Category Archives: Misericordia et Misera

At the conclusion of the Jubilee of Mercy, Pope Francis issued an apostolic letter. Follow this link for the full document, Misericordia et Misera. In this final section, we are entrusted to the watchful care of the Blessed Mother: 22. … Continue reading →

At the conclusion of the Jubilee of Mercy, Pope Francis issued an apostolic letter. In these paragraphs, he concludes his urging us to reach out in mercy because of our own experience of mercy: 21. The Jubilee impresses upon us … Continue reading →

At the conclusion of the Jubilee of Mercy, Pope Francis urges us to promote a cultural revolution. This new culture would not be based on top-down suggestions, but rather spring from individual inspiration where Christian disciples see a need: 20. … Continue reading →

At the conclusion of the Jubilee of Mercy, Pope Francis issued an apostolic letter. In section 19, he acknowledges this observance is a beginning, not a concluded effort: 19. Many concrete signs of mercy have been performed during this Holy … Continue reading →

The corporal and spiritual works of mercy predated the Jubilee. If we are to remain faithful to the Gospel mission, they certainly must extend into the future. In the thinking of Pope Francis, working in mercy is one of the … Continue reading →

At the conclusion of the Jubilee of Mercy, Pope Francis issued an apostolic letter. Follow this link for the full document, Misericordia et Misera. 17. During the Holy Year, especially on the “Fridays of Mercy”, I was able to experience … Continue reading →

Some optimism from Pope Francis as we leave behind the Jubilee. Is he justified? Can he hope that believers will choose to imitate God’s loving mercy to our sisters and brothers? 16. The Jubilee now ends and the Holy Door is … Continue reading →

Pope Francis addresses a moment of human misery we all inevitably share: physical death. Many human instincts rebel against death. Even in our “enlightened” age, we deny it, avoid it, and put it off as much as possible. Innocent aspirations … Continue reading →

At the conclusion of the Jubilee of Mercy, Pope Francis issued an apostolic letter. Follow this link for the full document, Misericordia et Misera. When in troubled times, two instincts come to the fore. One, people can be chided. Two, … Continue reading →

At the conclusion of the Jubilee of Mercy, Pope Francis issued an apostolic letter. Follow this link for the full document, Misericordia et Misera. Significant sections of two major prophetic books, Jeremiah and Isaiah, are devoted to the message of … Continue reading →

One notable bit picked up by various media from the Mercy Jubilee was the faculty to forgive abortions. This faculty continues from here on out: 12. Given this need, lest any obstacle arise between the request for reconciliation and God’s … Continue reading →

We continue looking at Pope Francis teaching on the Sacrament of Penance in his recent apostolic letter. His reflection in section 11 begins with Saint Paul’s personal awareness of sin, a theme in at least four of his letters to early … Continue reading →

At the conclusion of the Jubilee of Mercy, Pope Francis issued an apostolic letter. Some of it was devoted to handling the Sacrament of Penance. Do priests just pop in when penitents are scheduled to arrive? Should be more, according … Continue reading →

Misericordia et Misera is Pope Francis’ apostolic letter released at the end of the Mercy Jubilee. One of the features of the Jubilee was the institution of “missionaries of mercy,” priests, presumably with a special mission to promote mercy in … Continue reading →