THE
P RTAL
January 2016
Page 9
Mary and
the Year of Mercy
A New Year Reflection by Donato Tallo
“Hail, Holy Mother, who gave birth to the King,
who rules heaven and earth for ever”
(Entrance Antiphon for January 1st)
As January
begins, many of us will no
doubt be asking ourselves where exactly did
2015 go? As we look back on the previous year we
will all experience different emotions of joy and
thanksgiving but maybe also of sorrow and regret,
but as we enter the Year of Our Lord 2016 and indeed
the Year of Mercy as proclaimed by Pope Francis,
which began on 8th December, let us ask Mary our
Blessed Mother to intercede for us.
Mary Mother of God
January 1st is the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God
and as Mother of God Mary is indeed Mother of us
all. Through Mary, the author of life in the person of
Jesus Christ came into being and therefore it seems
only fitting that we should pray to Our Lady at the
beginning of the new year asking for her help and
guidance in all that we do.
The Mother of Our Lord and Saviour is referred to
by many names and titles. Mother of Mercy is one
such title and it is therefore highly fitting that Pope
Francis has entrusted the Year of Mercy to Mary. Mary
was the recipient of infinite mercy, as through her
immaculate conception the second person of the Holy
Trinity came into being and therefore she made the
incarnation possible. No one has experienced God’s
mercy in the manner in which Mary did.
soldiers of mercy
All of us in our own ways need to be soldiers of
mercy in this coming year and in doing so can become
closer to Christ, the one who made us. The first
corporal work of mercy is to feed the hungry and in
this Year of Mercy that is indeed what all of us should
strive to do. In its literal meaning feeding the hungry
is of vital importance and something we should all be
concerned with, but deep down I feel that this work of
mercy relates to more than just food.
In our society today people are hungry in many
ways; hungry for love and hungry for kindness just as
much as they are for food. In a world that is dominated
contents page
by celebrity culture, commerce and fashion, all of us
need to reach out to those who are hungry for Christ’s
love and we as the soldiers of mercy need to give that
love in our thoughts, in our words and in our deeds.
small and effective
Small acts of mercy will surely go a long way in the
eyes of Our Lord and through the intercession of Mary
we can all become closer to God though being soldiers
of mercy delivering that mercy in small and effective
ways.
We are all precious in the eyes of God and are all
being called to follow him. May this new year be filled
with abundant blessings for all of us.