Jubille of Mercy 2016

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SEE ALL OUR PAGES ON DIVINE MERCY
(Story of Sister M. Faustina) (Chaplet of Divine Mercy) (Divine Mercy Novena)
(Saint Faustina, First Saint of the New Millennium) (St. Faustina's Adoration Prayer)
(Pope John Paul & Saint Maria Faustina) (Feast of Mercy Preparations) (Mercy, Mercy, Mercy)
(Hour of Mercy) (For the Sake of His Sorrowful Passion) (Prayers of Saint Faustina) (Divine Mercy Sunday)
(Excerpt from, Divine Mercy in My Soul) (Affair with Divine Mercy) (Beatification of John Paul & Final Coming)
(The Jubilee of Divine Mercy)

The Jubilee of Mercy (2016) Declared by Pope Francis

By Michael K. Jones

Picture on left: Image of Jesus of the Divine Mercy and Saint Maria Faustina.

What is a Jubilee?

A jubilee is a time of joyful celebration of an event. It’s a special occasion to rejoice and make merry with exultation. In the early years of the Christian faith, a jubilee was the fiftieth year/the year after seven weeks of years. No ground was sown during that year, nor was anything reaped except that which grew spontaneously. Lands were returned to their original owners and slaves with their wives and children were liberated (Lev. 25:9-34.)

A jubilee is also a year long special event within the Catholic Church. When such a milestone is called for, it’s because an elected Pope strongly believes the faithful of the Church have great need. The Catholic Church has declared a jubilee year less than 30 times, in the history of the Catholic faith.

“The Jubilee of Mercy,” (2016)

In his weekly audience in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis called for a special holy jubilees year from December 8, 2015 to November 20, 2016, to focus on the mercy of God. Jubilees tend to focus on calling pilgrims to Rome to receive a pardon of sins, normally by walking through a special holy door at a papal basilica. However, Pope Francis has widely expanded the (2016) “Jubilee of Mercy,” asking all dioceses throughout the world to open their own holy door. This special request greatly expands the reach to pardon sinners.

What is a sinner?

There are those who choose sin but there are also those who are lost within the sin that live within. No one is without sin. Only God is perfection. One of the greatest writers in the scriptures was Saint Paul. Even after his spiritual conversion and many graces from God, Paul realized he still was not without sin. Realizing sin remained within; Paul wrote some powerful words of wisdom. Romans (Chapter 7:14–22) “For we know that the Law is spiritual but I am carnal, sold into the power of sin. For I do not understand what I do, for it is not what I wish that I do, but what I hate, that I do. But if I do what I do not wish, I admit the Law is good. Now therefore it is no longer I who do it, but the sin that dwells within me. For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, no good dwells, because to wish is within my power, but I do not find the strength to accomplish what is good. For I do not the good that I wish, but the evil that I do not wish, that I perform. Now if I do what I do not wish, it is no longer I who do it, but the sin that dwells in me. Therefore, when I wish to do good I discover this law, namely, that evil is at hand for me. For I am delighted with the law of God according to the inner man but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind and making me prisoner to the law of sin that is in my members.” Understanding the nature of sin, St. Paul tells us just how powerless we all are over them. Even so, sins can be wiped away by God’s unfathomable tender and loving mercies.

What is Mercy?

The dictionary defines mercy as 1) Compassionate leniency toward an enemy or wrongdoer. 2) Discretionary power to punish or spare. Yet, the act of God’s Mercy can also extend beyond normal human comprehension.

Saint Maria Faustina (First Saint of the new millennium, April 30, 2000,) claimed during her lifetime (1905 – 1938) she received apparitions from Jesus. Her confessor told Sister Faustina to keep a journal of her apparitions. The primary message in these (3) journals is the joyous discovery of God’s mercy.

In her journals ("Divine Mercy In My Soul," published in English, 1989) Jesus tells Faustina, “Encourage souls to place great trust in My fathomless mercy. Let the weak, souls have no fear to approach me, for even if it had more sins than there are grains of sands in the world, all would be drowned in the immeasurable depths of My mercy.”

Sister Faustina wrote hundreds of pages about God’s infinite divine mercy. This one paragraph above shows us just how powerfully God’s mercy triumphs over the incessant, merciless battle between the flesh and the spirit, where these two armies come to clash, within the arena of our soul.

The diaries of Saint Faustina “Divine Mercy in My Soul,” are highly recommended reading. The most incredible gift we can receive is to be unchained from the bondage of sin. Only God’s tender mercies can lead us out of bondage.

During an apparition with Jesus, Sister Faustina received instruction for a prayer chaplet on which sinners can pray. The chaplet is called, “The Divine Mercy Chaplet.” These chaplet prayers can be recited on any standard rosary. Praying the chaplet prayers achieves the forgiveness of sin by the graces of mercy. Jesus told Faustina, “Even if the most hardened sinner, if he recites this chaplet even once, will receive grace from My infinite Mercy.” I highly recommend praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet, not only for our own salvation but also for the sake of this world which chooses to live far away from the graces of God’s goodness.

For those who may seek even greater wisdom about God’s mercy, one can use a book called a “concordance” to look up the word “mercy” in the scriptures. In so doing, you will discover the word mercy is written in the Bible some 250 times. Reading mercy bible passages will offer a deeper understand of God’s mercy, beyond the diaries of Sister Faustina.

Shortly before his passing, Pope John Paul II stated he believed his mission as Pontiff was to enlighten the world to the Divine Mercy of God. It is also interesting to note that John Paul passed away during evening vespers for the "Feast of Divine Mercy." (note: Feast of Divine Mercy is the first Sunday after Easter.)

Since 1989, Medjugorje USA has been deeply committed to mercy devotionals and apparitions of Sister Maria Faustina. We strongly believe that without God’s mercy there is no hope for this world. Medugorje USA offers many articles on the topic of mercy, which includes instructions on reciting "The Chaplet of Divine Mercy" and also "The Divine Mercy Novena." Below is a list of links to all our pages on God’s mercy.

Please take full advantage during this year’s “Jubilee of Mercy.” Never forget that above all things, God desires not a single soul be lost to the evils that seek ruin.

If you would like to write Medjugorje USA
email:info@medjugorjeusa.org