for mercy, let us kneel

Sa kaibuturan ng ating puso, tiklupin natin ang ating mga

tuhod sa paghingi natin

ng Awa.

FOR MERCY, LET US KNEEL

POPE FRANCIS’ PRAYER FOR THE JUBILEE

YEAR OF MERCY

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.

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.

Ang Alibughang

Anak

11 At sinabi niya, May isang tao na may dalawang anak na

lalake: 12 At sinabi sa kaniyang ama ng bunso, Ama, ibigay mo sa akin ang bahagi

ng iyong kayamanang nauukol sa akin. At binahagi niya sa

kanila ang kaniyang pagkabuhay. 

13 At hindi nakaraan ang maraming araw, ay tinipong lahat ng anak na

bunso ang ganang kaniya, at naglakbay sa isang malayong lupain; at doo'y

inaksaya ang kaniyang kabuhayan sa palunging pamumuhay. 14At nang

magugol na niyang lahat, ay nagkaroon ng isang malaking kagutom sa lupaing

yaon; at siya'y nagpasimulang mangailangan. 

15 pumaroon siya at nakisama sa isa sa mga

mamamayan sa lupaing yaon; at sinugo niya siya sa

kaniyang mga parang, upang magpakain ng mga

baboy. 16.At ibig sana niyang mabusog ang kaniyang tiyan ng mga ipa na kinakain ng

mga baboy: at walang taong magbigay sa kaniya. 

17Datapuwa't nang siya'y makapagisip ay sinabi niya, Ilang mga alilang upahan ng aking ama

ang may sapat at lumalabis na pagkain, at ako rito'y namamatay ng

gutom? 18 Magtitindig ako at paroroon sa aking ama, at aking

sasabihin sa kaniya, Ama, nagkasala ako laban sa langit, at sa iyong

paningin: 

19 Hindi na ako karapatdapat na tawaging anak mo: gawin mo akong

tulad sa isa sa iyong mga alilang upahan. 20 At siya'y nagtindig, at

pumaroon sa kaniyang ama. Datapuwa't samantalang nasa

malayo pa siya, ay natanawan na siya ng kaniyang ama, at nagdalang habag, at tumakbo, at niyakap siya

sa leeg, at siya'y hinagkan

 21 At sinabi ng anak sa kaniya, Ama, nagkasala ako laban sa

langit, at sa iyong paningin: hindi na ako karapatdapat na tawaging anak mo. 22 Datapuwa't sinabi ng

ama sa kaniyang mga alipin, Dalhin ninyo ritong madali ang

pinakamabuting balabal, at isuot ninyo sa kaniya; at lagyan ninyo ng singsing ang kaniyang kamay, at mga panyapak ang kaniyang

mga paa: 

 23 At kunin ninyo ang pinatabang guya, at inyong

patayin, at tayo'y magsikain, at mangagkatuwa: 24

Sapagka't patay na ang anak kong ito, at muling nabuhay;

siya'y nawala, at nasumpungan. At sila'y

nangagpasimulang mangagkatuwa.

“This is important: let us have the courage to trust in Jesus’ mercy, to trust in his patience and to seek

refuge always in the wounds of his love.”-Pope Francis on

mercy

“Our God is so eager to forgive that at the slightest sign of

repentance he is ready with his mercy. He does not forget the covenant

he made with our ancestors.”

-Pope Francis on mercy

“I have so often seen in my own life God’s merciful

countenance and his patience in action. I have also seen so

many people who find the courage to enter in the

wounds of Jesus by saying to him,

……continuation

“ Lord, I am here, accept my poverty, hide my sin in your

wounds and wash it away with your blood.” And I always see

that God does just this: He welcomes, consoles, cleanses and loves everyone coming to

him.”-Pope Francis on mercy

You Raise Me Up

Mercy is the very foundation of the Church’s life. All her pastoral activity should be caught up in

the tenderness she makes present to believers; nothing in

her preaching and in her witness to the world can be lacking in

mercy. The Church’s very credibility is seen in how she

shows merciful and compassionate love.

(MV, #10)

This exaltation of the virtues of mercy and compassion. In

Misericordae Vultus we have a systematic presentation of

virtues of mercy and compassion, starting from their very origin: God the Father, the source of all

mercy, and Jesus Christ, who is the “face of the Father’s

mercy.”

Dec. 8, 2015 - Nov. 20, 2016

(50th Anniversary of the closing of II Vatican Council)

“At the closing of the Jubilee Year of Mercy”, says Pope Francis, “ We shall be

filled with a sense of gratitude to the Most Holy Trinity for having granted

us an extraordinary time of Grace”

…continuation

And, “We will entrust the life of the Church, all humanity, and all the entire cosmos to

the Lordship of Christ, asking him to pour out

his mercy upon us.”

Biblical passages on Mercy,

At Awa ang dahilan na matatagpuan natin sa kasaysayan ng Bayan ng Diyos kasama ang

Israel.

Indeed, Jesus‘ entire life was a constant

manifestation of the Father‘s mercy and

compassion. He showed it especially in the manner

he related to people, particularly those who

were afflicted in any way.

Jesus spoke in a most striking manner of the Father‘s mercy toward sinners in the

parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Son, while through the parable of the ―Merciless Servant‖ he enjoined all human beings to imitate the Father‘s mercy in dealing with those who “owe

them something “The lesson is as clear as it is demanding: “Be merciful even

as your heavenly Father is merciful!” (Luke 6:36).

“Mercy is the very foundation of the

Church’s life.” And: “The Church’s very credibility

is seen in how she shows merciful and

compassionate love.”

Pope Francis reminds us that “we must, first of all, dispose

ourselves to listen to the Word of God.”

This should bring us to answer positively Pope Francis‘

passionate appeal to “open our eyes and see…the wounds of our brothers and sisters who

are denied their dignity…”, and to practice generously the

corporal and spiritual works of mercy, remembering that “they will serve as criteria upon which

we will be judged.” (#15)

The response to the Holy Father‘s invitation to be merciful through

appropriate attitudes and deed should be especially obvious during the

Lenten Season, which is a “privileged moment to celebrate and experience

God‘s mercy.” (#17) No one should feel excluded from experiencing God‘s

forgiveness, “and may no one be indifferent to the call to experience

mercy.” (#19)

Finally, Pope Francis reminds us that a Jubilee entails the granting of indulgences, a

“practice that will acquire an even more important

meaning in the Holy Year of Mercy.” (#22)

What the Holy Father has to say in Misericordiae Vultus about sin,

forgiveness and indulgences is truly memorable and worth reflecting

upon: ―Though we feel the transforming power of grace, we also feel the effects of sin, typical of our fallen state. Despite being forgiven, the conflicting consequences of our

sins remain.

to live the indulgences of the Holy Year means to approach the Father‘s

mercy with the certainty that his forgiveness

extends to the entire life of the believer…‖ (#22)

The Church and the saints, for their part,

come in as instruments and allies of God’s mercy, as a way “to

fortify the weakness of some.” (#22)

The long paragraph devoted to Mary, as the ―Mother of Mercy,‖

and ―the saints and blessed ones who made divine mercy their

mission on life,‖ are the icing on the cake in the exaltation of this

sublime virtue that enriches our lives, which has its origin in God,

and draws us so close to him. (#24)

LIVING THE YEAR OF MERCY: NINE PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS TO HELP

YOU WALK MORE VIRTUOUSLY THROUGH

THE JUBILEE YEAR

1. Go to confessio

n

2. Read conversion

stories

3. Perform works of mercy

4. Go on a

pilgrimage

5. Walk through a Holy Door

6. Obtain indulgen

ces

7. Contemplat

e God’s mercy in Scripture

8. Pray the Divine Mercy

Chaplet

9. Forgive those who have

hurt you

THE UTTER MERCY OF GOD (Psalm 51)

Psalms for a Pilgrim People by Jim Cotter

Refrain: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Enfold me in your love, dear God, yet pierce my heart with your mercy. In the cascading of your compassion scour away all that offends. Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness, and cleanse me from my sin. (Refrain)

Refrain: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

My failures weigh heavy on my heart, my sin confronts me at the turning of the road. Against you alone have I sinned, my Beloved, doing what is evil and causing more harm. In the eyes of my victims your judgment is clear: there is nothing I can claim in your presence. (Refrain)

Refrain: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

I was formed in the midst of a world gone wrong, from the moment of my conceiving I breathed my ancestors‘ sin. The truths to which I am blind are hidden so deep, so secretly: bring the light of your wisdom to the depths of my heart. (Refrain)

Refrain: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Bathe me in water that is fresh from the spring, wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear of joy and gladness, that the bones which you have broken may dance again. Turn you face from my twists and deceits, blot out all my misdeeds. (Refrain)

Refrain: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from your presence, and take not you Holy Spirit from me. Give me the comfort of your help again, and strengthen me with your courage and hope. (Refrain)

Refrain: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Then I shall teach your ways to those around me, and others will be converted to your path. Deliver us all from guilt of bloodshed, O God, for you are the God of the world that is coming. In health and truth we shall sing of your justice. When you open my lips, O God, my mouth shall sing of you praise. (Refrain)

Refrain: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

For you desire no animal sacrifices, no formal gifts out of mere duty. You do not delight in burnt offerings, nothing from our wealth can buy your favour. The sacrifice you ask is a troubled spirit; it is my pride that my yield. (Refrain)

Refrain: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

My broken and contrite heart I bring, so foolish, self-centered, and vain; and yet it is all that I have. Even this gift you will not despise, for I hear again that you yearn for me, with a love I can barely imagine. (Refrain)

Refrain: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

So do I give you the whole of myself, dependent as I am on the gift of your mercy. So may my giving to others be free of the motives of power, gifts that overwhelm or appease. May my heart be spontaneous giving, spreading delight and mutual embrace. Such is the way of the City of Peace, whose walls you call us to build. (Refrain)

Refrain: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

All:Take us to yourself, Compassionate God, we who hurt so much in the depths of our being, caught up in the pain of life, and so often inflicting yet more in to others; embrace us with the hands that show still the mark of nails, your love swallowing up all our sins and pride. So we pray that broken bones may heal, in the dance of Jesus our redeemer.

Amen