5 Ways to Celebrate Pope Francis’ Year of Mercy

Be merciful as your Father is merciful. - Luke 6:36

Pope Francis has declared a celebration of an Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. It will begin on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, 2015, and will conclude on the Solemnity of Christ the King on November 20, 2016.

The Holy Father summarized the intent behind his announcement by saying, “It is indeed my wish that the jubilee be a living experience of the closeness of the Father, whose tenderness is almost tangible, so that the faith of every believer may be strengthened and thus testimony to it be ever more effective.”

The pope has encouraged all Catholics to make a pilgrimage to one of the Holy Doors as a sign of true conversion. These doors are located in specific cathedrals in Rome, Spain, Italy and Quebec and are only opened during jubilee years. Since such a pilgrimage is not always practical, the following pages offer various ideas to celebrate the jubilee.

Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet

The Divine Mercy Chaplet is a popular Catholic devotion that can be prayed using rosary beads and only takes about 5 minutes to complete. Ideally, the chaplet should be prayed during the 3 o’clock hour, which has been designated as the “Hour of Mercy.” (It is believed to be the hour when Jesus died on the cross.) This devotion is based on the visions of St. Faustina. According to her diary, Jesus appeared to her and said, “At three o'clock, implore My mercy, especially for sinners; and, if only for a brief moment, immerse yourself in My Passion, particularly in My abandonment at the moment of agony. This is the hour of great mercy ... In this hour I will refuse nothing to the soul that makes a request of Me in virtue of My Passion. (Diary 1320). Utilize one of the many resources available to learn the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and try to pray it daily.

Practice the Corporal Works of Mercy

The seven corporal (physical) works of mercy are based on Jesus’ teachings in the Sermon on the Mount, also known as the Beatitudes. They include feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, visiting the imprisoned, sheltering the homeless, burying the dead, visiting the sick, and giving alms to the poor. During the Year of Mercy, make it a goal to try to practice at least three or four of these works on a regular basis. Increase the challenge (and the graces you’ll receive) by doing something that is especially difficult for you. The US Conference of Catholic Bishops offers many helpful suggestions to implement these practices on their website, www.usccb.org. (Search for the Jubilee Year of Mercy.)

Practice the Spiritual Works of Mercy

The seven spiritual works of mercy offer another opportunity to practice mercy in our daily lives. They include instructing the ignorant, admonishing the sinner, counseling the doubtful, comforting the sorrowful, forgiving injuries, bearing wrongs patiently, and praying for the living and the dead. These are actually more difficult than the corporal works because it is very difficult to practice humility, especially in regards to the first two listed above. However, by praying to the Holy Spirit for guidance, we can become more aware for opportunities to practice spiritual mercy. Again, there are many helpful suggestions on the US Bishops’ website (see previous slide for more information).