Year of Mercy

Pope Francis has declared an Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. This Holy Year of Mercy will begin December 8, 2015, the feast of the Immaculate Conception and the 50th anniversary of the closing of the Second Vatican Council. It will close November 20, 2016, the Feast of Christ the King. This year’s motto is “Merciful Like the Father.”

Sometimes, when we think of the word mercy, we picture someone throwing themselves on their knees before a cruel villain, pleading to be spared some punishment. This is not our understanding of God’s mercy. We do not ask for God’s mercy because we are afraid of incurring his wrath as punishment for our sins. Rather, when we call on God to have mercy, we are calling on God in the only way we know him—as one who responds with compassion to those in need. When we show mercy to others, we are responding as God responds, with compassion.

Year of Mercy BLMs

Primary Grades

Intermediate Grades

Junior High

Articles

Pope Francis on the Parable of the Merciful Father

Understanding and Praying with the Parable of the Forgiving Father

Divine Mercy Sunday

Works of Mercy

A Source of Reconciliation and Joy: The Sacrament of Penance

Works of Mercy Activities

Works of Mercy Prayers and Activities Packet

Corporal Works of Mercy and Our Neighbors

They’ll Know I’m a Christian

Works of Mercy Charts

Works of Mercy Tableau

Mercy and Forgiveness Activities

Band-Aid of Love

Forgive Us Our Trespasses

Forgiveness Acrostic

Forgiveness Chain

How Would God Advertise?

Jesus Forgives Game

Lamb of God

Letter to God

My Peace Prayer Mobile

Prayers

3-Minute Retreat: The Good Shepherd | 3 minutos de retiro: El Buen Pastor

3-Minute Retreat: Seek and Save | 3 minutos de retiro: Buscar y salvar

3-Minute Retreat: Celebrate Forgiveness | 3 minutos de retiro: Celebra el perdón

Reflection on Titian’s “Christ and the Good Thief”

Reflection on Rembrandt’s “The Return of the Prodigal Son””

Reflection on Palma il Vecchio’s “Christ and the Adulteress”

Books

	The Church of Mercy Pope Francis, Paperback In The Church of Mercy, readers get a first-hand look at Pope Francis’s vision of the good news of Christian hope and mercy.
	Mercy in the City Kerry Weber, Paperback A young, single woman lives a "regular" life amid the daily pressures of New York City while also living a life devoted to service and practicing real works of mercy in a meaningful manner.
	Luke: The Good News of God’s Mercy (Six Weeks with the Bible) Kevin Perrotta, Paperback Jesus invites us to discover who he is, and what it means to follow him.
	Lucas: La Buena Nueva de la misericordia de Dios (Seis semanas con la Biblia) Kevin Perrotta, Paperback En el Evangelio de San Lucas descubrimos que la necesidad más grande de alguien que conoce a Jesús es el abrir sus ojos a las verdaderas necesidades.
	Luke: The Good News of God’s Mercy (Six Weeks with the Bible for Catholic Teens) Kevin Perrotta, Gerald Darring, Paperback In Luke's Gospel, we will see that the greatest need of some who meet Jesus is to have their eyes opened to their real need.