Year of Mercy

Year of Mercy

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The Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy that began on the 8th December 2015 with the opening of the Holy Door at St Peter’s closed on the Solemnity of Christ the King on the 20th November 2016. All Doors of Mercy in Dublin Diocese, including the door at Gardiner Street, closed the weekend before on Sunday 13th November.

What is a jubilee year?

The practice of a jubilee year has ancient roots in the Jewish tradition and evidence for it can be found in the Old Testament. The jubilee year was called every fifty years and was a time for forgiveness. It stood as a reminder of God's providence and mercy. The dedication of a year for this emphasis provided the community with a time to come back into right relationship with one another and with God. As the practice of the jubilee year was adopted into the Catholic Church, these themes of mercy, forgiveness, and solidarity continued.

How is this Jubilee different from other Jubilee years?

The Jubilee of Mercy that Pope Francis has called, from December 8, 2015 – November 20, 2016, is an Extraordinary Jubilee.  This designation as an "Extraordinary Jubilee" sets it apart from the ordinary cycle of jubilees, or holy years, which are called every 25 years in the Catholic Church.  By calling for a holy year outside of the normal cycle, a particular event or theme is emphasized. For example, Pope Francis called this particular Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy to direct our attention and actions "on mercy so that we may become a more effective sign of the Father's actions in our lives . . . a time when the witness of believers might grow stronger and more effective"

 

Works of Mercy

The Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy are actions we can perform that extend God’s compassion and mercy to those in need.

Corporal Works of Mercy

The Corporal Works of Mercy are these kind acts by which we help our neighbors with their material and physical needs.

  • feed the hungry
  • shelter the homeless
  • clothe the naked
  • visit the sick and imprisoned
  • bury the dead
  • give alms to the poor

Spiritual Works of Mercy

The Spiritual Works of Mercy are acts of compassion, as listed below, by which we help our neighbors with their emotional and spiritual needs.

  • instruct
  • advise
  • console
  • comfort
  • forgive
  • bear wrongs patiently

Year of Mercy Events at Gardiner Street

  • Opening of our Door of Mercy
  • 24 Hours for the Lord
  • Novena of Grace and Mercy
  • Workshops exploring the theme of Mercy

‘It is indeed my wish that the Jubilee be a living experience of the closeness of the Father, whose tenderness is almost tangible, so that the faith of every believer may be strengthened and thus testimony to it be ever more effective.’

Pope Francis