Mercy and Compassion

Novena Prayer to St. Emilie de Rodat

Foundress of the Congregation of the Holy Family

 

DAY 7 -                                                                           - 16th September

 

For St. Emilie, “Everything about Jesus Christ cries out to us of mercy”.

 Words of Jesus in the Gospel:

 “Happy the merciful, for mercy shall be shown to them.”  (Matthew5:7)

 “The Son of Man has come to seek out and save what was lost.”  (Luke 19:10)

 “Has no one condemned you?  I don’t condemn you either.  Go, and from now on, sin no more.”  (John 8:10-11)

 “Be merciful as your heavenly Father is merciful”  (Luke 6:36)

 “For He sends the sun to shine on bad and good people alike, and gives rain to those who do good and to those who do evil.”  (Matthew 5:46)

  Here is what St. Emilie has to say about mercy and compassion:

 “What I want most of all is for you to listen often to these words of our Saviour in the bottom of your heart:  Happy are the merciful, for they shall be treated with mercy.

 Let us ask God that we may really understand these words and put them into practice; if we are fortunate in this way, we will soon be perfect; we will have that charity which excuses everything, which bears everything, which never complains even when it is made to suffer, and which carefully avoids making others suffer.”

 “Blessed are the merciful, that is, those who endure patiently their neighbour’s weakness and faults, who share their troubles and sorrows, who help others as much as they are able, in short, those who are all things to all people.  Those who act in this way will have mercy shown them.”

 Let us now pause for little while and look at Rembrandt’s painting of the Return of the Prodigal Son.  Let us immerse ourselves in the mercy and compassion of God, our loving Father.

  Prayer to St. Emilie

 

St. Emilie, you who knew how to be compassionate towards your neighbours by detecting their miseries, noticing their needs, and putting your trust in God alone, come to the aid of all people.  Teach us mercy and compassion.  Show us how to open our hearts to the distresses of our day.  Help us to get ourselves more involved in the service of our brothers and sisters, especially the poorest of the poor.

O Lord, who inspired and upheld St. Emilie lduring her life on earth, allow her to continue in heaven her works of spiritual and corporal mery so that through her you may be blessed and praised in time and in eternity.   St. Emilie, pray for us.