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