Holy Year of Mercy
“Be merciful as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36)
Pope Francis opens the “Jubilee – Year of Mercy” by pushing open the Holy Doors at St. Peter’s Basilica. This marks the year that puts “forgivness” before “judgement”.
The Holy Father put forth a challenge for all of us, to consider how our own concrete actions might help God’s mercy become more evident in our world today.
Find Ways to Build Community:
On a small scale, by bringing snacks to a meeting, or making sure to make all new people you meet feel comfortable. On a much larger scale, make sure your community and nation welcome those in need. Ask yourself: Are we doing all we can to build an inclusive society?
Seek out a Mercy Mentor:
Find someone who knows more than you about a particular aspect of service. Embrace the opportunity to ask serious questions, and silly questions, and then figure out where your own special skills can be utilized.
See the person in front of you:
Like the logo representing the Jubilee – “The Face of Mercy” – in the face of Christ we see the mercy and love of God. We often ask ourselves, “What do I do when I see a person in need?”. Regardless of how you respond, in any attempt to help, what is clear is that these encounters challenge us to make sure that our own exhaustion or apathy does not blind us from seeing God in those we meet each day.
Find Mercy that is already present in your life:
Mercy is found in our ever day lives, but very often, we do not recognize it. Merciful service can be lived out alongside those closest to us. As St. Teresa of Avila wrote, the “Lord does not care so much for the importance of our works as for the love with which they are done.”
Be willing to be changed:
“A little mercy makes the world less cold, and more just.” When we take mercy to heart, we are no long able to say, “Someone should fix this.” We must ask instead, “What can I do?” How can you be a catalyst for change?
There are Two (2) kinds of Plenary Indulgence
What is a plenary indulgence in the Catholic Church?
A “Partial Indulgence” removes part of the temporal punishment due for sins. “Plenary Indulgence” removes all of it. This punishment may come either in this life, in the form of various sufferings or in the next life, in purgatory.
To gain a plenary indulgence:
† A person must be baptized
† person must not have been excommunicated
† person must have the general intention of acquiring an indulgence
† person must go through the Holy Door(s) during the Year of Mercy
† Say Nicene Creed Profession of Faith Prayer
† person must pray for Pope Francis
† person must go to Holy Mass with a reflection on Mercy during pilgrimage
† person must Sacrament of Reconciliation (go to confession) during pilgrimage
What is a “Jubilee Indulgence” in the Catholic Church?
This is for those who are making a pilgrimage to a destination that includes visiting a Church/Basilica that owns a Jubilee – Holy Door (Italy, Spain, Canada, or France). Like “Plenary Indulgence”, it removes all sin, but requires an extra step.
To gain a Jubilee Indulgence: All steps with Plenary Indulgence, plus -
† Walk through the Jubilee – Holy Door(s)
† Recite the Our Father and Apostle’s Creed
† Receive the Communion
† Say one (1) Our Father, and one (1) Hail Mary
† Go to Confession within twenty (20) days
† Be free of all attachment to sin, even venial (small sin)
Calendar of Events for the Jubilee – Year of Mercy
Jubilee for Boys and Girls
23 April 2016 - 25 April 2016 - Ended
St. Peter's Square
Saturday, April 23 From 11:00 to 18:00 Piazza of Mercy ...
Prayer vigil to "Dry the tears"
05 May 2016 18:00 - 05 May 2016 19:30 - Ended
St. Peter’s Basilica
18.00 Prayer vigil for all those in need of consolation, presided over by Pope Francis in Saint Peter's Basilica
Jubilee for Deacons
27 May 2016 - 29 May 2016 - Ended
St. Peter's Square
Friday, May 27 17:00 Meeting of Deacons and their families
Jubilee for Priests
01 June 2016 - 03 June 2016 - Ended
St. Peter's Square
Wednesday, June 1 From 8:00 to 19:00 In the Jubilee
Jubilee for the Sick and Persons with Disabilities
10 June 2016 - 12 June 2016 - Ended
St. Peter's Square
Friday, June 10 From 14:00 to 19:00 In the Jubilee churches
Jubilee of Youth - World Youth Day
26 July 2016 - 31 July 2016 - Ended
Krakow
To conclude on the XVIII Sunday of Ordinary Time
Jubilee for young people.
World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland.
Jubilee for Workers and Volunteers of Mercy
02 September 2016 - 04 September 2016 - Ended
St. Peter's Square
Friday, September 2 From 14:00 In the Jubilee
Jubilee for Catechists
23 September 2016 - 25 September 2016 - Ended
St. Peter's Square
Friday, September 23 Beginning at 18:00 Catecheses for the various language groups on the theme: “Miserando atque eligendo” (Showing mercy and choosing). "Contemplating Mercy by reflecting on Caravaggio’s painting
Marian Jubilee
08 October 2016 - 09 October 2016 - Ended
St. Peter's Square
Friday, October 7, 2016 From 20:00 to 24:00 Jubilee churches
Jubilee for Prisoners
06 November 2016 - Ended
St. Peter’s Basilica
10:00 Holy Mass with the Pope Francis in Saint Peter's Basilica
Closing of the Holy Doors in the Basilicas of Rome and in the Dioceses of the world
13 November 2016 - Ended
San Giovanni in Laterano
XXXIII Sunday of Ordinary Time
Closing of the Holy Doors in the Basilicas of Rome and in the Dioceses of the world.
Closing of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica
20 November 2016 - Ended
St. Peter’s Basilica
Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Closing of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica and the conclusion of the Jubilee of Mercy.
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