BLOOD the STUFF of LIFE

Once again, I find myself blindsided. Don’t get me wrong; as a Missionary Sister of the Precious Blood, I believe in the power of the Precious Blood of Jesus. However, we live in deeply disturbing times or should I say, ‘in a world gone mad’? We live in a world where the blood of 49 innocent people stained an Orlando nightclub a deep crimson red. ‘Why did they die?’ is the question posed most recently by Time Magazine. Why indeed? 

In the midst of trying to cope with one tragedy, the violence continues city after city after city – one can hardly keep track of them all. No wonder so many of us are anxious about our own safety and the safety of our loved ones. Books galore, such as Overcoming Anxiety for Dummies, are geared toward soothing our nerves.  Dummies? Really now. These days many of us seem to be more like experts, rather than dummies, in the anxiety department. For example, with his fear mongering, Donald Trump is raising the anxiety level not only of many Americans, but also people beyond their borders. 

As difficult as the concept may seem, Mr. Trump, just like you and me, is a child of God, as are perpetrators of violence. We are all sisters and brothers, human beings who share the common source of life coursing through our veins – our precious blood. As a sub-stance, there really is no substitute. However, blood is a wily fluid. To various people, it connotes dramatically different things: health, life, death. Indeed, we usually don't give much thought to blood on a regular basis, unless we are watching a vampire movie, donating blood or suffering from a cut - or watching the latest news update about yet another violent death. We all know this much – the approximately 5 liters of blood flowing through our bodies is truly a matter of life and death. It is also the same blood that coursed through the veins of Jesus.

Travelling quite extensively during this Jubilee Year of Mercy, Pope Francis recently in Armenia visited a genocide memorial. In the guest book, he wrote: “Here I pray with pain in my heart that there may never again be tragedies like this, so that humanity may never forget and may know that good wins over evil.”

We, the Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood, daily pray for peace and safety for all who share this earth, our common home. May we fall into mercy, catch glimpses of the grace daily bestowed on us and may the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ protect us.

Guest blogger, Sr. Magdalena Vogt, CPS

Mercy Visits the Market

While in Winnipeg, Manitoba at The Forks, I encountered a busker in the market, who sat and played his mandolin. His mandolin case lay open to receive any possible donations. The passersby went about their business, paying little attention to this man and his musical talent. 

As I moved about the market stalls, I began to hear singing voices and was drawn to the source. Once again, I saw the busker; however, a transformation had taken place. This man was now animated, directing a choir of young adults. He was surrounded by a large circle of joy in the youthful faces of the women and men who had stopped to join him in sharing their love of music. The aloneness of the first scene had given way to the sense of community of the second scene. My heart was touched by these wonderful youth and their spontaneity. I met mercy in the market that day.

Where have you met mercy?

Kathy O’Keefe CSJ

Have You Seen MERCY?

Pope Francis has declared from December 8^th, 2015 until November 20^th, 2016 an Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy.  Desiring to delve further into my understanding and appreciation of this quality of mercy, I have been reading and reflecting.   Elizabeth Davis, RSM, a Sister of Mercy, has provided a series of seven inspiring talks on the Roman Catholic TV network:  http://www.romancatholictv.com.  These approximately seven minute long videos are wonderful for faith sharing in small groups.  The titles include:  God is Mercy and Justice:  God is Mercy:  God is Justice:  Doing Mercy:  Doing Justice:  Mercy and Justice Together: and, Radical Inclusion.  Sr. Elizabeth, a Scripture scholar, has provided a wealth of mercy passages from God’s Word that are effective for use in personal prayer.

Who is this God of Mercy?  Pope Francis, in conversation with Vatican Reporter Andrea Tornielli, has offered some clear answers in the book, The Name of God is Mercy.  Our God is faithful, compassionate, responsive, showering us with lovingkindness. “God is a careful and attentive father, ready to welcome any person who takes a step or even expresses the desire to take a step that leads home.  He is there, staring out at the horizon, expecting us, waiting for us,” (p. 51).  “God’s mercy is like a great light of love and tenderness because God forgives not with a decree but a caress … by caressing the wounds of our sins,” (p. xvi). 

Pope Francis goes on to say, “This is the time of mercy.  The Church is sharing her maternal side, her motherly face, to a humanity that is wounded … she looks for them, she gathers them in, she embraces them, she takes care of them, she makes them feel loved,” (p.6).  The Sacrament of Reconciliation is to be “an encounter with mercy,” (p.8).  Divine Mercy Sunday was celebrated this past weekend.    

Pope Francis instructs us:  “God is so merciful toward us.  We too should learn to be merciful …”   Our Sunday Visitor has published a pamphlet entitled, “Eight Ways to Live a Merciful Life.” Mercy is described as entering into “the other person’s suffering.  We feel the other person’s pain, see through the other person’s eyes, and place ourselves inside the other person’s heart and mind.  When that happens, we are moved to respond in a merciful way.”   

When have you experienced mercy?  To whom have you reached out to in mercy?

Kathy O’Keefe, CSJ