In the Year of Mercy: Love God, Love Others, Make Disciples, Restor All Things in Christ

As the Catholic Church throughout the world begins to celebrate the Year of Mercy, I cannot help but ponder how we do that here at St. Pius X.  Mercy is something that is rooted in who we are as a community of faith.  Yet, I must ask, do we see mercy in ourselves, in our words, in our actions?

The word mercy has its roots in the Latin, Misericordia; miserere, “to pity” and cor, meaning heart.  When we consider heart-pity, we come to another way of looking at situations and people all around us.  Our hearts look with loving-kindness on those who are suffering, whether that is in body or spirit, and often times the suffering they endure is both in body and in spirit.

Pope Francis has called us all in this next year to look with loving-kindness, with mercy, on all we encounter.  Additionally, he has asked us to focus on the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy as we interact with each other and reach out to those in most need among us.

As I consider our parish mission statement, “Love God, Love Others, Make Disciples, Restore All Things in Christ,” I cannot help but see a natural connection to the Year of Mercy as well as the Works of Mercy.  When we love God, our very posture is one that restores dignity to others.  We seek to see every other being as another “made in the image and likeness of God.”  Our very encounter with each other ought to be in response to the love of God in our hearts.

Love others, showing others the goodness and kindness of God, perhaps especially when it is difficult, is what each of us is called to in response to the baptism we share.  When we became new creations in the waters of baptism, we clothed ourselves with Christ, and in doing so, we took it upon ourselves to be as Jesus for others.  Our acts of loving-kindness; feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger, visit the sick, visit the imprisoned, bury the dead, counsel the doubtful, instruct the ignorant, admonish the sinner, pray for the living and the dead, comfort the sorrowful, forgive offenses, and bear wrongs patiently, are indeed the ways we show not only our love of others, but also our love of God.  

Our actions ought to draw others closer to God.  The way we live and interact with each other ought to be a sign and symbol of life, of love, of faith.  We are to be the Good News seen and heard through our words, our witness, our living. Living as disciples, that is, as people who choose to follow in the way  of Jesus, who live what we believe, and strive to grow in our relationship with Jesus, others will be drawn to us even more.  Thus, by our witness, we make disciples; we call each other to greater growth and love of God and other people, and through our efforts at building relationships, we invite others to join us in the journey.

As the journey unfolds, as we encounter all that is around us, as we come to know God’s loving-kindness in our relationship with God, with others, with our community, who we are and what we do, we restore all things in Christ, who came that “we might have life and have it to the full.”

This jubilee year is perhaps, a time for us to live into our mission.  A time for sharing the love of God; witnessing to loving-kindness, and restoring to Christ all that has been given to us, namely, hope, peace, joy, love, in a word, mercy.

Blogger: Dr. Cheryl J. Fournier, SPX Pastoral Associate for Life-Long Faith Formation

January Work of Mercy: Bear Wrongs Patiently

This month I had the honor of speaking with St. Pius parishioner Terry Nielsen.  I had met him casually through his service to the parish and him stopping by our office, but this was the first time I had a chance to meet with him one on one and listen to his story. His name came up with the staff for this Work of Mercy because they had heard him tell stories about being a police officer and knew already some of his stories of mercy.

One thing that struck me about Terry was something Terry said off the camera  He mentioned how normal it was for him to be around those who were in prison since he lived in the jail with his brother, a sheriff, who had adopted him as a young boy.  Terry would take prisoners their food.  As he described his level of ease working with people who, in societies mind, warranted some level of caution to be around, it occurred to me that God had shaped Terry for his service from a very young age. This was his charsim, his gift, his ministry and God was preparing him all through his life.

This month I encourage us all to not only bear wrongs patiently, but also see how God has been forming us from the beginning to be an example of mercy.  What gifts do you already posses that incline you to mercy?  When we recognize our God given gifts, it can surprise us to see how natural mercy can be.

God bless!

Blogger: Emily Schmid, SPX Staff

Be a Saint of Mercy! Bearing Wrongs Patiently…like Maria Goretti

Maria’s story is one that resonates with Catholics young and old. Probably because we wish we could be as faithful as she was!

Maria’s early life wasn't all that different than the normal life of most rural Iowans in the early 1900's. Maria’s parents and older siblings farmed, while she stayed at home and cared for the younger children. Life was not easy, but the simple life brought many joys. But her joyful and carefree life was interrupted by hardship when Maria’s father died when she was only nine years old.

Out of necessity life changed quickly. Maria’s mother moved the family in with a family friend and his 20 year old son, Alessandro. Maria’s second great hardship came when older Alessandro began to show interest in Maria. But each of Alessandro’s advances was quickly rejected by Maria, who had a deep desire to live a pure and chaste life. But Maria’s rejections only seemed to fuel Alessandro’s desires. So Maria did all she could to never be alone with her older admirer.

One day, when Maria’s mother and older siblings were working in the fields, Alessandro approached the twelve year old Maria as she completed her daily chores around the house. This time Alessandro didn’t stop when Maria objected to his advances, rather, this rejection quickly turned into a deep and dark rage within the young man. As Maria fought off his advances, Alessandro let his rage show. He drew his knife and stabbed helpless Maria 14 times, leaving her for dead.

Maria's third great hardship came as she suffered from her wounds for the next 24 hours. But as great saints so often do, Maria did not allow her hardships to dictate her life. During her suffering Maria received the Body of Christ and forgave her murderer. Maria died that day in the presence of her mother and siblings.

Ultimately, Alessandro was found guilty of murdering Maria and spent the next 30 years of his life behind bars. In prison, Alessandro came to see the faults in the way he was living his life. He had a dream, in which, Maria appeared to him, showering him with lilies (a symbol of purity). After his release from prison, Alessandro went immediately to Maria’s mother and begged for her forgiveness.

Maria was canonized a Saint in 1950 by Pope Pius XII. Both Maria’s mother and Alessandro were in attendance at the ceremony.

For the first time ever Maria's major relics were publicly venerated here in the United States as her incorruptible body traveled from New Jersey to St. Louis during 2015. They called this event the Pilgrimage of Mercy! You can read more about this great saint here: http://mariagoretti.com/

As we reflect on our Christian call to Bear Wrongs Patiently, may we each find strength in Maria’s response to her hardships and suffering. May we all be Saints of Mercy like Maria!

Saint Maria Goretti…Pray for Us!

Guest Blogger: Joe Tallman
Middle School Religion
Saint Pius X School