Marian Helper Fall 2015

Just before my arrival in Rome 10 years ago, the “Great Mercy Pope,” S t. John Paul II, died, and Pope Benedict XVI was elected. I was so happy to see how he took up where St. John Paul II left off in emphasiz- ing the centrality of the message of mercy for the life of the Church. I n his first address, on April 20, 2005, Pope Benedict spoke about his apprehension, on a human level, at having to take on the office of the papacy. Then he said, “Dear friends, this deep grati- tude for a gift of divine mercy is uppermost in my heart in spite of all. And I consider it a special grace which my Venerable Predecessor, John Paul II, has obtained for me.” We all witnessed how Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, a shy man who preferred his books and studies to public settings, emerged as a warm, smil- ing, and effective teacher of the truths of our faith. He made Divine Mercy a “mandate” and instructed the faithful to go forth and be witnesses of God’s mercy. I was present in St. Peter’s Square when Pope Francis wa s elected. H e, too, seems to have received a special grace of peace upon his election. For instance, people say that when he was Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Bergoglio rarely smiled. Indeed, the night he was elected, when he first came out on the balcony, Pope Francis initially stood there rather awkwardly. He looked to me like a tree. I remember thinking to myself, “Who has the Church elected?” But then he bowed his head and humbly asked for prayers. All were immediately won over by his warmth and tenderness. And now look at him! As we all know, he has won the hearts of Catholics and non-Catholics alike around the world for his down-to-earth style and his visible love of people, particularly the marginalized. He has also taken up the baton of his predecessors by speaking about Divine Mercy. Indeed, he surprised the Church earlier this year by declaring an extraordi- nar y Jubilee Year of Mercy, a n opportunity for all to be reconciled with our loving Father and to, in turn, pres- ent the face of Christ to the world through our words and actions. I recommend that you read his papal bull, Misericordiae Vultus (The Face of Mercy) , which he issued in April to prepare the Church for the Holy Year. It is a beautiful document. Our Lord said to St. Faustina, “You will prepare the world for My final coming” by spreading the message of Divine Mercy ( Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska , 429). That’s the mission Pope Francis has put before us as we look toward this upcoming Jubilee Year. We are to prepare ourselves and help prepare others for Christ’s final com- ing. The stakes couldn’t be any higher. The Jubilee Year, by the way, begins on Dec. 8, th e Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the Marians’ patronal feast day! What an amazing time to be a Marian priest. What an amazing time to be Catholic. N otes from R ome by Fr. Joe Roesch, MIC Fr. Joe Roesch, MIC, is the Vicar General of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception. He lives in Rome. A s an advisor to our Congregation’s Superior General, I am fortunate to live here in Rome at an extraordinary time in Church history. Before my very eyes, I’m seeing the hopes and dreams of Marians and Marian Helpers coming to fruition. The message of Divine Mercy —which, together, we have spread throughout the world for decades — has become the central mission of the Church today, as evidenced by the teachings of three successive popes. THE MERCY ‘MANDATE’ ENDURES M arian H elper • F all 2015 • marian.org 7 Fr. Joe’s message