the end of the Jubilee Year of Mercy

It's nearly impossible to clearly process the trip we took to Italy in Oct 2016.  It was so full of doors of mercy.  And I'm working on unpacking all that I saw, felt and learned.  Since this Jubilee Year of Mercy is ending soon, I thought it wise to share the photos that were meaningful for me those days.

Tickets to allow us in for the Papal Audience on Oct 12, 2016

Santo Spirito in Sassia Church (Church of the Holy Spirit) in Rome.  This church has been cared for by the Sisters of Mercy since 1994.  We were able to join them for the Divine Mercy chaplet and devotions at 3pm one day.  

A Sister of Mercy in her very characteristic veil.  This was during the veneration of relics of Saint Faustina.  

THE PORTA SANTA at Saint Peters Basilica.  No Words can describe it.  We were blessed to spend the whole morning at the Basilica.  It was quiet for the first couple of hours before the tourists arrived.  Adoration.  Visiting the graves of those that have gone before us.  Mass at Saint John Paul II the Great's tomb.  

Moments of Mercy

Making room

Are you too making room in your heart for the Lord this Advent?  The season can become so full of buying presents and making decorations that we forget to make time to empty our hearts.  Or is it just me?

I'm breathing a sigh of relief because we only have one Christmas concert this year.  I don't have lots of places to go and we've paired down our activities.  But how can I begin to make each moment a readying of the room of my heart?

As in years past, we are fasting during Advent.   There are so many things possible to fast from.  And it's so counter-cultural to limit in this time of excess.

I was surprised to see that it's been six (6!) years since I wrote about my plans to find more silence.  We've added two children and a grandparent to our household since this.  It's still a work in progress. I still have my goal to rise before the rest of the family to give my day to God in prayer.  I usually have a child who hears me and rises too.

So this year.  What will be different?  It won't be just adding more crafts or seeing more Christmas programs.  We will try to punctuate our day more fully with prayer.  We will make time to pray, visit the adoration chapel, and to living the Liturgy in our home and in the church.

Divine Mercy Shrine

 Stockbridge MA welcomes you.

 Main entrance to the church.

Front of the church

Side altar with Faustinas relics.

Jubilee of Mercy: Living in the Family

Pope Francis released a letter to the world in April 2015 declaring his intention to have a YEAR OF MERCY for the whole world.  As Catholics, our practice of a Jubilee Year comes from our historical roots in Judaism.  When the twelve tribes of Israel lived the law as prescribed in Leviticus (25:10), they would all gather every 50 years to celebrate a year of jubilee.  It seems that this practice was lost or discontinued formally perhaps due to the requirement of the Jews living in Israel.

For many months I have been reading about the Jubilee Year and deciding how we might live it out in our own home.  I'm sure there will be things done in our diocese, but I wanted to bring it to the domestic church level as well.

Pope Francis says, in his opening paragraph, "The Father, rich in mercy,...gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, has never ceased to show in various ways throughout history, his divine nature".  In what ways as a mother and parent, might I help my children see God, the Father, this year in these attributes?  How can I help them contemplate the mystery of mercy?

The Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy will begin on December 8, 2015.  On December 8, Pope Francis will open wide a Jubilee Door at St. Peter's Bascilia in Rome.  My local bishop will do the same on our Cathedral.  Perhaps your local bishop will open a door in your diocese. 

In our domestic church, we will designate a door in our house to be our Jubilee of Mercy door.  We will open it wide to give Mercy in the coming year.   I will hang a Divine Mercy image on this door.  Pope Francis says the Door of Mercy will allow anyone who enters through it to experience the love of God who consoles, pardons and instils hope.


Things we might do:
Learn more about Faustina.  She's the Polish Nun that ultimately had the image of Divine Mercy created to spread around the world.  She lived in a time when there was much unrest in the world.  (sounds like the current times, right?)

Read her.  Faustina's Diary.   Read Fr Michaeal Gaitley's book about Divine Mercy throughout history.

Virtually visit the Shrine in Poland.  Visit the Shrine dedicated to Divine Mercy in the United States.

Learn more about Saint John Paul II the Great. Read books.
Lolek
A boy who became Pope
Pope John Paul II: Young Man of the Church
Watch a movie. Karol.

Read the Psalm of Mercy that the people of Israel would sing at liturgical feast days.  Psalm 136.  I will read this as part of our morning gathering/prayer time in our homeschool.  Perhaps after months of reading it, my children and I will have it memorized.

Live in the parables.  Pope Francis highlighted the parables that spoke of Mercy.  The Lost (found) Sheep, the lost (found) coin, the forgiving father and his two sons, the debtors are a few to read.  (Look up Luke 15 for these.)


Get to know the Mother of Mercy in a deeper way.  Consider a Marian Consecration.  Memorize the Memorarae.  

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,

that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection,

implored your help, or sought your intercession,

was left unaided.

Inspired with this confidence,

I fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother.

To you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful.

O Mother of the Word Incarnate,

despise not my petitions,

but in your mercy, hear and answer me.

Amen.

Study the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy.

Matthew 25:35-40...for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing?  And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’ 

Consider ways to be merciful in your home.  Can you pardon offense more quickly?  

Including a simple rite of examination of conscience as part of evening family prayer time?  Praying the act of contrition together each evening?  Make a habit of going to confession together more often-perhaps once a month?

My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart.
                  In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good,
                  I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things.
                  I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more,
                  and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.
                  Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us.
                  In His name, my God, have mercy.
                  Amen.

Learn the Salve Regina together and sing in the evenings during prayer time.  

This Jubilee Year will conclude on November 20, 2016 so you have plenty of time to celebrate and experience.  "We live in a culture of death, but now the hour has come- God is pouring out grace and mercy needed to build up the culture of life and love."  We begin the culture in our own homes.  

How will you begin to focus on this special year?

Luke 6:36 Be merciful just as your heavenly Father is merciful.