‘Wherever the Church is present, the mercy of the Father must be evident’

Jesus Christ is the face of the Father’s mercy.” With these words Pope Francis opened his Bull of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, which will begin on Dec. 8 on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and the 50th anniversary of the close of the Second Vatican Council. The Holy Father is calling the faithful to be “merciful like the Father.”

​Pope Francis wrote, “Jesus of Nazareth, by his words, his actions and his entire person reveals the mercy of God.”  Through the millennia, the Catholic Church too has revealed God’s mercy in carrying out corporal and spiritual works of mercy. The Diocese of Corpus Christi too has always engaged in being a face of God in the Coastal Bend of Texas.

Through its many programs and affiliated institutions, such as Catholic Charities, Mother Teresa Shelter, Villa Maria, St. John Vianney Residence for Priests, Christus Spohn, Mount Carmel Home, The Ark, Hope House and others, the diocese engages in the corporal works of mercy, including feeding the hungry; giving drink to the thirsty; clothing the naked; sheltering the homeless; visiting the sick; visiting the incarcerated; and burying the dead. 

Moreover, through its many diocesan, parish and school programs and initiatives the diocese performs many spiritual works of mercy, including  admonishing sinners; instructing the ignorant; counseling the doubtful; bearing wrongs patiently; forgiving offenses willingly; comforting the afflicted; and praying for the living and the dead.

The Church, of course, can always do more. Pope Francis calls the Church to pursue the idea of mercy “again and again with new enthusiasm and renewed pastoral action.” 

“Consequently, wherever the Church is present, the mercy of the Father must be evident. In our parishes, communities, associations and movements, in a word, wherever there are Christians, everyone should find an oasis of mercy,” Pope Francis wrote in his bull of indiction.

We, as individual Catholics, must be held to the same standard. We must reject society’s dismissive attitude towards “the practice of mercy.”

The Holy Father’s challenge, in many respects, is directed at the individual. Mercy is, the pope writes, “the fundamental law that dwells in the heart of every person who looks sincerely into the eyes of his brothers and sisters on the path of life.” Mercy is also “the bridge that connects God and man, opening our hearts to the hope of being loved forever despite our sinfulness.” We are called, Pope Francis points out, “to gaze even more attentively on mercy so that we may become a more effective sign of the Father’s action in our lives.”

The pope recounts the parable of the ruthless servant, “who, called by his master to return a huge amount, begs him on his knees for mercy.  His master cancels his debt. But he then meets a fellow servant who owes him a few cents and who in turn begs on his knees for mercy, but the first servant refuses his request and throws him into jail. When the master hears of the matter, he becomes infuriated and, summoning the first servant back to him, says, ‘Should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 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 18:33, 35).”

Pope Francis will begin the Year of Mercy by opening the “Holy Door” at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, which will symbolically become a “Door of Mercy.” It is a symbolic act “through which anyone who enters will experience the love of God who consoles, pardons and instills hope.” The “Holy Door” at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican remains cemented shut except during Jubilee Years. 

Five days later, on Dec. 13, bishops throughout the world will symbolically open “holy doors” in every cathedral and shrine throughout the world. Bishop Michael Mulvey will open the Holy Door at Corpus Christi Cathedral at the start of the 9:30 a.m. Mass. The faithful from throughout the diocese are invited to the ceremonial opening of the door. 

Those who pass through the Holy Door will be granted a papal indulgence. The pope points out that “the mercy of God is not an abstract idea,” but a concrete reality with which he reveals his love as of that of a father or a mother, moved to the very depths out of love for their child.”  An indulgence, however, remains a theoretical concept to many. On page 47 of this issue, Father J. Patrick Serna provides an explanation of indulgence and what an individual needs to do to earn it.  

Plenary indulgences will also be granted for making pilgrimages to shrines or churches designated as “holy sites” by a bishop. Bishop Mulvey will designate a number of churches in the diocese as holy sites to where pilgrims can journey and obtain an indulgence. The diocese is planning many other events to promote the “Year of Mercy.” 

The South Texas Catholic will dedicate the next year’s editions to the “Year of Mercy” and will cover extensively these events and others–that embrace God’s merciful love–by parishes, schools organizations and individuals.