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MISERICORDIAE VULTUSBULL OF INDICTIONOF THE EXTRAORDINARYJUBILEE OF MERCY

FRANCISBISHOP OF ROMESERVANT OF THE SERVANTS OF GODTO ALL WHO READ THIS LETTERGRACE, MERCY, AND PEACE

2YEAR OF MERCY : 2015-’16

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INTRODUCTION-1

Jesus Christ is the face of the Father’s mercy.  These words might well sum up the mystery

of the Christian faith. Mercy has become living and visible in Jesus of Nazareth, reaching its culmination in him.

God’s love is ‘visceral’ (love, mercy emanates from His very Being)

Jesus reveals the mystery of divine love in its fullness:- The Father, “rich in mercy” (Eph 2:4), “a God merciful and gracious,…”(Ex 34:6),  “fullness of time”  (Gal 4:4), Whoever sees Jesus sees the Father(cf. Jn 14:9).

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INTRODUCTION-2

Jesus of Nazareth, by his words, his actions, and his entire person[1] reveals the mercy of God. [CHRISTOCENTRIC APPROACH]

Mercy: the bridge that connects God and man, opening our hearts to the hope of being loved forever despite our sinfulness.

Reason: I have proclaimed an Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy as a special time for the Church, a time when the witness of believers might grow stronger and more effective.

Church lives an authentic life when she professes and proclaims mercy.

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OPENING

The Holy Year will open on 8 December 2015, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.

This liturgical feast day recalls God’s action from the very beginning of the history of mankind. [After Adam & Eve sinned God casts His gaze on Mary]

 Mercy will always be greater than any sin, and no one can place limits on the love of God who is ever ready to forgive.

Opening of the Holy Door of Mercy: anyone who enters will experience the love of God who consoles, pardons, and instils hope.

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THE HOLY DOORS OF MERCY

Third Sunday of Advent: The Basilica of Saint John Lateran, every local church’s Cathedral– will be opened.

In the following weeks, the Holy Doors of the other Papal Basilicas

At the discretion of the Local Ordinary at any shrine frequented by large groups of pilgrims will be opened

Opening of Door in Particular Churches: “a visible sign of Church’s universal communion”.

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SIGNIFICANCE OF 8TH DECEMBER

The fiftieth anniversary of the closing of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council

the Church entered a new phase of her history.

a true breath of the Holy Spirit The walls which for too long had made the

Church a kind of fortress were torn down Saint John XXIII OPENED and Blessed Paul

VI who CLOSED the COUNCIL spoke of the “Catholic Church” “as a loving mother to all”

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CLOSING

The Jubilee year will close with the liturgical Solemnity of Christ the King on 20 November 2016

Concludes: “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!”

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OLD TESTAMENT

OT is replete with the words “Patient and merciful” to describe God’s nature.

“He forgives all your iniquity, he heals all your diseases, he redeems your life from the pit, he crowns you with steadfast love and mercy” (Ps 103:3-4)

Also in Ps 103:3-4, Ps 146:7-9, Ps 147:3,6) and refrain in Ps 136 “For his mercy endures forever” used also by Jesus before his passion on Mt. Olives (Mt 26:30). “Forever”= spreads over space and time.

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EXAMPLES OF JESUS’ MERCY

Seeing the crowds of people “he felt deep compassion for them” (cf. Mt 9:36), healed the sick (Mt 14:14), Multiplication of loaves and fish (Mt.15:37), Widow of Nain (Lk 7:15), after freeing the demoniac “Go to your friends… how he has had mercy on you” (Mk 5:19) and the Call of Matthew the Tax collector.

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PRABLES OF MERCY

Jesus reveals the nature of God as that of a Father who never gives up until he has forgiven the wrong and overcome rejection with compassion and mercy: The Lost Sheep, the lost coin, and the father with two sons (cf. Lk 15:1-32).

God is always presented as full of joy especially in pardoning.

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IMPORTANCE FOR CHRISTIAN LIVING-(A)

Motto: “Be Merciful as your Heavenly Father is merciful” (Lk 6:36)

In reply to Peter’s question to forgive, Jesus says: “I do not say seven times, but seventy times seven times” (Mt 18:22)

“Ruthless servant,” “Should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?” (Mt 18:33).

Jesus concludes, “So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart” (Mt 18:35).

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IMPORTANCE FOR CHRISTIAN LIVING-(B)

“Do not let the sun go down on your anger” (Eph4:26)

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” (Mt 5:7)

 This is the path which the merciful love of Christians must also travel

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ROLE OF THE CHURCH

Mercy of God is the ‘beating heart’ of the Gospel. Mercy is the very foundation of the Church’s life and penetrates the heart and mind of every person.

The Church’s very credibility is seen in how she shows merciful and compassionate love.

 ”the practice of mercy is waning in the wider culture” and he quotes  Saint John Paul II second Encyclical, Dives in Misericordia.

The Church’s first truth is the love of Christ. In our parishes, communities, associations and movements, wherever there are Christians, everyone should find an oasis of mercy.

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PILGRIM’S PROGRESS

Represents the journey each of us makes in this life- by crossing the threshold of the Holy Door, EXPERIENCING God’s mercy and reciprocating the same to other fellow beings.

Disposition of silence to listen to the Word of God.

Jesus’ steps of the pilgrimage: “Judge not, and you will not be judged;…” (Lk 6:37-38) and to ‘forgive and to give’

Opening our hearts and reaching out to those living on the outermost fringes of society (Mt 25:31-45) and live with FAITH (In Lk:- Is 61:1-2)

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CELEBRATION OF THE SEASON OF LENT

Should also be lived more intensely as a privileged moment to celebrate and experience God’s mercy

Meditate on the Scripture Passages: Micah 7:18-19 “You, O Lord, are a God who takes away iniquity and pardons sin…”; Is 58:6-11 (Prayer, fasting and works of charity)

Also Adoration “24 Hours for the Lord” and importance to the Sacrament of Reconciliation

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IMPLICATIONS

Not to judge nor condemn: to know and accept the good in every person.

Jesus asks us to forgive and give.

To be instrument of mercy because we have first received mercy from God with immense generosity.

Reject sin not sinner.

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ROLE OF THE CONFESSORS

Confessors should be authentic signs of the Father’s mercy .

To be confessors: is to participate in the very mission of Jesus to be a concrete sign of the constancy of divine love that pardons & saves.

We priests have received the gift of the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sin and we are responsible for this.

None of us wields power over this Sacrament; rather, we are faithful servants of God’s mercy through it E.g. :Father in the Prodigal son

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NOBODY EXPECTS THE MISSIONARIES OF MERCY! The weirdest thing about this weird 9,000 word document is the bit about the Missionaries of Mercy.

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MISSIONARIES OF MERCY

Priests to whom I will grant the authority to pardon even those sins reserved to the Holy See to ‘be facilitators of a truly human encounter… be heralds of joy and forgiveness’

Bishops and Pastors asked to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation with their people

Message of Mercy reach everyone even to people in ‘criminal organisation’, people who inflict violence for amassing Riches and involved in Corrupt practices.

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SINS RESERVED FOR THE HOLY SEE

1. Defiling the Eucharist2. Attempting to assassinate the Pope3. As a priest, breaking the seal of

confession by revealing who has sought penance and why

4. Offering  of absolution by priests to their own sexual partners

5. Directly participating in an abortion, such as by funding it, and later seeking to become a priest or deacon

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JUSTICE AND MERCY

Not two contradictory realities, but two dimensions of a single reality that unfolds progressively until it culminates in the fullness of love.

Civil Society ‘Justice’ governed by the rule of law and which is rightly due to each individual

Sacred Scripture, justice is conceived essentially as the faithful abandonment of oneself to God’s will

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FAITH,MERCY AND LAW

Jesus: importance of faith over and above the observance of the law “Go and learn the meaning of ‘I desire mercy not sacrifice’. I have come not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mt 9:13)

Apostle Paul: Before conversion ‘law’ (Phil 3:6) and after conversion ‘faith in Christ’ (Galatians 2:16)

With Christ’s Death & Resurrection God’s justice becomes a ‘liberating force’. God’s justice is his mercy (cf. Ps 51:11-16) and in Hosea mercy surpasses justice (11:8-9)

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GRANTING OF INDULGENCES

God’s forgiveness knows no bounds

Reconciliation with God: through the paschal mystery and the mediation of the Church

Hence, to live the indulgence of the Holy Year means to approach the Father’s mercy with the certainty that his forgiveness extends to the entire life of the believer

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MERCY IN JUDAISM & ISLAM

Both consider mercy to be one of God’s most important attributes

OT : are steeped in mercy, narrate the works that the Lord performed in favour of his people at the most trying moments of their history

Islam: attributes to the Creator are “Merciful and Kind”

Therefore, need for ‘fervent dialogue’ with these religions and other noble religious traditions so as to eliminate closed-mindedness and disrespect, and drive out every form of violence and discrimination

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MARY, MOTHER OF MERCY

No one has penetrated the profound mystery of the incarnation like Mary.

She participated intimately in the Divine Mercy at the foot of the cross and witnessed together with John, the disciple of love, the words of forgiveness spoken by Jesus.

Mary attests that the mercy of the Son of God knows no bounds and extends to everyone, without exception.

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THE END!

The Church is called above all to be a credible witness to mercy, professing it and living it as the core of the revelation of Jesus Christ

In this Jubilee Year, may the Church echo the word of God that resounds strong and clear as a message and a sign of pardon, strength, aid, and love

May she never tire of extending mercy, and be ever patient in offering compassion and comfort

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TASK-1

1. 8TH OF DECEMBER, 2015 : HAVE A SOLEMN EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATION DURING WHICH THE PARISH PRIEST SYMBOLICALLY OPENS THE MAIN DOOR OF THE CHURCH AND EXPLAINS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF “THE YEAR OF MERCY” TO THE FAITHFUL

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TASK-2

2. SPREAD GOD’S MERCY BY TAKING THE CONFESSIONAL TO THE FAMILY: CATECHISING THEM AND ADMINISTERING THE SACRAMENT IN THE HOME

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TASK-3

3. PRIEST AND RELIGIOUS ORGANISE WORKS OF MERCY:

A) REACH OUT TO THE ‘BLACK SHEEP’ (THOSE WHO HAVE GONE ASTRAY)

B) TALK TO THE SPOUSE OF CATHOLIC PARTNER AND RECTIFY THE MARRIAGE IN THE CHURCH

C) UNDERTAKE PURPOSEFUL PRISON MINISTRY

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TASK-4

4. FOCUS ON LAITY: WITH THE HELP OF THE PARISH COUNCIL, VINCENT DE PAUL, ET AL REACH OUT WITH SPIRITUAL AND CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY TO THE ‘FRINGES (PERIPHERIES) OF OUR SOCIETY’ (Cf. Is 61: 1-2, Lk 4 and the Last Judgement Mt 25: 31-45)

CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY :  to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger, heal the sick, visit the imprisoned, and bury the dead.

SPIRITUAL WORKS OF MERCY : counsel the doubtful, instruct the ignorant, admonish sinners, comfort the afflicted, forgive offences, bear patiently those who do us ill, and pray for the living and the dead.

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TASK-5

5. ORGANISE INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUES AT LOCAL AND DIOCESAN LEVEL

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REFERENCES

[1] Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation Dei Verbum, 4.

[2] Opening Address of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Gaudet Mater Ecclesia, 11 October 1962, 2-3.

[3] Speech at the Final Public Session of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, 7 December 1965.

[4] Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, 16: Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World Gaudium et Spes, 15.

[5] Saint Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, II-II, q. 30. a. 4.[6] XXVI Sunday in Ordinary Time. This Collect already appears in the eighth century among the

euchological texts of the Gelasian Sacramentary (1198).[7] Cf. Homily 22: CCL, 122, 149-151.[8] Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, 24.[9] No. 2.[10] Saint John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Dives in Misericordia, 15.[11] Ibid., 13.[12] Words of Light and Love, 57.[13] Homilies on the Psalms, 76, 11. https://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_letters...misericordiae-vultus.html © Copyright - Libreria Editrice Vaticana

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THANKS! COMPILED AND PRESENTED

BY

FR. TELES FERNANDES (Gandhinagar Archdiocese, Gujarat State)

VENUE: DHARMACHARYA NIVAS, PETHAPUR

DATED: 6TH OF NOVEMBER, 2015Note: Many ‘Thanks’ to Archbishop (Emeritus)

Stanislaus Fernandes SJ for his valuable insights.

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