I wish you the experience of mercy

From 8 December 2015 to 20 November 2016 the Roman Catholic Church celebrated the "Holy Year of Mercy". Since then, we have been using the tablet to mediate to all those who come to the front door of the Motherhouse in Vierzehnheiligen: The door is open - even more so the heart.

But, wait a minute: isn't that a contradiction? Since the outbreak of the Corona pandemic, our door has been closed. We follow the exit restrictions imposed by the government. This also means that we have not been accepting guests for several weeks. All those belonging to the community of the house or the staff know about the conditions of admission: please keep your distance and wash or disinfect your hands thoroughly. And yet the message remains: the door is open - even more so the heart.

To practice mercy is a profoundly Franciscan attitude. It can be visible - especially in the bodily works of mercy:
- Feed the hungry.
- Provide drink to the thirsty
- accommodate strangers
- Dress naked
- Care for the sick
- Visit prisoners
- bury the dead

Mercy would not be mercy if it were not felt. That's why the second part of the motto is so important: "even more the heart".

Detached from financial possibilities,
detached from spatial possibilities,
detached from time resources,
detached from intellectual abilities,
detached from hierarchical position,
detached from health status and age:

We are the gift-givers - we are allowed to give.

We receive divine mercy - we are able to live mercy.

Mercy is timeless.
Mercy is non-denominational.

Mercy creates closeness
Mercy connects
Mercy enables compassion
Mercy opens hearts.

Francis of Assisi, in his letter to a minister, writes
There can be no brother in the world, however much he may have sinned, who has seen your eyes and then would have to leave you without your mercy if he seeks mercy. And if he does not seek mercy, then ask him if he wants mercy (BrMin 9-10).

I wish every person a deep moment of experienced mercy.

Sr. Regina Pröls