Now that the summer vacation season is in full swing, perhaps we should think about making a trip to visit a Holy Door—a cathedral, shrine, or other designated church—as part of our celebration of the Jubilee Year of Mercy. Walking through a Holy Door is a spiritual journey that signals our deep desire for true conversion.
In addition to passing through a Holy Door, there are Year of Mercy graces that can be gotten through other practices:
- Perform a spiritual or corporal work of mercy.
- Go to confession.
- Receive the Holy Eucharist, and then spend some time reflecting on mercy.
- Make a profession of faith.
- Pray for the pope and for his intentions.
The elderly, the confined, and the sick can obtain the special graces of the Year of Mercy simply by living with faith and joyful hope.
Our prayer today:
Thank you, Jesus,
for showering us with your strengthening graces
during this Year of Mercy.
Help us open our hearts
to spiritual renewal and refreshment.
Peter W. Yaremko, a former journalist, is the owner of Executive Media, Inc. and is a specialist in executive communications. He attends St. Peter the Apostle Church in Provincetown, Massachusetts and blogs at peterwyaremko.com/paradise_diaries.