I am truly your merciful Mother, yours and all the people who live united in this land and of all the other people of different ancestries, my lovers, who love me, those who seek me, those who trust in me. Here I will hear their weeping, their complaints and heal all their sorrows, hardships and sufferings.” – Our Lady of Guadalupe to St. Juan Diego

imagen_pic_300wThis is our inaugural post in this new blog for the Year of Mercy!  We are a few days late, as the Year officially began on the great Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.  I don’t know about you, but my initial “feel” for this Jubilee is a strong presence of Our Lady.  It’s as if her motherly love helps to make our hearts ready to receive the super abundant graces that Jesus’ Merciful Heart desires to bestow.

I’ll keep this first post brief – just wanting to throw some great resources out there for y’all.

Firstly, please, please read this Letter from the Holy Father regarding the Indulgences for the Year of Mercy.  With a truly pastoral heart, he has made it so that the Jubilee Indulgence can be obtained by every single person…regardless of whether you can physically make a pilgrimage to the Holy Doors or not – whether that be for reason of illness, age, incarceration, or other limitations.  THANK YOU, HOLY FATHER!

Secondly, for you Phoenicians, did you know that our beloved Diocese has started a Year of Mercy website to keep us up to date on all the local goings-on.  Honestly, our Diocese is pretty amazing!  WE LOVE YOU, DIOCESE OF PHOENIX!  THANK YOU, BISHOP OLMSTED!  (As an aside, here in Phoenix, tomorrow (12/13) is the official opening of Holy Doors for the Year of Mercy, at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral @ 3 p.m.!)

Thirdly, have you checked out the USCCB resources for the occasion?  Lots of great links here!  Check it out 🙂

Finally, if you have found any helpful resources, please post a comment and share the good news.  Let’s bask in the graces of this awesome Jubilee!

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Ora Pro Nobis