Year of Mercy

During his homily for a Lenten penitential service, Pope Francis announced an extraordinary Jubilee to start at the end of the year, which will be dedicated to a theme close to the pontiff’s heart: mercy. “It's a journey that starts with a spiritual conversion. For this reason I have decided to declare an Extraordinary Jubilee that has the mercy of God at its center.”

The Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy How long will it run? The Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy will open December 8, 2015 - the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and will close November 20, 2016 - the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. It will also coincide with the 50th anniversary of the closing of the Second Vatican Council in 1965.

Scripture Link The biblical passage for the Holy Year's theme is from Luke Chapter 6 verse 36, in which Jesus tells his disciples: “Be merciful just as your Father is merciful.” Sunday readings during Ordinary Time for the Holy Year will be taken from the Gospel of Luke, as he is often referred to as “the evangelist of mercy.”

What is the message? Throughout the Gospel of Luke great emphasis is placed on prayer, the Holy Spirit, the role of women in the ministry of Jesus and God’s forgiveness of sins. The message of mercy is nothing new, just a reminder of what the Church has always taught: that God is merciful and forgiving and that we, too, must show mercy and forgiveness.

What are the intentions? As Pope Francis entrusted the Holy Year to Mary, Mother of Mercy, he said: “I am convinced that the whole Church will be able to find in this Jubilee the joy of rediscovering and making fruitful the mercy of God, with which we are all called, to give consolation to every man and every woman of our time”

Official announcement The official announcement of the Jubilee took place on Divine Mercy Sunday, the Sunday after Easter, with a public proclamation in front of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica. Pope Francis in front of the Holy Door

The Holy Door Each of the four papal basilicas in Rome has a holy door, St. Peter’s Basilica, St. John Lateran, St. Paul Outside the Walls and St. Mary Major. These doors are normally sealed shut from the inside so that they cannot be opened. The doors are only opened during Jubilee years so that pilgrims can enter through them in order to gain the complete indulgence that is connected with the Jubilee. The rite of the opening of the Holy Door is intended to symbolically illustrate the idea that the Church’s faithful are offered an “extraordinary path” toward salvation during the time of Jubilee.

The logo The motto, “Merciful Like the Father,” (taken from the Gospel of Luke, 6:36) serves as an invitation to follow the merciful example of the Father who asks us not to judge or condemn but to forgive and to give love and forgiveness without measure.

About the logo The logo features Jesus, the Good Shepherd, taking upon his shoulders the lost soul, demonstrating that it is the love of Christ that brings to completion the mystery of his incarnation ending in redemption. The image, created by Jesuit Fr. Marko Rupnik, shows that while the Good Shepherd, in his great mercy, takes humanity upon himself, his eyes are merged with those of man.

"Christ sees with the eyes of Adam, and Adam with the eyes of Christ." The shared eye "Christ sees with the eyes of Adam, and Adam with the eyes of Christ."

How will we celebrate the Year of Mercy in our diocese? Every course will have an element of celebrating the Year of Mercy within it, running alongside the Church year. Headteachers and governors have been informed of the five areas that Bishop Richard would like to focus on for the Year of Mercy and these will be communicated during each training course that takes place at the Diocese. Our website will soon be equipped with creative ideas and presentations that can be used in schools.

What are the five focus areas? Lectio Divina – Breaking open the Word Holy Doors and Pilgrimage – the joy of rediscovering and making fruitful the mercy of God, Restorative Justice - Reconciliation Corporal Works of Mercy – Faith in action Spiritual Works of Mercy – Putting on a heart of compassion

Examples of scripture The Magnificat - Luke 1: 46-55 The Benedictus - Luke 1: 68-79 Jesus Heals a Paralysed Man - Luke 5: 17-26 Love for Enemies - Luke 6: 27-36 The Good Samaritan - Luke 10: 25-37 The Lost Sheep - Luke 15: 1-7 The Lost Coin - Luke 15: 8-10 The Forgiving Father - Luke 15: 11-32 Jesus is Crucified - Luke 23: 28-34

Corporal Works Of Mercy Feed the hungry Give drink to the thirsty Clothe the naked Shelter the homeless Visit the sick Visit the imprisoned Bury the dead

Spiritual Works Of Mercy Admonish the sinner Instruct the ignorant Counsel the doubtful Comfort the sorrowful Bear wrongs patiently Forgive all injuries Pray for the living and the deaad

The official prayer Prayer of Pope Francis for the Jubilee: Lord Jesus Christ, you have taught us to be merciful like the heavenly Father, and have told us that whoever sees you sees Him. Show us your face and we will be saved. Your loving gaze freed Zacchaeus and Matthew from being enslaved by money; the adulteress and Magdalene from seeking happiness only in created things; made Peter weep after his betrayal, and assured Paradise to the repentant thief. Let us hear, as if addressed to each one of us, the words that you spoke to the Samaritan woman: “If you knew the gift of God!” You are the visible face of the invisible Father, of the God who manifests his power above all by forgiveness and mercy: let the Church be your visible face in the world, its Lord risen and glorified. You willed that your ministers would also be clothed in weakness in order that they may feel compassion for those in ignorance and error: let everyone who approaches them feel sought after, loved, and forgiven by God. Send your Spirit and consecrate every one of us with its anointing, so that the Jubilee of Mercy may be a year of grace from the Lord, and your Church, with renewed enthusiasm, may bring good news to the poor, proclaim liberty to captives and the oppressed, and restore sight to the blind. We ask this through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Mercy, you who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.

Images of mercy The Good Samaritan in a mosaic by Jesuit artist Marco Rupnik The Prodigal Son by Pompeo Badoni

Images of mercy The image of the Divine Mercy as Jesus appeared to Sister Faustina Kowalska in 1931 Mary and John at the foot of the cross, by Rogier van der Weyden