The suggestions reveal concrete ways to exercise mercy, both for others and yourself. Other suggestions? I'm so glad you asked.
10) Find a Holy Door.. Make a pilgrimage. Walk through it. Why? Because actions matter. Asking for mercy, via the physical act of walking through a door of mercy, is a special means of receiving beyond the ordinary. In this year of mercy, they aren't just the sealed doors of the major Basilicas, so ask in your local diocese, about the nearest Holy Door.
9) Learn the Corporal and Spiritual Acts of Mercy. A good place to read about them is here.
But if you're pressed for time, These are the corporal (body) acts of mercy. You see someone in pain, and you take steps to provide partial or complete healing by your actions.
- To feed the hungry;
- To give drink to the thirsty;
- To clothe the naked;
- To harbour the harbourless;
- To visit the sick;
- To ransom the captive;
- To bury the dead.
Whereas these are the spiritual acts of mercy. If you note, all require something of us, recognition of a need, capacity to act, and effort to see it through.
- To instruct the ignorant;
- To counsel the doubtful;
- To admonish sinners;
- To bear wrongs patiently;
- To forgive offences willingly;
- To comfort the afflicted;
- To pray for the living and the dead.
Looking at the list, there is not a one our world is not starving for.
8) Pick a new devotion --rosary, chaplet, liturgy of the hours, the Angelus, and hold to it for the year.
7) Schedule a confession or go during confessional hours. Keep the appointment.
6) Read the Diary of Saint Faustina. It's long, it will take most of if not all of the year.
5) Go to adoration weekly. Nothing brings one more in touch with God's mercy than the Eucharist. Go bathe in God's presence. You can find out where there's 24-7 adoration at the same site where you can find out about confession; masstimes.org.
4) Do an examination of conscience daily. It absolutely sears; it absolutely stings. It's absolutely guaranteed to help reveal why we so need to receive and give mercy in this year.
3) Be a friend. There is nothing that reveals more of God's mercy, than kindness to someone else.
2) Look at all things in the news/life through the eyes of mercy. What would be the most healing thing one could do, say, think, pray in light of whatever it is...then do it.
1) Sing at mass, light the candles, trim the tree, and celebrate with all you know. Beauty is a fight against the darkness of life, mercy is beauty lived. Not just this Advent, but all year.
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