HARRISVILLE — There can be no love without mercy, and vice versa.
“Mercy is always the fruit of love. Without love, there can be no mercy,” Deacon Rick Lapierre told an audience at St. Theresa Church and Shrine during a Year of Mercy lecture on Jan. 11.
Deacon Lapierre linked his talk on mercy to St. Therese, the parish patron, the anniversary of whose birth is Jan. 3; St. Marguerite Bourgeoys, whose feast day is Jan. 12; and the Blessed Virgin Mary.
St. Marguerite fostered devotion in Montreal to the Blessed Virgin Mary, whom Deacon Lapierre said embodied God’s mercy and praised Him for it in her Magnificat.
“He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he remembered his promise of mercy,” the Blessed Mother said in her canticle after being greeted by her cousin Elizabeth.
Pope Francis has called for the Catholic Church, from Dec. 8, 2015 through Nov. 20, 2016, to focus on the boundless nature of God’s mercy during the Jubilee Year of Mercy.
“God’s mercy transforms human hearts; it enables us, through the experience of a faithful love, to become merciful in turn,” Pope Francis wrote in a short document, released Tuesday by the Vatican.
Deacon Lapierre quoted from the scene in William Shakespeare’s “Merchant of Venice” where Portia begs Shylock for mercy, which she describes as “an attribute to God himself.”
St. Faustina Kowalska, the apostle of Divine Mercy, attributed three qualities to God: holiness, justice and mercy. The deacon reflected on how a God who is perfect justice can also be all merciful. He quoted St. Faustina who wrote that everything begins and ends with God’s mercy.
“Mercy proceeds from love,” he said, adding that since God is perfect love, His mercy will supersede His justice.
Deacon Lapierre added that people, especially followers of Christ, are called to show that same mercy and love to others.
“The love of God is passed on through us,” he said. “We are the Lord’s hands and feet in this world. If we fail to show God’s love, then who will? It’s up to us, the baptized, the redeemed, the saved.”
To receive God’s mercy, Deacon Lapierre said, people must be open to God’s will, be obedient to it and accept it. He mentioned the example of St. Therese, who wrote a letter saying she would sing of the Lord’s mercies.
“Therese recognized the hand of the Lord was in all her activities,” he said. “That’s why she’s a saint.”
St. Marguerite put mercy into action and worked with settlers in 17th century Montreal to improve their health and living conditions.
“We have three women, very, very filled with the Holy Spirit, who were open, obedient and surrendered to the will of God.”
Ultimately, God shows His mercy through his son, Jesus Christ, Deacon Lapierre said.
“Jesus loved sinners, and Jesus always shows mercy, always,” Deacon Lapierre said, adding that Pope Francis is calling on the faithful to change the world by mercy.
“This is not an option the Holy Father is calling us out on this,” he said. “Jesus is calling us out on this also. We have to be the instruments of mercy to all we meet if we are followers of Christ.”
Those in the audience appreciated the deacon’s message.
“It was very good. I loved how it was about love and mercy,” said Linda Doran, a parishioner at St. Patrick’s Church in Providence.
Amelia Digiacinto, a parishioner of St. Theresa Church and Shrine, said Deacon Lapierre’s talk was “beautiful.”
“Our God is merciful,” she said.
The Year of Mercy event spanned several hours, beginning with Mass celebrated by St. Theresa Pastor Father Michael McMahon, followed by lunch. After his presentation, Deacon Lapierre also led a Holy Hour, followed by the veneration of relics.
