Marian Helper Spring 2014

with Pope John Paul II and the date of the canonization, Divine Mercy Sunday. Did you know that this Divine Mercy Sunday represents the third time this day of grace has featured prominently in John Paul’s legacy since his death? Actually, the first time happened on the very day of his death, which was the vigil of Divine Mercy Sunday (2005). Next, he was beatified on Divine Mercy Sunday in 2011. And now, he’ll be canonized on Divine Mercy Sunday — trifecta! Alright, but now let’s turn our atten- tion to the first trifecta of mercy I mentioned: the fact that three Mercy Popes will come together in the “winner’s circle of grace” this Divine Mercy Sunday. Three Mercy Popes? Really? In the case of John Paul II, it’s obvious. He’s the original “Mercy Pope.” Pope Francis also clearly deserves the title of “Mercy Pope,” since almost every one of his homilies has been about mercy. In fact, he’s been speaking about mercy even more frequently than John Paul II did! What’s not so obvious is the idea that Pope John XXIII is also a mercy pope. Let’s start right there as we assess the upcoming day of grace, Divine Mercy Sunday 2014, as a trifecta of mercy. While it may not be completely obvious that Pope John XXIII deserves the title “Mercy Pope,” it certainly fits him. After all, he’s popularly known as “Good Pope John,” who won so many hearts by his informal style and grandfatherly mien. Nevertheless, his mercy legacy particularly comes down to the Council he convened, Vatican II, which was a kind of “mercy council.” John XXIII: ‘The medicine of mercy’ How was Vatican II a “mercy council”? Well, it’s like this: The Second Vatican Council was unique in the history of the Catholic Church. While other ecumenical Councils were apologetic in character — in other words, they had to do with the Church defending her doctrines against attacks of heresy — Vatican II was differ- ent. It was the first pastoral Council. That Vatican II was a pastoral coun- cil does not mean it wasn’t responding to a problem. In fact, it was responding to a huge problem, but it was pasto- ral, not doctrinal. Specifically, it was responding to the pastoral problem of hypocrisy, the scan- dalous split between what people profess and how they live. Of course, the pastoral problem of hypocrisy is as old as the Old Testament. After all, the proph- ets railed against it, and even Jesus didn’t mince words with the scribes and Pharisees, saying, “You hypocrites!” But there is some- thing about our modern age that makes hypocrisy even more prevalent than ever. Indeed, there’s something about our contempo- rary way of life that makes it so easy to profess Christian faith even while living like a pagan. To solve this modern pastoral problem, taking its lead from Pope John XXIII, the Church decided to enlist the power of mercy . In other words, the “mercy Council” did not set out to condemn the likes of us mod- ern Catholics. Rather, it aimed to help us. Specifically, it aimed to help us overcome the M arian H elper • S pring 2014 •  www.marian.org 13 John Paul II’s beatification on May 1, 2011, was part of his own trifecta of mercy. “Today is the Second Sunday of Easter, which Blessed John Paul II entitled Divine Mercy Sunday. The date was chosen for today’s celebration because ... my predecessor died on the vigil of this feast,” Pope Benedict XVI said in his homily on the occasion. J oseph R omagnano Back to index