Mission of Mercy

BY FATHER MICHAEL AUSTIN SJ -Days before his election as pope in March 2013, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio was given a book by his friend and fellow cardinal, Walter Kasper, a newly published Spanish translation of his book in German, now published in English as Mercy: Fundamental Gospel Concept – Key to Christian Life.

Placed on the nightstand next to his bed in the conclave, it became Cardinal Bergoglio’s bed-time reading.

The book profoundly touched the cardinal from Argentina and, despite the intensity of the voting in conclave, he read it from cover to cover. Quoting from it at his first Angelus address, it has become the touchstone of Pope Francis’ radical and reforming papacy.

It is astonishing, on reflection, that so many theologians have overlooked the heart of the biblical message in both Old and New Testaments. Mercy is the key feature of God’s self-revelation throughout the whole history of salvation.

At that first Angelus address in St Peter’s Square on March 17, 2013, the newly-elected but not yet enthroned Pope Francis, talked about having read Cardinal Kasper’s book, explaining to the crowd: “He writes that hearing the word mercy changes everything. It is the best thing that we can hear; it changes the world. Mercy is the name of our God, and without mercy we are lost.”

Receiving this book at this precise moment was truly providential for Cardinal Bergoglio. We can detect God’s guiding hand clearly at work. He finished reading the book on mercy just as he was ascending the Chair of St Peter.

When he addressed the thousands in St Peter’s Square at noon that Sunday he had the perfect topic to tell the people about: God is mercy. And he hasn’t stopped since.

On April 11 last year Pope Francis published Misericordiae Vultus (The Face of Mercy), the Bull of induction of the extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy that was inaugurated on December 8 with the opening of the Holy Door.

The Bull opens boldly: “Jesus Christ is the face of the Father’s mercy.” Jesus in the gospels does not only speak about mercy: He incarnates divine mercy and opens its riches to everyone. We are encouraged to meditate on the gospel passages that tell of the Father’s mercy, especially Luke’s gospel with its powerful three parables on mercy in chapter 15: the Lost Coin, the Lost Sheep, the Lost Son.

The Holy Father urges the practice of the corporal and spiritual works of mercy listed in the Catechism as absolutely essential to living the Christian life of holiness and goodness.

As a symbol of the life of a Christian he encourages us to make a pilgrimage to the cathedral or to a church designated by the bishop of each diocese.

He finishes the Letter by reminding us that the Church feels the urgent need to proclaim God’s mercy.

To this end missionaries of mercy are to be available to spread the message in our parishes in week-long missions organised and trained by the mission apostolate of the Redemptorist Fathers.