Scottish Catholic Observer

Mercy: Mercy for the sins of our past, from the oppressors of our present and the expected attacks on our future. Pope Francis heralded in the extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy on Tuesday on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. In his homily for opening the door at the year of Mercy inauguration at the Vatican, the Holy Father said ‘may our passing through the Holy Door today commit us to making our own the mercy of the Good Samaritan.’

“This Extraordinary Holy Year is itself a gift of grace,” he added. “To pass through the Holy Door means to rediscover the infinite mercy of the Father. We have to put mercy before judgment, and in any event God’s judgement will always be in the light of his mercy. In passing through the Holy Door, then, may we feel that we ourselves are part of this mystery of love.”

During the Year of Mercy we should all take the opportunity to seek God’s mercy and find mercy and forgiveness in our own hearts in these difficult times globally. There will be events and occasions for and in the Jubilee of Mercy that can help us with this task. Archbishop Leo Cushley of St Andrews and Edinburgh has already begun a tour of his archdiocese, Bishop John Keenan and Paisley clergy are preparing for an Easter synod and Schoenstatt Scotland hosted Vespers and Benediction sung by Schola Cantorum of St Patrick’s Edinburgh for the Eve of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy. On Sunday, St Andrew’s cathedral in Glasgow will open its Holy Door.

Before the jubilee year began, Archbishop Philip Tartaglia sent out a powerful message in Glasgow about the need for vocations—especially in dark times when  believers and non believers alike need extra help to see the light—in which he echoed St Paul.

“So the question is: Will it be you? Follow me and I will make you fishers of men. Will it be you? Will it be you who will offer our brothers and sisters a helping hand,” Archbishop Tartaglia said.

As we enter the Jubilee of Mercy let’s not forgot that the Year of Consecrated Life is coming to an end. Our clergy and religious live in the most difficult of times where they have fewer colleagues than before; are viewed by some in wider society with suspicion due to the actions of the few and where their services are needs now more than ever at home and abroad. May we find mercy and remember to cherish and support our clergy and religious this Christmas and always. To rephrase a somewhat hackneyed expression for our purposes, a priest is not just for christenings, weddings and Christmas.