Mother of Mercy

In heaven’s “priority list” of channels of Divine Mercy, a most prominent place has been assigned to Mary, some of whose many titles include “Mother of Mercy” and “Refuge of Sinners.” Only three direct quotations of Mary are found in the Bible, but ithing those few sentences you’ll find the work mercy twice: “His mercy is for those who fear [reverence] him” (Luke 1:50). And “He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy” (Luke 1:54).

Mary’s intervention at the wedding feast of Cana triggered the first public miracle of her Son – itself an act of mercy designed to hide the embarrassment of the hosting celebrants. In her presence on Calvary she witnessed the greatest act of mercy ever – the torturous death of her Son, the God-man Jesus, whose passion she supported with her “com-passion.”

Mary is the premiere instrument of God’s mercy, for she gave the world its Redeemer and is now a disburser of the graces of redemption to us her spiritual children, by her intercession before the presence of her Son in heaven, just as she mercifully interceded at Cana. Centuries of uninterrupted prayers for her intercession have redounded to countless bestowed benefits to humankind; they flow ultimately from the merciful heart of God, at her behest. Seasoned souls would never neglect to invoke the Mother of Mercy to intercede with the Lord for  a copious outflow of gifts of mercy from his bounteous heart.

God generously uses other creatures as instruments of his mercy: angels, saints, our beloved dead in heaven – and even those who may be still in a state of purgation, who ask for our mercy by prayer yet are chosen instruments of God’s mercy to us by their prayers.

The Earth is full of God’s instruments of mercy: supportive friends, missionaries, teachers, medical personnel, even animals. A Seeing Eye dog, for instance is one of the most beautiful examples of God’s earthly instruments of his compassionate mercy.

Any soul who chooses to reject, or at least not to acknowledge, the Divine Mercy in its countless facets blithely staggers toward eternal damnation, starved of the delicious fruits of grace and mercy that bound in the orchard through which he slogs in his life journey. For those our prayer is paradoxical: “Lord, before it’s too late, have mercy on those who reject your mercy!”

This excerpt is from the book The Awesome Mercy of God, by John H. Hampsch,C.M.F., originally published by Servant Books. It and other of Fr. Hampsch's books and audio/visual materials can be purchased from Claretian Teaching Ministry, 20610 Manhattan Pl, #120, Torrance, CA 90501-1863. Phone 1-310-782-6408.