1. “Merciful like the Father”

2. What does it mean to be “Merciful like the Father”?
What is MERCY?
In pairs, discuss and write down your own definition of mercy.
OXFORD DICTIONARY
Mercy:
Compassion or forgiveness shown towards someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm

3. Mercy is the theme for this Jubilee Year
Why do you think Pope Francis chose mercy as the theme?

4. What does Pope Francis call us to do in this Year of Mercy?
Sort the following extracts from Pope Francis' Misericordiae Vultus into three categories. In which extracts does Pope Francis explain:
Why is mercy important?
What challenges do we face?
What can we do?

5. Why is mercy important?
"We need constantly to contemplate the mystery of mercy. It is a wellspring of joy, serenity, and peace. Our salvation depends on it." (3)

6. Why is mercy important?
"Mercy: the bridge that connects God and man, opening our hearts to a hope of being loved forever despite our sinfulness." (4)

7. Why is mercy important?
"Jesus affirms that mercy is not only an action of the father, it becomes a criterion for ascertaining who his true children are. In short, we are called to show mercy because mercy has been shown to us." (15)

8. What challenges do we face?
"At times how difficult it is to forgive! To let go of anger, wrath, violence and revenge are necessary conditions for living joyfully." (15)

9. What challenges do we face?
"We must admit that the practice of mercy is waning in the wider culture. In some cases the word seems to have dropped out of use. However, without a witness to mercy, life becomes fruitless and sterile, as if sequestered in a barren desert." (17)

10. What can we do?
"Let us open our eyes and see the misery of the world, the wounds of our brothers and sisters who are denied their dignity, and let us recognise that we are compelled to heed their cry for help!" (23)

11. What can we do?
"Let us rediscover these corporal works of mercy and let us not forget the spiritual works of mercy. . ." (24)

12. “Merciful like the Father"?
How can we be
“Merciful like the Father"?
What are the spiritual and corporal works of mercy?
The works of mercy teach us how we should act towards one another
Corporal works of mercy:
Concern the material needs of others
Spiritual works of mercy:
Concern the spiritual needs of others

13. Sort the works of mercy into corporal and spiritual
Corporal works of mercy:
Concern the material needs of others
Spiritual works of mercy:
Concern the spiritual needs of others
To bury the dead
To visit the sick
To shelter the homeless
To feed the hungry
To pray for the living and the dead
To counsel the doubtful
To give drink to the thirsty
To clothe the naked
To instruct the ignorant
To comfort the afflicted
To admonish sinners
To bear wrongs patiently
To forgive offences willingly
To visit the imprisoned

14. Corporal Spiritual To bear wrongs patiently To feed the hungry
To pray for the living and the dead
To visit the sick
To comfort the afflicted
To shelter the homeless
To instruct the ignorant
To give drink to the thirsty
To admonish sinners
To visit the imprisoned
To counsel the doubtful
To clothe the naked
To forgive offences willingly
To bury the dead

15. Are all of these works of mercy easy to do?
Reflect:
Are all of these works of mercy easy to do?
How can we respond to Pope Francis’ call to “rediscover” these works of mercy?