich man and the poor Lazarus (cf. Lk 16: 19-31)] knew the Word of God, but did not let it enter his heart, he did not listen to it, and thus was incapable of opening his eyes and of having compassion for the poor man. No messenger and no message can take the place of the poor whom we meet on the journey, because in them Jesus himself comes to meet us: ‘as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me’ (Mt 25: 40), Jesus says. Thus hidden in the reversal of fate that the parable describes lies the mystery of our salvation, in which Christ links poverty with mercy.” (Reflection on poverty and mercy made during general audience in St. Peter’s Square, May 18, 2016)
IX. Emphasizing that we should be missionaries of the Gospel, Francis encourages us to bring about a culture of mercy and put ourselves at the service of the civilization of love.
Francis tweets (Pope Francis@Pontifex):
“We must not believe the Evil One when he tells us that there is nothing we can do in the face of violence, injustice and sin.” (March 24, 2013)
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“God is so merciful toward us. We too should learn to be merciful, especially with those who suffer.” (July 17, 2013)
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“Mercy is the true power that can save humanity and the world from sin and evil.” (October 7, 2013)
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“We cannot give up in the face of evil. God is Love and he has defeated evil through Christ’s death and resurrection.” (October 18, 2013)
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“We are all sinners. But God heals us with an abundance of grace, mercy and tenderness.” (October 28, 2013)
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“To be saints is not a privilege for the few, but a vocation for everyone.” (November 21, 2013)
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“Holiness doesn’t mean doing extraordinary things, but doing ordinary things with love and faith.” (December 5, 2013)
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“It is not enough to say we are Christians. We must live the faith, not only with our words, but with our actions.” (January 20, 2014)
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“Do not be afraid! Open the doors to Christ!” (May 3, 2014)
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“We will never be disillusioned or lose our way if we are guided by God.” (May 22, 2014)
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“To live by faith means to put our lives in the hands of God, especially in our most difficult moments.” (May 23, 2014)
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“There is never a reason to lose hope. Jesus says: ‘I am with you until the end of the world’ ”. (June 19, 2014)
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“It is by God’s mercy that we are saved. May we never tire of spreading this joyful message to the world.” (August 17, 2014)
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“Let us allow God to fill our hearts with his goodness and mercy.” (March 17, 2015)
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“We Christians are called to go out of ourselves to bring the mercy and tenderness of God to all.” (April 25, 2015)
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“The light of the Gospel guides all who put themselves at the service of the civilization of love.” (June 2, 2015)
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“How wonderful it is to proclaim to everyone the love of God which saves us and gives meaning to our lives!” (June 3, 2015)
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“We are all sinners. Let us be transformed by God’s mercy.” (August 8, 2015)
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“Open your heart to mercy! Divine mercy is stronger than the sins of men.” (March 3, 2016)
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“Before the spiritual and moral abysses of mankind, only God’s infinite mercy can bring us salvation.” (April 28, 2016)
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“If our hearts and actions are inspired by charity, by divine love, then our communication will be touched by God’s own power.” (May 13, 2016)
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“To communicate with mercy means to help create a healthy, free and fraternal closeness among the children of God.” (May 14, 2016)
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“The world needs the courage, hope, faith and perseverance of Christ’s followers.” (May 17, 2016)
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“We are stewards, not masters of our earth. Each of us has a personal responsibility to care for the precious gift of God’s creation.” (May 30, 2016)
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“The tenderness of God is present in the lives of all those who attend the sick and understand their needs, with eyes full of love.” (June 10, 2016)
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“Being Christian involves joining one’s own life, in all its aspects, to the person of Jesus and, through Him, to the Father.” (June 22, 2016)
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“If God is present in our life, the joy of bringing the Gospel will be our strength and our happiness.” (June 28, 2016)
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“Anyone who performs works of mercy is not afraid of death.” (July 29, 2016)
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“We have come into the world in order to leave a mark.” (July 30, 2016)
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“Jesus is calling you to leave your mark on life: one that transforms your own life and the lives of others.” (July 30, 2016)
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“God counts on you for who you are, not for what you have. You are valuable in His eyes and your value is priceless.” (July 31, 2016)
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“Jesus speaks to you every day. Let His Gospel become yours and let Him be your ‘navigator’ on life’s journey!” (July 31, 2016)
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“We oppose hatred and destruction with goodness. We live in societies of different cultures and religions, but we are brothers and sisters.” (August 7, 2016)
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“May people see the Gospel in our lives: in our generous and faithful love for Christ and our brothers and sisters.” (August 13, 2016)
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“Mercy does not just mean being a ‘good person’ nor is it mere sentimentality. It is the measure of our authenticity as disciples of Jesus.” (August 21, 2016)
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“May God’s mercy towards us move us to be merciful towards our neighbors.” (August 29, 2016)
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“Serving with love and tenderness those who are in need helps us to grow in humanity.” (August 31, 2016)
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“Let us imitate Mother Teresa who made works of mercy the guide of her life and the path towards holiness.” (September 3, 2016)
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“To offer today’s world the witness of mercy is a task from which none of us can feel exempted.” (September 8, 2016)
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“The Lord presents himself each day and knocks at the door of our heart.” (September 9, 2016)
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“Mercy can truly contribute to the building up of a more humane world.” (September 19, 2016)
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“The more we let ourselves be enveloped by the love of God, the more our lives are renewed.” (September 22, 2016)
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“The world needs concrete signs of solidarity, especially before the temptation of indifference.” (September 25, 2016)
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“In the brother we help we recognize the face of God which no one sees anymore.” (September 26, 2016)
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“God is not known through grand ideas and extensive study, but rather through the littleness of a humble and trusting heart.” (October 1, 2016)
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“The poor and weak are the flesh of Christ, who call upon Christians of every confession.” (October 1, 2016)
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“God changes the world by transforming our hearts. When God finds an open and trusting heart, he can work wonders there.” (October 2, 2016)
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“It is by loving that the God-who-is-Love is proclaimed to the world.” (October 6, 2016)
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“The sick, the poor, as well as the unborn, are all made in the image of God and worthy of the highest respect.” (October 21, 2016)
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“ 'Do not be afraid! Open wide the doors for Christ!' – Saint John Paul II, 22 October 1978.” (October 22, 2016)
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“Prophecy is saying that there is something truer, more beautiful, greater, of greater good to which we are all called.” (November 7, 2016)
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“Dear Friends, never forget that in our encounter with people in need we meet Jesus himself.” (November 11, 2016)
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“If you want to find God, seek him where he is hidden: in the neediest, the sick, the hungry, the imprisoned.” (November 13, 2016)
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“In a world which has been damaged by the virus of indifference, the works of mercy are the best antidote.” (November 14, 2016)
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“If every one of us, every day, does a work of mercy, there will be a revolution in the world!” (November 15, 2016)
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“It is not enough to experience God’s mercy in one’s life; whoever receives it must also become a sign and instrument for others.” (November 17, 2016)
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“If you want a heart full of love, be mercifull [sic].” (November 18, 2016)
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“May the balm of mercy reach everyone, both believers and those far away, as a sign that the Kingdom of God is already present in our midst!” (November 20, 2016)
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“How much I desire that the years to come will be full of mercy, so that every person can experience the goodness and tenderness of God!” (November 22, 2016)
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“Jesus calls us to be bearers of joy and consolation as his merciful witnesses.” (November 29, 2016)
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“We are all called to go out as missionaries and bring the message of God’s love to every person in every area of life.” (December 3, 2016)
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“Everyone can help bring about a culture of mercy, in which no one looks at another with indifference.” (January 11, 2017)
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“Let us imitate the attitude of Jesus toward the sick: he [sic] takes care of everyone, He shares their suffering and opens their hearts to hope.” (January 31, 2017)
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“Let us follow in the footsteps of Christ, especially by dedicating ourselves to our brothers and sisters in need.” (April 5, 2017)
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“Jesus comes to save us; we are called to choose his way: the way of service, of giving, of forgetfulness of ourselves.” (April 11, 2017)
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“God makes His most beautiful flowers grow among the driest stones.” (May 18, 2017)
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“We are called to live not as one without others, above or against others, but with and for others.” (May 22, 2017)
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“Let us allow ourselves to be humbly led by the Holy Spirit in order to avoid taking the wrong road and closing our hearts.” (June 4, 2017)
X. Mother Teresa says:
“Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty.”
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“Even the rich are hungry for love, for being cared for, for being wanted, for having someone to call their own.”
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“The greatest disease in the West today is not TB or leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for. We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness is love. There are many in the world who are dying for a piece of bread but there are many more dying for a little love. The poverty in the West is a different kind of poverty – it is not only a poverty of loneliness but also of spirituality. There’s a hunger for love, as there is a hunger for God.”
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“The spiritual poverty of the West is greater than ours. […] You, in the West, have millions of people who suffer such terrible loneliness and emptiness. […] They feel unloved and unwanted. These people are not hungry in the physical sense, but they are in another way. They know they need something more than money, yet they don’t know what it is. What they are missing, really, is a living relationship with God.”
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“The greatest disease of mankind is the absence of love.”
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“The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread.”
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“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
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“I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.”
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“Intense love does not measure, it just gives.”
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“The success of love is in the loving – it is not in the result of loving. Of course it is natural in love to want the best for the other person, but whether it turns out that way or not does not determine the value of what we have done.”
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“In loving one another through our works we bring an increase of grace and a growth in divine love.”
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“We must know that we have been created for greater things, not just to be a number in the world, not just to go for diplomas and degrees, this work and that work. We have been created in order to love and to be loved.”
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“I’m just a little pencil in the hand of a writing God sending a love letter to the world.”
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“It is not the magnitude of our actions, but the amount of love that is put into them that matters.”
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“At the hour of death when we come face-to-face with God, we are going to be judged on love; not how much we have done, but how much love we put into the doing.”
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“Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts.”
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“Prayer makes your heart bigger, until it is capable of containing the gift of God himself. Prayer begets faith, faith begets love, and love begets service on behalf of the poor.”