This month, which is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we continue by reflecting about the single letters that make up the word “misericordia” according to the scheme followed by Pope Francis during a meeting held on December 21st  2015.  

This month the words are innocuousness and determination. “Innocuousness makes us cautious in our judgments and capable of refraining from impulsive and hasty actions. It is the ability to bring out the best in ourselves, in others and in all kinds of situations by acting carefully and attentively. It consists of doing unto others what we would have them do to us (cf. Mt 7:12 and Lk 6:31). Determination is acting with a resolute will, clear vision, obedience to God and solely for the supreme law of the salus animarum (cf. CIC can. 1725).”

We need to practice to refrain from impulsive and hasty actions, too often we don’t think enough about the consequences of some words or actions which may hurt people. We need to apply the beautiful Pauline hymn to Love in First Corinthians, Chapter 13 which lists the virtues necessary to cultivate “the ability to bring out the best of ourselves”. In order to fulfill such attitude we need to ask for God’s support through daily prayer. If we accept the invitation of St Peter in his 1st letter to set ourselves on the living stone, Jesus, we too can be living stone and we can act with determination in obedience to God. The call  to rid ourselves “of all spite,  deceit, hypocrisy, envy and carping criticism” (1st Peter 2,1) can help us to be innocuous as Pope Francis suggests.

This month  WUCWO is supporting, for the 3rd year, the campaign  “One minute for peace”  to be held on June 8th at 1.00 pm throughout the world. This campaign started on the occasion of the meeting in Rome on June 8th 2014 between Pope Francis and both presidents of Israel and Palestine. We need to strive to pray for peace in Middle east  as well as in other parts of the world where conflicts are ongoing.

For further information please see our web: http://wucwo.org/node/130