“Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it” (attributed to Mark Twain). Because we are forgiven first through Divine Mercy, bitterness does not have the final word. Like the gentle violet, we can refuse to allow harm to harden our hearts.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:7). Pope Francis explains that “divine mercy shines forth in our lives, inspiring each of us to love our neighbor and to devote ourselves to what the Church’s tradition calls the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.” This month, we will explore the seven spiritual works of mercy that address the needs of our neighbor’s mind, heart, and soul.
