Works of Mercy Reflections for the Year of Mercy

The Jubilee Year of Mercy, announced by Pope Francis, is a great time for our common reflection on how we live our Christian lives in the special context of the Works of Mercy.
This call to the Works of Mercy can be properly understood not only as charity in terms of material deeds and works, but more deeply in the spiritual sense of the Works of Mercy, especially in the different aspects of education and spiritual growth – as expressed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church as the Spiritual Works of Mercy.
Every step of any Work of Mercy reminds us that God is first rich in mercy. It should be our response to the call of the Gospel to follow our Lord Jesus Christ and imitate Him in His great Works of Mercy, both Corporal and Spiritual.

I am hoping that this translation will be a great inspiration for the World Youth Day in Kraków, helping especially young people to discover how rich God is in mercy, how He loves the world and lives in each of us.

Christopher Jones
Bishop Emeritus of Elphin Diocese, Sligo, Ireland