The Portal January 2016 | Page 9

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.