Cardinal John Foley

The liturgical feast day of Our Lady of Mercy is September 24.  It is on this date in 1827 that Catherine McCauley founded a home to shelter and educate young girls.  This house would be the foundation for the Sisters of Mercy, the order of sisters who staffed both Annunciation and St. Denis Schools for many years.  We honor the legacy of the Sisters of Mercy by celebrating Mercy Day at Cardinal Foley’s opening school liturgy each year.  Today, the songs we sang and the homily Father Loomis gave reminded all of us that we are called to continue to be people of mercy who bring compassion and hope to those whose paths we cross.

One of the songs we sang today is the Circle of Mercy.  For many years I had the words to this song in a frame in our kitchen.  The opening of the song was a guidepost for what we wanted our family to live and understand:
In mercy, we touch the hearts of those who are in misery.
In Mercy, we’re touched by them and feel their strength and courage.
In Mercy, we heal the pain of those who are in sorrow.
In Mercy, we’re healed by them and see the face of hope.
 
These words remind us of the transformative power of mercy, not just for the recipient, but for the giver.  The two questions that deserve our prayer reflection this week are:

• How do those I come in contact with each day experience me as a person walking in mercy?
•  What can I do to help my children grow as a person who is aware and empathetic of others’ burdens and sorrows?