Mercy recognises that life is short and there is no time to waste in making amends, Pope Francis said while leading thousands of priests at a retreat in Rome last week.
“That is why it is so important to forgive completely,” he said, and let go of paralysing self-pity so that mercy can “get its hands dirty” and make reparation for wrongs committed.
Mercy did not overlook the harm caused by sin, “rather it takes away evil’s power over the future. It takes away its power over life.”
The retreat was intended to help priests and seminarians better understand the proper role mercy must play in their lives and ministry. The aim, the Pope said, was for priests to be ready to receive mercy in order to show it even more.
Over the course of the day the Pope led three separate meditations – each nearly an hour long – in three of Rome’s four basilicas: St John Lateran, St Mary Major and St Paul Outside the Walls.
Live video links let clergy follow the readings and reflections from different locations. Describing how the Ignatian spiritual exercises would work, the Jesuit Pope apologised for “the family endorsement”.
He said that guiding personal prayer with Ignatian spirituality allowed people “to feel and savour the things of God” deep within themselves. Action and conversion were spurred, he said, by first feeling and being moved by what God was saying or showing.
Pope Francis said because God’s love and mercy were limitless, priests must ask what barren and parched places are most in need. “What are the wounds that need this precious balm?” he asked. “What is the sense of abandonment that cries out for loving attention?”
Vatican official steps in after archbishop accused of abuse
Pope Francis has named a top Vatican official to serve as apostolic administrator on the Pacific island of Guam while an abuse claim against its archbishop is investigated.
Archbishop Anthony Apuron of Agana, Guam, said in a statement that he had requested the appointment of an apostolic administrator “pending the investigation of an abuse allegation” against him.
In May, Roy Quintanilla told the media that Archbishop Apuron had sexually abused him 40 years ago when the archbishop was a priest in Agat, Guam, and Mr Quintanilla a 12-year-old altar server. In a video statement hours later, Archbishop Apuron said: “To be absolutely clear and to avoid any misinterpretations of my statement, I deny all allegations of sexual abuse by Roy Quintanilla.”
In late May, the archbishop travelled to the Vatican. He was in Rome when the Vatican press office announced Pope Francis had appointed Archbishop Savio Hon Tai-Fai, secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, to be apostolic administrator of the archdiocese, while not removing Archbishop Apuron from office.
Dancing priest wows judges
A Texan priest who says his biggest fear is dancing has raised nearly £7,000 for charity – by winning a dance competition.
Fr Matthew Widder swapped his clericals and Roman collar for a lasso, cowboy hat and dancing boots at a fundraising gala in Wisconsin.
Fr Widder and dance instructor Sue Alby beat seven other couples to claim the evening’s trophy while also raising money for the archdiocesan St Vincent de Paul Society.
Ms Alby told the Milwaukee Catholic Herald: “Fr Matthew was not a dancer. He has had absolutely no dance experience,” and described “the huge path he was undertaking when he agreed to compete”.
Kym Leibham, a parishioner at Fr Widder’s Holy Name of Jesus Church in Sheboygan and engagement officer at Lakeland College, said when she proposed the idea to her parish priest he “looked at me like he had just seen a ghost”. But after weeks of practice, she said, instinct took over and to the delight of the crowd of 650, including Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki, Fr Widder began swinging his lasso and clicking his heels, twirling around the dance floor as if he had been dancing for years. Fr Widder, however, said the fundraising gala marked both the beginning and the end of his dancing career.
Friars mourn Muhammad Ali
Franciscan friars of the Renewal from New York joined mourners at Muhammad Ali’s childhood home this week to pay tribute to the heavyweight boxing legend.
Thousands of people visited the boxer’s home – now a museum – in Louisville, Kentucky, to pay their respects. Ali, who was raised a Christian but converted to Islam, died on Friday aged 74 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Areas of Catholic Herald business are still recovering post-pandemic.
However, we are reaching out to the Catholic community and readership, that has been so loyal to the Catholic Herald. Please join us on our 135 year mission by supporting us.
We are raising £250,000 to safeguard the Herald as a world-leading voice in Catholic journalism and teaching.
We have been a bold and influential voice in the church since 1888, standing up for traditional Catholic culture and values. Please consider donating.