What is the Holy Year of Mercy?
The Announcement of the Jubilee of Mercy
Dear brothers and sisters,
I have often thought of how the Church may render more clear her mission to be a witness to mercy; and we have to make this journey. It is a journey which begins with spiritual conversion. Therefore, I have decided to announce an Extraordinary Jubilee which has at its centre the mercy of God. It will be a Holy Year of Mercy. We want to live in the light of the word of the Lord: “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (cf. Lk 6:36). And this especially applies to confessors! So much mercy!
I am confident that the whole Church, which is in such need of mercy for we are sinners, will be able to find in this Jubilee the joy of rediscovering and rendering fruitful God’s mercy, with which we are all called to give comfort to every man and every woman of our time. Do not forget that God forgives all, and God forgives always. Let us never tire of asking forgiveness. Let us henceforth entrust this Year to the Mother of Mercy, that she turn her gaze upon us and watch over our journey: our penitential journey, our year-long journey with an open heart, to receive the indulgence of God, to receive the mercy of God.
Continue reading the Announcement
Explore the following from the official Vatican website for the Holy Year of Mercy:
- http://www.iubilaeummisericordiae.va/content/gdm/en/giubileo/logo.html
- http://www.iubilaeummisericordiae.va/content/gdm/en/giubileo/lettera.html
- http://www.iubilaeummisericordiae.va/content/gdm/en/giubileo/bolla.html
Listen to the official Holy Year of Mercy Hymn, Misericordes Sicut Pater:
Explore what is happening in the Melbourne Archdiocese for the Holy Year of Mercy:
Download here: https://resourcecem.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/CAM-Jubilee-Year-of-Mercy-roadmap1.pdf.
The Holy Year of Mercy Begins
Watch the opening of the Holy Door at the Vatican as it happened.
Reflect on the homily Pope Francis delivered for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and the inauguration the Jubilee Year of Mercy.
Download here: https://resourcecem.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Homily-of-His-Holiness-Pope-Francis.pdf.
Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy
Explore how the Year of Mercy invites us to engage with the Corporal and Spiritual works of mercy.
Unpack how we can live the Jubilee Year of Mercy as a missionary of mercy in our communities.
Lady Gaga and Mercy – Fr. Rob Galea
Listen to and explore the questions around Lady Gaga as a missionary of mercy.
Parables of Mercy
Resource Link – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+103&version=NRSV.
Read and reflect on these psalms of mercy:
Door of Mercy
Continuing an ancient tradition in the Church, dioceses across Australia are preparing to open Doors of Mercy for the Jubilee of Mercy that will commence in the Church internationally on the feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8. Watch to learn what is a holy door?
Listen to the words and invitation from Mercy Sister Elizabeth Davis rsm ‘to be guardians of the Door of Mercy, keepers of the in-between place of Mercy’.
Elizabeth Davis rsm: Doorkeepers of Mercy from MercyWorld on Vimeo.
Use the Prayer for the Opening of Local Doors of Mercy written by Mercy sister Shelia Carney rsm for the opening of your Door of Mercy.
Download Leader copy here: https://resourcecem.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Leaders_Open-the-Door_MIRP_A4_English.pdf.
Download Participant copy here: https://resourcecem.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Participants_Open-the-Door_MIRP_A4_English.pdf.
The Sisters of Mercy have shared these two songs to be used in your prayer.
I Stand at the Door and Knock: music by Shiela Carney rsm
What Mercy May Yet Be: music by Cynthia Serjak rsm
Pilgrimage
‘Walking Into Mercy’
Sunday 13 December 2015, 2.30pm, St Patrick’s Cathedral
To mark the opening of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy in Melbourne, a special holy door of mercy will be opened by Archbishop Denis Hart at St Patrick’s Cathedral on Sunday 13 December. The door will be open for pilgrims to pass through as a prayer for personal conversion and action. Join the afternoon of festivities which include live music, games, activities, food stalls and special mercy prayer flags. Everyone is invited to make a special pilgrimage to the Cathedral from every region of the archdiocese – north, east, south or west. Gather your family, friends, fellow parishioners and make a real day of it!
Program highlights:
Opening of Door of Mercy by Archbishop Denis Hart
Hour of prayer and reflection led by Bishop Vincent Long OFMconv
Mercy prayer flags
Food stalls, live music, and lots of activities hosted by Aboriginal Catholic Ministry, CatholicCare, Catholic Mission, Melbourne Vocations Office, and more!
Can you identify the faces of mercy?
Download here: https://resourcecem.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Faces-of-Mercy.pdf.