‘Door of Forgiveness’

SOUTH ORANGE  The universal Church’s celebration of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy officially closes Nov. 20, but Jesus always keeps his “door of forgiveness” wide open for us, as long as we are open to receive it. But in return, Christ commissions us to share that mercy with other people — a mission that remains at the very heart of the Church.

So stated Father Paul Manning, diocesan vicar for evangelization and executive director of St. Paul Inside the Walls, Madison, who spoke about “God’s Mercy Endures Forever” Oct. 29, during “Mercy Is Our Mission: a Day of Theological Studies.” Immaculate Concep­tion Seminary School of Theology at Seton Hall University here sponsored and held the event, which also featured presentations by Msgr. Joseph Reilly, the seminary’s dean/rector. Pope Francis appointed both priests Missionaries of Mercy for this Holy Year, along with about 1,000 others from around the world.

“Mercy is essential to the mission of the Church. Mercy needs to be part of life of every Christian. Pope Francis writes that we must show mercy, because mercy has been shown to us. It’s something that we must do by the very nature of our discipleship,” said Father Manning, whose talk that morning incorporated teachings from Pope Francis’ document, “Misericordiae Vultus: Bull of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy.”

An enthusiastic audience — consisting of clergy, religious and laity — listened as Father Manning suggested that they start the process of extending mercy to others first by sharing their experience of it. Some faithful might need to get past spiritual roadblocks that might be hampering them in their mission — namely feelings that they are “unworthy” to receive God’s forgiveness and that they do not live lives of “moral perfection.” The head of Paterson’s evangelization center urged his fellow Catholics to deepen their prayer life and experience God’s mercy through the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Penance.

The faithful need to extend forgiveness by modeling Jesus, whom Pope Francis called “the fullest expression of the Father’s mercy.” The Old Testament, including many of the psalms, often speaks about mercy being the very nature of God, who is “abounding in love and slow to anger,” said Father Manning, also one of the seminary’s adjunct professors.

“God is love and Jesus embodies that. The Lord’s mercy is proactive and gratuitous. It is unrequired on the part of the giver and unmerited and undeserved by the receiver. When we think of love, unconsciously at least, we think that it requires reciprocity. When we think of God’s mercy, we realize that the work is all God’s,” said Father Manning, during his slide presentation. “Pope Francis writes that Jesus never gives up until he has forgiven the wrong with compassion and mercy.”

The image of the Holy Door symbolizes Christ’s total commitment to forgive during the Jubilee Year, which began Dec. 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and ends this year on Nov. 20, the Feast of Christ the King.

“Once we have walked through the door of God’s forgiveness, we must share it with others as part of following Jesus’ command at the closing scene of Matthew’s Gospel: “Go make disciples of all nations.” He also encouraged his disciples by declaring, “I will be with you always” — now and forever, Father Manning said.

“Justice involves giving to each what he or she deserves. Mercy involves giving to each what love requires. Grace involves giving to each what he or she does not deserve but what Jesus is willing to give. Mercy isn’t opposed to justice. Instead, it’s the fulfillment of justice,” Father Manning. “The Church is a vehicle through which the Lord intends his mercy to endure forever, especially through the Sacraments. St. Pope John Paul II said that the Church is the trustee and dispenser of God’s mercy. Mercy needs to be our mission in our parishes,” he said.

“Mercy Is Our Mission” included presentation on “The Seven Acts of Mercy by Caravaggio: Invitation to Encounter Mercy” by Msgr. Reilly; remarks by Diane Traflet, the seminary’s associate dean and an assistant professor of theology; a facilitated conversation with Msgr. Reilly; and a Mass.

“It was a great day,” said Msgr. Reilly, noting that the seminary and St. Paul’s have collaborated on events in the past. “It was a gift to work with Father Manning. It was an opportunity to see God’s mercy work in people’s lives and was a reminder that each of us needs God’s mercy,” he said.