Mercy is the missing ingredient to our adult faith if we remain at the level of knowledge, said Director of the Maranatha Centre for Adult Faith Formation, Dr Michelle Jones, as Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB this week extended a welcome invitation to Catholics across the Archdiocese to once again respond to Pope Francis’ 24-Hours-For-The-Lord initiative.
Now in its second year, the initiative is a special time for prayer and confessions during the time of Lent, and in 2015 will take place on Friday, 13 March and Saturday, 14 March.
The Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation has advised that the theme for 2015, intended to guide reflections over the two days, is “God rich in Mercy” (Ephesians 2:4).
In a letter to all priests across Perth, Archbishop Costelloe said that some parishes may begin the 24-hour period with a specially designed liturgical celebration on the Friday evening.
“This might include the Stations of the Cross, a special penitential service, or exposition of the Blessed Sacrament,” the Archbishop said.
“Some parishes might consider leaving the Church open until midnight for private prayer.
“You might also make yourself available for some of that time for the Sacrament of Penance.”
In an interview with Archdiocese of Perth Communications and Media Office Editor Jamie O’Brien, Dr Jones went on to talk about how this year’s theme for the 24-Hours-For-The-Lord initiative can bring greater meaning for those looking to deepen their faith as adult Christians.
Dr Jones said that when it comes to adult faith formation, mercy – together with knowledge, love and wisdom – are the key ingredients.
“They are all interrelated,” Dr Jones said.
“It is one thing to have knowledge about the truths of revelation, but it is another thing to contemplate those truths in the radiance of God’s love,” Dr Jones said.
Dr Jones went on to explain that mercy is wisdom in action.
“To act mercifully is to act from the truths of our faith, always allowing those truths to be imbued and surrounded by the uncontainable mystery of God’s love,” she said.
“This makes us humble, reverent, and gentle with each other and the world around us.
“Mercy is the missing ingredient to our adult faith formation if we only remain at the level of knowledge.
“Our knowledge must always be penetrated by love.”
Dr Jones also explained that to be an adult Christian is to be childlike.
“This is the great Gospel paradox.
“To be childlike is very hard for us ‘grown-ups.’
“As we grow and develop throughout life, we become increasingly competent in all sorts of things; we gain mastery and control over our lives. To be an ‘adult’ in the Christian sense, though, is quite the opposite.
“It’s a growing acceptance that, while God calls for our utmost generosity in the ways of self-emptying love, we ultimately don’t earn our salvation.
“God isn’t a puppet we can manipulate, but a mystery of love who will always be greater than our knowledge.”
As part of the initiative, the Archbishop has also made available a special set of Mysteries of the Rosary to encourage prayer and reflection during the 24-Hours-for-the-Lord event.
A brochure of the Mysteries is available online at www.perthcatholic.org.au.
“This is not meant to replace the approved Mysteries of the Rosary but is offered as an aid to prayer to those who might like to make use of it,” the Archbishop said.
Prior to the initiative last year, Pope Francis had often repeated that going to Confession is not like a torture chamber.
The Pope is encouraging Confession to be made available in all parishes that open their doors for 24-Hours-For-The-Lord celebrations.
“Pope Francis is inviting us to enter more deeply into the great theme of God’s abundant and never-failing mercy,” the Archbishop said.
“I hope you will be able to find ways to take advantage of this opportunity,” he said.
In 2015, Pope Francis will preside at a penitential celebration in St Peter’s Basilica in order to place the Sacrament of Reconciliation at the centre of the Church’s mission of the new evangelisation.
For more information, contact the Communications and Media Office on 08 9220 5900 or email communications@perthcatholic.org.au.
Information on courses at the Maranatha Centre for Adult Faith Formation is available at www.maranathacentre.org.au.