Marian Helper Spring 2014

MH Canvas prints from DivineMercyArt.com The image of Jesus, the Divine Mercy, is to be venerated on Divine Mercy Sunday. It is to be given a place of honor in our churches and homes on this Sunday. As we gaze upon the Lord Jesus in the image, He inspires us to trust in Him and show mercy to others. Jesus, I Trust in You Jesus, I Trust in You B21-PV10GW B21-PB10GW B21-PH10GW B21-SK10GW 10" x 18" Gallery-wrapped canvas prints SUPER SPECIAL: $19.95! Suggested Retail Price: $81.95 Get the Divine Mercy image for your home or parish! For larger Divine Mercy images for parishes or to see a new image of Blessed John Paul II, visit DivineMercyArt.org. not going to be able to proclaim Christ if we’re not willing to listen and to understand what others believe. Not that we’re compro- mising or watering down the faith in any way, but we really have to live this faith in the world in a way that is open to dialogue with others. There are so many different areas of the Council, but those are some that come to mind. Why is Pope Francis can- onizing John XXIII and John Paul II together on Divine Mercy Sunday? If you look at their per- sonal sanctity and their personalities, these were men who were very attractive to the world because of their deep Christian humanness. Their pontificates were a reflection of what God wanted to do. John XXIII saw that mercy was a particu- lar need of the age, and that insight led him to call the Council. He shared God’s mercy through the Council, his teachings, and his person. If you went to Rome and into the restaurants, there was always a picture of John XXIII and the current Pope because John XXIII was a beloved pope who really reflected the warmth and love of Christ. It’s clear that John Paul II is the same — the Pope who really embodied that fatherly face of God, the message of the Council and of the Church for this age. So much of John Paul II’s more than 26 years of papal ministry was unpacking and implementing this Council, which was the result of an inspiration given to John XXIII. John Paul II saw the theme of mercy as a true unfolding of the Council’s teaching because it was God’s attitude toward the world with its struggles. The Church was to be an instru- ment of Christ, to bring His merciful love into the world. If a lay Catholic wants to start learning about the Council, what’s the best place to start? It would be beneficial for lay Catholics if they would get some sort of resource to help them understand the docu- ments. That’s why I wrote Vatican II: The Crisis and the Promise . It unpacks the docu- ments in layman’s terms. If you asked me where to start reading the documents, start with a careful and prayerful reading of Lumen Gentium ( Dogmatic Constitution on the Church ) , Apostolicam Actuositatem ( Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity ) , and then read in Gaudium et Spes ( Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World ) Part I and Part II, Chapter 1. “John Paul II saw the theme of mercy as a true unfolding of the Council’s teaching because it was God’s attitude toward the world with its struggles,” says Dr. Alan Schreck. Back to index The rest of the Dr. Schreck interview: Part I s Part II s