Mother of Mercy

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception this year marks the beginning of a Jubilee Year of Mercy proclaimed by Pope Francis, who opened the Holy Door at St. Peter's today.  Usually a Jubilee or Holy Year is every 25 years, but Pope Francis, in typical fashion, is not bound by "the way we always do it", and, I believe, inspired by the Holy Spirit has broken with tradition to focus on this timely and much needed virtue.  Fittingly, it begins on this major feast of Mary, who was the first to benefit from the Mercy brought to the human race by her Son, who IS Mercy itself. For by the grace of the forgiveness of sins he won for all of us, she was spared any stain of sin from her very conception in light of her destiny to bring forth into the world the Sinless One. She is rightly the Mother of Mercy.
Since her appearances at Fatima, mercy has been one of Mary's major themes, fostered by St. Faustina and amplified by Pope St. John Paul II who established Divine Mercy Sunday, the Sunday after Easter. This Year of Mercy furthers the emphasis on mercy.  In the words of Pope Francis, “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. Mercy, is 'the ultimate and supreme act by which God comes to meet us.'”  Let us open our hearts to receive God's mercy and in turn, through the practice of the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy, bring that mercy to others.
Bro. Rene