Study Guide Celebrating Mercy
Introduction
PopeFrancistellsusthatoursalvationdependsoncontemplatingthemysteryof
mercy.ButheaddsthatcontemplationalonewillnotenabletheHolySpirittowork
inourlives:wemustalsocelebrateourfaith.Becauseofthisneedforcelebration,
thePontificalCouncilforthePromotionoftheNewEvangelizationhasputtogether
thispastoralguideforcelebratingtheJubileeofMercythroughwords,ritualsand
liturgy.Wehopethatwiththesesuggestions,youandyourparishfamilywill
discovernewandempoweringwaysnotmerelytocelebratemercy,buttobecomea
livingwitnesstoto“sweetsmellingfragranceoftheFather’smercy.”
ReflectionQuestions:
1. AlthoughmercyistobecelebratedthroughouttheJubileeYear,aspecial
emphasisisplacedonLent.WhyisLentsucha“privilegedtime”to“giveeven
greaterwitnesstothemercifulfaceoftheFather”?
2. HolyDoorsareanessentialpartofaJubileeYear.DuringthisJubileeof
Mercy,passingthroughaHolyDoorhasspecialsignificanceintermsof
sorrowforsin.HaveyouwalkedthroughaHolyDooraspartofthisora
previousJubileeyear?WhydoyouthinktheChurchplacessignificanceona
HolyDoorforpilgrimstowalkthroughduringaJubileeyear?
3. ChapterThreediscussesseveralwaysthatpersonalprayerisanimportant
aspectofcelebratingmercy.Takesometimetoreadaboutsuchdevotionsas
PrayingtheLiturgyoftheHours,EucharisticAdoration,sayingtherosary,
makingapilgrimage,sayingtheStationsoftheCrossetc.Whichappealsto
youthemost?Whichappealstoyoutheleast?Whatbenefitmightyouobtain
byperformingadevotionthatdoesn’timmediatelyappealtoyou?
4. Haveyoueverheardoftheconceptof“Spiritualcommunion”?(Page29).
Whymightyoupractice“spiritualcommunion”asawayofexpressingboth
penanceforsinandtocelebrateGod’smercy?Howmight“spiritual
communion”becomepartofyourdailylifeduringtheJubileeofMercy?
5. ThesaintshaveoftenrecommendedLectioDivina(Chapter4)asawayto
hear,meditateon,andpraytheScriptures.Whatexperiencehaveyouhad
withLectioDivina?Whyisthisbesuchapowerfulwaytopraythe
Scriptures?
6. Whataresomeaspectsofcelebratingmercythatyouthinkaremost
importantinyourparish?Inyourfamily?Inyourlife?Whataresome
concretestepsthatyoucantaketobegincelebratingmercyinyourlife
today?
ProcessActivity:
Plantoparticipateinsomeofthespecialliturgicalcelebrationsdesignedforthe
JubileeYear.Forexample,onMarch4thand5th,takepartinthespecialinitiative
called“24HoursfortheLord.”Atleastonceduringthesay,designateaSaturday
afternoonwheretheCrossofOurLordisdisplayedandreverenced.StartaLectio
DivinagroupwhereyoucontemplatesomeofthepassageofScripturethatshow
God’smercysuchastheProdigalSon(Luke15:11‐32)ortheGoodSamaritan(Luke
10:25‐37).Printaversefromapenitentialpsalmaskingformercyeachweekinthe
bulletinorontheparishwebsite.
Prayer:
MercifulGod,yourmercyisinexhaustible.BlessPopeFrancisfordesignatingthisas
aspecialyearinwhichwecelebrateyourmercytousandtothewholeworld.Help
ustoreceiveyourmercyandtoshareitwithothers.Inparticular,grantusthegrace
tobewitnessesofyourmercy–especiallytothosewhoarepoororvulnerable,sick
orlonely,ormarginalized.Maywealsoneverforgettobemercifulwithfamily
membersandotherswhoareclosesttous.Helpustoalwaysliveinyourmercy.
Amen.
Study Guide The Psalms of Mercy
Introduction
AlloflifeisreflectedinPsalms.ComposedinHebrewinthesixthandeighth
centuries,thePsalterwasusedforprayerbythecommunitiesofthosetimes.The
psalmsarewrittenpoeticallyandarerichinsymbolsofhumanexperiencebecause
theyaremusical.InHebrewthepsalteriscalledthe“bookofpraises”andinGreekit
iscalledpsalmosor“song.”Thisdoesnotmeanthattherewasalwaysaninstrument
usedintherecitationofthepsalms,butthattheywereusedforearlyliturgical
gatherings.Thepsalmscontainsomeofourearliestliturgicalcompositionsof
thanksgivingandpraise,griefandlamentation,salvationandmercy.InThePsalms
ofMercy,oneoftheofficialcatecheticaltextsfortheYearofMercy,thesplendorof
thepsalmsandtheirbeautifulappreciationofGod’smercyispresentedinthehope
thatyouwilldiscoverthegreatgiftsofprayerformercycontainedwithinthem.
ReflectionQuestions:
1. “MercyisoneofGod’smosthighlightedcharacteristicsinthePsalter.”Why
doyouthinkthepsalmssooftenemphasizeGod’smercy?
2. HowisdivinemercylinkedtotheOldCovenant?Whatroledoesdivine
mercyplayintheNewCovenant?
3. InPsalm42and43,theJewishpeopleareinexileandfeelingfarfromGod.
Verse9askstheLord,“Whyhaveyouforgottenme?”Haveyoueverfeltfar
fromGod?Howmightyouhelpsomeonewhois“inexile”fromtheChurch?
4. Whichsymbol(s)fromthepsalmsmostresonateswithyou?(Eagle’swings,
lion,bird,ox,mother,oil,etc.)Whydidyouselectthisparticularsymbol?
5. InPsalm103,thePsalmistlinksmercywithcompassion.Howdomercyand
compassioninterrelate?Canwehaveonewithouttheother?Whyorwhy
not?
6. Whichpsalmofmercyspeaksthemosttoyou?Howcanyouincorporatethis
psalmintoyourprayerlifethisweek?
ProcessActivity:
Psalm136isaPsalmofThanksgivingforthemanywaystheLordshowsmercyto
Hispeople.ReadthisPsalmaloudasagroup.Takeafewmomentstoprayand
reflectonthisPsalmandthenwriteyourownPsalmofThanksgivingforGod’s
mercyinyourlife.
Prayer:
MyGod,Iknowthatyourmercyenduresforever.Igivethankstoyou,ohLordof
lords,foryouaregoodandmercifultoall.Thankyouforextendingyourmercyto
me,asinner.Helpmetoshareitwithothers—especiallytothosewhoarepooror
vulnerable,sickorlonely,ormarginalized.MayIneverforgettobemercifulwith
familymembersandotherswhoareclosesttome.Helpmetoalwaysliveinyour
mercy.Amen.
Study Guide The Parables of Mercy Introduction
Inthisbooklet,TheParablesofMercy,Jesus’teachingsaboutmercyasexplained
throughhisparablesarepresentedaspartoftheYearofMercy.Threestoriesin
Luke15:1‐32:thelostsheep,thelostcoin,andtheprodigalsonarecommonly
identifiedasthe“parablesofmercy.”Otherparablesthatexpandtheconceptof
mercyarethetwodebtorsandtheircreditor(Lk7:41‐43),thegoodSamaritan(Lk
10:25‐37),therichmanandthebeggarLazarus(Lk16:19‐31),theunjustjudgeand
thepersistentwidow(Lk18:1‐8)andthePhariseeandthepublicaninthetemple
(Lk18:9‐14).Ineachoftheseparableswebecomepartofthestorybyshowna
disarmingtruth.Thisinturncausesustorethinkoureverydayrelationships.The
three‐wayrelationship:“he,Iandother”structureoftheseparableslinksGod’s
mercytothemercydisplayedbyhumanbeings.“’Bemerciful,evenas[andbecause]
yourFatherismerciful’(Lk6:36)isthecentralarchitecturalbeamofmercyin
parableform.”Commontoalltheparablesofmercyisareversalthatcatchesthe
heareroffguard.Theparablesofmercyinvolvetwocategoriesofpeople;thosewho
areintheparableandthosewhohearthemandincludearangeofsinnerswho
Jesususestoimplicatealllisteners.ByimplicatingalllistenersJesusdispelsthe
conceptthatmercyisbasedonmeritnotgrace.“Theparablesofmercydonotleave
peopleuntouched.”Weencourageyoutoreadandprayerfullyreflectonthe
parablesofmercyandhowtheymightchallengeyouinyourownlife.
ReflectionQuestions:
1. Anykindofsinisadebt.Whatdowelearnfromthetwodebtorsandthe
creditors(Lk7:36‐50)aboutJesus’mercifulrelationshipwithsinnersandthe
implicationsforourcommunity?
2. DoesloveforGod“automaticallyguarantee”loveforneighbor?Whatrole
doestruecompassionplayinhelpingtoidentify“Whoismyneighbor?”
3. HowdoesJesusseeconversion?Whatismostthought‐provokingabouthis
view?
4. “Theparableofthemercifulfatherisanintricateknotthatcanbeuntiedby
choosingoneofthevariousthreadsinthestory.”Whichofthethreads,the
father,thesonwhoreturns,theolderson,ortheservantswereyoumost
surprisedbyandwhy?
5. Howdoesthecontrastbetweentheparablesofmercyandtheparableofthe
richmanandLazarusillustratebothwhatmercyisandwhatitisnot?
6. WhatisthecharacteristicthatboththejudgeandGodsharethatbringsout
theinestimablevalueofprayer?Howisyourprayerlifeimpactedbythis?
ProcessActivity:
HavingreadtheparablesofJesus,sharewiththegroupwhichparabletaughtyou
themostaboutGod’smercy.Whichonetaughtyouthemostaboutthejusticeof
God?Doyouthinkthatisitnecessarytosininordertoobtainjustificationand
reconciliationwithGod?Finally,reflectingontheideathat“Itiseasytotalkabout
mercy,butdifficulttoliveit!”whataresomeofthetakeawaysfromtheseparables
ofmercythatwillinformyourthoughtsandactionsduringthisYearofMercy?
Prayer:
MyGod.Iaskthatyouhavemercyonme.IknowIamasinner,butIcastmyself
beforeyou,confidentofyournever‐endinglove.Helpmetobeawitnessofyour
mercy—especiallytothosewhoarepoororvulnerable,sickorlonely,or
marginalized.MayIneverforgettobemercifulwithfamilymembersandothers
whoareclosesttome.Helpmetoalwaysliveinyourmercy.Amen.
Study Guide Mercy in the Fathers of the Church
Introduction
The“truecommonthread”inthehistoryoftheChurchisthereferencetomercy.
Whilehistoricaleventslikewarsandepisodesofviolence,liketerrorattacks,have
“pushedGod’stendernessoffintoacorner,”nothinghassucceededineliminating
God’smercyinthelifeoftheChurch.MercyintheFathersoftheChurchlooksathow
thethemeofmercyhasbeencentraltotheteachingsoftheFathersoftheChurch.
Thereflectionsinthisbook,oneoftheofficialcatecheticalresourcesfortheJubilee
YearofMercy,aredividedintothreeparts:anoverviewofmercyintheearly
Church;therolemercyplayedinthelifeandteachingofSt.Augustine,sometimes
called“thetruepoetofmercy”;andfinallyacollectionofpassagesfromthegreat
FathersoftheEasternandWesternChurches.Weencourageyoutoreadand
prayerfullyreflectonthesetextssothatyourfaithmightgrowanddevelop,but
mostimportantly,sothatyoumightrealizehowverycentralGod’smercyisourlove
forus.
ReflectionQuestions:
1. ThebiblicalGodisoftendefinedas“beingpatientandmerciful.”What
doyouseeastherelationshipbetweenpatienceandmercy?Howdoes
thatrelationshipplayoutinyourlife?
2. Onewayweexpressmercy,“intermsofcommunallife”isby“freeing
oneanotherfromtheevilencountereddaily.”Whatdoesthismeanto
you?Whatevildoyouencounterdaily?Howcanyoufreeothersfrom
this?
3. “IntheChristianconscience,man’smercytowardhisfellowhuman
beingsisbornfromtheexperienceofthegiftofmercyreceivedfrom
God.”WhataresomeexamplesofGod’smercythatyouhave
experiencedinyourownlife?
4. St.GregoryNazianzen,inspeakingaboutdoingactsofmercy,writes,
“Donotletanythingcomebetweenyourimpulsetodogoodandits
execution.”Doyoueverletsomethingstopyoufromactingonyour
impulsesordesiretodogood?Whatdrawsyouaway?Howcanyou
changethat?
5. St.Augustinesaysthatbreakingbreadforthehungry,clothingthe
naked,takinginthestranger,visitingthesick,unitingthecontentious,
andburyingthedeadareallworksofmercy.Whatotheractsofmercy
canyouthinkofthatarerelevanttoourmodernlives?
6. WhatonequotefromaFatheroftheChurchofferedadescriptionof
mercythatyouhadnotconsideredbefore?
ProcessActivity:
AfterhavingreadthequotesfromtheChurchFathersonpages63‐79,askmembers
ofthegrouptoselectonequotethatwasparticularlymeaningfulorinsightful.Note
someoftheideasthataregeneratedbythediscussionandwriteashortpieceinthe
parish/school/diocesannewsletterorwebsitethatpointsouthowthisancient
teachingrelatestoustoday.
Prayer:
MercifulGod,theFathersoftheChurchreliedonthetendermercyofyourheart.
Helpustolearntoexperiencethe“heartsoreness”ofyourgenuinemercysothatwe
mightbetterextendyourmercytoallthosearoundus.Mayourheartsalwaysbe
softtowardthosewhoarepoororvulnerable,sickorlonely,ormarginalized.And
maywealsoneverforgettobemercifulwithfamilymembersandotherswhoare
closesttous.Amen
Study Guide The Saints in Mercy Introduction
TheSaintsinMercyprovidesacrosssectionofCatholicSaintsandholypeoplewho
embracedthemercyofGod.Spanningalmost1000yearsofChurchhistory,they
representmanyculturesandpartsoftheworld,butareunitedbytheiropennessto
themercyofGodandtheirwillingnesstoshareitwithothers.AsArchbishopRino
Fisichellastatesinthepreface,theseheroesofourfaith“didnotlimitthemselvesto
witnessingtheirfaiththroughworksofmercy;rather,theylived,firstofall,within
mercy,andasaresulttheyexpressedthebeautyofitintheholinessoftheirlives.”
Throughtheirlives,welearnofthetransformativepowerofthemercyofGod.They
giveusapictureofhowGod’smercycanbesharedwiththosewhoaresuffering
marginalizedorinneed,thosewhoarevulnerable,thoseindistantlandsandthose
whoareclosesttous.Weencourageyoutousethesaintsasexamplesofmercyfor
yourownlife.
ReflectionQuestions:
1. SomepeopleseeGod’smercyandhisjusticealmostasoppositequalities.
However,St.ThérèseofLisieux,andmorerecentlyPopeFrancis,have
expressedtheinherentconnectednessbetweenGod’smercyandhisjustice.
WhatrelationshipdoyouseebetweenthemercyandjusticeofGodinyour
ownfaithandlife?
2. Manysaintscaredforthoseinneedofphysicalandspiritualhealing.When
haveyoureceivedhealingfromGod?Howdothesesaintsinspireyouto
reachouttothosewhoaresuffering?
3. Throughouthistory,thesaintshavereachedouttopopulationsofpeople
whowerepoorormarginalized.Whoisatthemarginsofoursocietytoday?
HowmightwemoreeffectivelyshareGod’smercywiththem?
4. St.PeterClaverandVenerableMarcelloCandiajourneyedtodistantand
dangerouslandstoshareGod’smercywithothers.Whoaroundtheworld
areindesperateneedofGod’smercytoday?Howmightweassistinthe
Church’smissionaryandreliefactivitytohelpmeettheseneeds?
5. ChaptertencontraststhecharityofSt.AlbertChmielowskiwiththe
revolutionarythinkingofVladimirLenin.Howmighttheworldbe
transformedbyamercifulapproachtosocialproblems,ratherthanan
approachthataddressestheseissuesthroughpoliticalconflictandwar?
6. Saintswereoftencalledontoshowgreatmercytothosewithintheirown
families.Fromwhominyourfamilyhaveyouexperiencedmercy?
ProcessActivity:
Havingreflectedonthemanysaintsdiscussedinthebook,sharewiththegroup
whichoneofthesaintsyoumostidentifywith.Howhaveyoushown(orwillyou
show)mercyinasimilarway?Godalsosometimescallsusoutofourcomfortzones.
Whichsaintinthisbookwouldbemostdifficultforyoutoimitate,andwhy?Whatis
oneisonethingyoucoulddotoimitatethissaintinasmallway?
Prayer:
MercifulGod,yourmercyisinexhaustible.Thankyouforchoosingus,bothto
receiveyourmercyandtoshareitwithothers.Helpustoimitatethesesaintswho
livedinyourmercy.Helpus,likethem,tobewitnessesofyourmercy—especiallyto
thosewhoarepoororvulnerable,sickorlonely,ormarginalized.Maywealsonever
forgettobemercifulwithfamilymembersandotherswhoareclosesttous.Helpus
toalwaysliveinyourmercy.Amen.
Study Guide Mercy in the Teachings of the Popes
Introduction
PopeFrancishasmentionedthreepopesfrommoderntimeswhohadaspecial
interestinthethemeofmercy:PopeSt.JohnXXIII,PopePaulVI,andPopeSt.John
PaulII.Forthepasttwocenturies,thesepopeshaveexercisedastronginfluenceon
thespiritualityofCatholics,especiallyaroundthetopicofmercy.PopeSt.JohnPaul
IIsensedthatthiswasthe“timeformercy”whenhesharedhisdevotiontothe
divinemercymessageofSt.Faustinawiththeworld.Andbothofthepopeswho
presidedovertheSecondVaticanCouncil(PopeSt.JohnXXIIIandPopePaulVI)
calledforthe“civilizationoflove”throughpatienceanddialogue.Intheirownway,
eachofthesepopes,whilestillcontinuingtheteachingsoftheChurchinthe
unbrokenapostolicline,openedthemodernworldtothelovingsalvationand
mercyofJesusChrist.WeencourageyoutouseMercyintheTeachingsofthePopes
asaspringboardfordeepeningyourownunderstandingofmercy.
ReflectionQuestions:
1. Intheintroductionofthetext,theauthorcitesthefrequencyofreceivingthe
EucharistasasignificantwayinwhichwedeepenourfriendshipwithChrist.
WhatdoesreceivingtheEucharistmeantoyou?Howdoesthisrelatetothe
ideaofmercy?
2. “ThegoalofthepapalmagisteriumistobeanechooftheIncarnateWord,
preachingthatiscenteredonlove.”(p.19)Whatdoesthismeantoyou?
3. WhataresomeofyourfavoriteGospelstoriesthattalkaboutmercy?What
newinsightshaveyougainedaboutthisstoriesfromthewritingsofthe
popes?
4. ThepopeshavehadsaidthattheirspecialdevotionstotheSacredHeartof
JesusandtoDivineMercyhavedeepenedtheirfaithlivesandrelationship
withGod.Isthesametrueforyou?Ifyouhaven’tconsideredoneofthese
devotionsmightyoudosonow?
5. PopePaulVItalksaboutmercywithinthefamily(p.79).Howdoesyour
familyshowmercytooneanotherinChrist?Howcanyoudomore?
6. Whataresomewaysyoumightliveouttheteachingsofthepopesonthe
mercifulmissionofJesusChristinyourdailylife?
ProcessActivity:
Afterhavingreadtheteachingsofthepope,discusswhichone(s)madethegreatest
impressiononyou.Talkaboutwhythisaspectofmercyisimportanttoyour
personalfaithlife.Sharethisquotewithafriendorfamilymemberwhoisinneedof
mercy.Ifpossible,turnthequoteintoaprayerfortheincreaseofmercyinyourown
life.
Prayer:
LovingandgraciousGod,Iknowthatyourmercyisinexhaustible.Youhavegivenus
thesepopesasareflectionofyourSon,JesusChrist,thelightoftheworld,sothatwe
mightbetterunderstandwhatitmeanstobemerciful.Grantthatthroughtheir
intercessionwemightalwayshaveamercifulhearttowardthosewhoarepooror
vulnerable,sickorlonely,ormarginalized.Andmaywealsoneverforgettobe
mercifulwithfamilymembersandotherswhoareclosesttous.Amen
Study Guide The Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy
Introduction
The“greatriverofmercy,”asPopeFranciscallsitinMisericordiaVultus,his
introductiontotheJubileeYearofMercy,“neverrunsdry”becausetherearealways
thosewhoarewillingtoperformactsofmercyintheireverydaylives.InThe
CorporalandSpiritualWorksofMercy,oneoftheofficialcatecheticaltextsforthe
YearofMercy,theconceptofmercyasrevealedinboththeOldandNewTestament
isexplored.Thedevelopmentoftheologybehindworksofmercy,asexpressedby
theearlyChurchfathers,isalsoexaminedasabaseforin‐depthreflectionsonthe
corporalandspiritualworksofmercy,theirroleinthelifeoftheChurchandinthe
livesofindividualbelievers.Weencourageyoutousethistextasawayoflivingout
PopeFrancis’scallto“becomestronginthefaithinJesusChrist.”
ReflectionQuestions:
1. Whichoftheworksofmercyistheeasiestforyoutodo?Whichisthe
hardest?
2. Jesussaidthatthewaywetreatotherswillbethestandardbywhichwe
ourselveswillbejudged(Mt25:31‐45).Ifyouweretobejudgedtoday,
whatwouldJesusfindinyourlife?Whatcanyoudotochange?
3. TheCatechismoftheCatholicChurchsaysthat“givingalmstothepooris
oneofthechiefwitnessestofraternalcharity.”Howmuchdoyougiveto
thepoor?Couldyougivemore,perhapsevenconsidertithing?
4. ThewordformercyinLatinismisericordia,fromthewordsformisery
andheart.Itmightbedefinedas“compassionwiththepitythatitentails
andfidelitywithloveasarequirement.”Howdoesthisdefinitionof
mercyfitwithyourownexperiencesofbothgivingandreceivingmercy?
5. Jesussaid,“Blessedarethemerciful,fortheyshallobtainmercy.”How
mercifulareyou?Couldyoubemoremerciful?
6. LookatsomeofthePsalmsthatpleaformercy.(Ps4:2;6:3;9:14;25:16;
51:1).Usetheseasthebasisforcreatingyourownprayerformercy.
ProcessActivity:
Readaloudthetwenty“goodworks”thatHermaslists(p.29).Discussinyourgroup
howtheserelatetothecorporalandspiritualworksofmercy.Howaretheysimilar?
Howdotheydiffer?Oneofthebiggestissuesfacingtheworldtodayisthemigrant
crisis.Oneoftheworksofmercyisto“welcomethestranger.”Howcanwebalance
welcomingstrangers(refugees)andprotectingourcountryfrominvasionand
harm?
Prayer:
MercifulGod,yourmercyisinexhaustible.Helpustoextendyourmercytothose
aroundusthroughthecorporalandspiritualactsofmercy.Maybealwaysbewilling
todothegoodthatisbeforeus.Helpusalwaystobewitnessesofyourmercyinour
wordsandinourdeeds.Maywepayspecialattentiontothosewhoarepooror
vulnerable,sickorlonely,ormarginalized.Andmaywealsoneverforgettobe
mercifulwithfamilymembersandotherswhoareclosesttous.Amen
Study Guide Confession: The Sacrament of Mercy Introduction
Thesacramentofconfessionis“thesacramentofthosewho,inChrist,experience
themercifulloveofGod.”InConfession:theSacramentofMercyfromthePontifical
CouncilforthePromotionoftheNewEvangelization,thecentralmessagesofJesus’
teaching—thoseofmercy,forgivenessofsinsandconversion—arelookedatfrom
bothabiblicalandapracticalperspective.Centraltothereflectionsistheideathat
theJubileeYearofMercyisa“privilegedmoment”tolookattheSacramentof
Reconciliationin“awaythatcapturesitsbeautyandeffectiveness.”Weencourage
youtoreadandprayerfullyreflectontherolethesacramentplaysinyourlifeand
thatofyourparish.
ReflectionQuestions:
1. Whatdowordslike“sin,”“forgiveness,”“mercy,”and“reconciliation”mean
toyou?
2. Howistheforgivenessofsinsan“experienceoflight”inyourlife?
3. Sin,accordingtoLuke’sparableoftheProdigalSon,is“whateverdoesnotlet
usliveafulllife.”Whatispreventingyoufromlivingafulllife?
4. Whatdothefather’sresponsestotheProdigalsonandtotheeldestsontell
youaboutGod’smercy?Whichsondoyouidentifywiththemostclosely?
5. “TheChristianknowshowimportantitistobelievein(God’s)mercy….”Do
youbelieveinGod’smercy?
6. Howhaveyouexperiencedpeaceasthe“fruitofforgivenessand
reconciliationwithGodobtainedthroughtheconfessionofoursins”?
ProcessActivity:
“WenolongerbelieveinGod’smercybecausewearenolongerawareofsinandwe
nolongerhaveasenseofsinbecausewithinusthereistheunderlyingconviction
thatthereisnoobjectivenotionofgoodorevil.”Takesometimeinyourgroupto
discussthisstatement.Doyouagreewithit?Whyorwhynot?Forgivenessis
intrinsicallylinkedtothemissionoftheChurch.Howcanyouliveoutthemissionof
forgivenessinyourparish?
Prayer:
MercifulGod,yourmercyisinexhaustible.Thankyouforgivingusthegiftofthe
SacramentofConfession,sothatwemightrenewourfriendshipwithyou.Maybe
alwaysbewillingtocomebeforeyoutoreceiveyourmercythatwemightshareit
withothers.Helpusalwaystobewitnessesofyourmercy—especiallytothosewho
arepoororvulnerable,sickorlonely,ormarginalized.Maywealsoneverforgetto
bemercifulwithfamilymembersandotherswhoareclosesttous.Helpustoalways
liveinyourmercy.Amen