April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
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Bishop promotes mercy after holy year ends

Bishop promotes mercy after holy year ends
Bishop promotes mercy after holy year ends
The Catholic Church's Year of Mercy will officially end Nov. 20. But, in the Albany Diocese, Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger intends an attitude of mercy to continue for years to come.

When he reflected on the conclusion of the Year of Mercy -- signified by the closing of holy doors in specially-designated churches around the world -- Bishop Scharfenberger found that "a horrible way for the year to end." He didn't like the idea of closing doors of mercy.

He concluded that "we need to become doors of mercy: We go out into the world and treat others with great compassion and openness."

The Bishop has even decided to make a consecration to Divine Mercy an annual practice for the Diocese, to be held each year on the feast of Christ the King. Next year, that will fall on Nov. 26, right after Thanksgiving.

Many Catholics in the Diocese have been participating in a 33-day preparation period to consecrate themselves personally to Divine Mercy. The spiritual exercise includes daily reading and prayer, individually or in group settings, with the goal of entrusting oneself to God's merciful love and asking the Holy Spirit for help in bringing that love to others.

Consecration coming
 The first Divine Mercy consecration will be held Nov. 13, 5 p.m., at Albany's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, as well as at parishes around the Diocese. Bishop Scharfenberger invites all Catholics to participate, even those who have not completed the "33 Days to Merciful Love" book by Rev. Michael Gaitley, MIC.

The cathedral consecration will also be a Mass for the closing of the Year of Mercy. During it, said the Bishop, "As the father of the Diocese, I will say, 'Lord, take the whole Diocese and put every person in your heart.' For those who have not yet walked the path [through preparation for Divine Mercy consecration], I will invite them to do that" in the future.

Bishop Scharfenberger said the holy year has been a profound experience for him. When he heard Pope Francis announce the Year of Mercy, "my first reaction was, 'That's great. I'll take any mercy I can get!'

"The pope was very clear that each one of us has to look at our need for repentance," the Bishop added. Jesus came to "save us from the entanglements we get ourselves involved with because of our sin: sex, money, power" or any other issue that draws people away from God.

Walking through a holy door means "making a transition, leaving behind some of my old ways and looking at Jesus with trust and openness," he said.

Much mercy
 It makes sense, he said, that consecration to Divine Mercy goes along with the Year of Mercy: The "heart of Jesus" was always reaching out to sinners of all kinds and inviting Him to be in relationship with Him.

Bishop Scharfenberger noted that the Diocese is already consecrated to Mary, as well, and that many Catholics in the Diocese had gone through a process back in April of consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Since the Blessed Mother is the closest person to Jesus, he explained, people can often relate to her as a mother and feel comfortable asking her to help them get closer to God.

Throughout the Year of Mercy and the preparation process for consecration to Divine Mercy, the Bishop said he has heard many powerful testaments of faith by area Catholics.

"I have been privileged to hear so many stories of people whose lives have been changed by trust in the Lord," he declared. "I am surrounded by saints!"

One woman, for example, told him about working as a home health aide for a dying man who had made others wary because of his anger. The woman decided to accompany him to the end and "experienced him transforming -- and she herself was changed by the experience."

Trust in God
 Bishop Scharfenberger also cited his own experience with trusting in God through his father's final illness and afterward. Mr. Scharfenberger had a stroke in 2014 and died in February 2015.

"Coming together through Dad's illness strengthened us all spiritually," the Bishop said of his family.

It has not escaped him that "the message of Divine Mercy is, 'Lord Jesus, I trust in you.' If I wake up thinking of things in the middle of the night, I say [that], and I find strength that propels me."

Bishop Scharfenberger also believes an attitude of mercy will aid Catholics in accepting the outcome of the presidential election (not yet decided as The Evangelist went to print this week) and working toward a better future for the United States.

"Ultimately, our salvation does not depend on who's president, although that's important," he remarked. "We want to pray that people in public positions recognize the need to be people of integrity."

But "if we're going to expect public virtue of our politicians, we have to cultivate private virtue," he said. "We should not lose hope that the holiness of every person will ultimately have an effect on the world -- and Divine Mercy is the way to holiness."

Happy consecration day?
 Bishop Scharfenberger is already excited about next year's consecration to Divine Mercy. "It's an ongoing thing," he said, comparing it to other annual celebrations: "Why do we celebrate a birthday every year? You already had a birthday.

"The feast of Christ the King and Thanksgiving are at the end of the liturgical year: a time to thank God and renew your commitment to trust in Jesus' love and mercy," he added.

The Bishop recalled the Apostle Peter's trust in Jesus, on a boat in the middle of the sea: "As long as he's focused on Jesus, he's walking on water."

(Learn more at www.rcda.org/DivineMercyConsecration.)[[In-content Ad]]

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