The time has come for the Church to take up the joyful call to mercy once more. It is time to return to the basics and to bear the weaknesses and struggles of our brothers and sisters. Mercy is the force that reawakens us to new life and instills in us the courage to look to the future with hope. In our parishes, communities, associations and movements, in a word, wherever there are Christians, everyone should find an oasis of mercy.—Pope Francis, Misericordiae Vultus #10

Spiritual works of mercy are so often overlooked, including the subtle act of comforting the sorrowful. While the participants of the Saints and Scholars program were visiting the Grotto, they witnessed this intimate act of mercy. One young woman began to weep while she prayed. A participant kneeling to her right noticed and offered comfort: a hand on the weeping girl’s shoulder. Eventually, her cries turned into audible sobs. She was consoled further by another friend friend, who crossed the Grotto after hearing her crying. —Colleen Schena

Growing up, I didn’t have many friends, so my social life was unpredictable—I always felt as if the other kids in my grade did not see me as a person, but as an object of entertainment. The idea that nobody cared for me followed me into high school, and eventually worsened into deep depression, suicidal thoughts, and self-harm. I settled in with new friends who did not exactly share my Catholic beliefs, and my faith fell away drastically. It wasn’t until November of my freshman year when my faith was reawakened. I was on retreat at my home parish, and in adoration that first night, I felt many emotions welling up in my soul. I asked Christ, “What do you want me to do with my life?” Then, I felt a call to the diocesan priesthood.

This summer, I attended the Saints and Scholars Summer Theology Institute at Holy Cross College. When I arrived, I was welcomed for who I was. I was affirmed when I told people I was discerning the priesthood—they jokingly called me “Father” and asked me to lead prayer. It was then that I felt Christ telling me that my life was turning around. I returned to adoration that first night and my tears were flowing. I thanked the Lord for giving me good friends and a call to live my life within him. I’m glad I stayed around to see God’s grace bless me in such a way. —Dane Litchfield

Our Lady of the Road is a refuge for homeless and impoverished people in South Bend. Its simple sign spoke to me because it describes the concrete ways it gives hope to those in need: “LAUNDROMAT, CAFE, FOOD CO-OP”. Volunteers who work here exhibit a great deal of mercy to give to those who need it most. –Andrew Spencer

“Thank you,” I said, as I smiled and handed the plate to her. “Yeah, sure,” she said as she kept searching for my plate. I almost felt impatient with her unreasonable response, then my heart sank because I realized that this cafeteria worker is blind. How does one look at the world without seeing it? Sheila does not have to see it because she believes in mercy and has shown it through her service to the Holy Cross community for 5 years, despite her disability. Her example prompts me to consider how I am sharing mercy with the world. —Kylie Wong

When I first walked through the doors of the Basilica, I was in awe of the ornate architecture and intricate beauty around me. Then I looked up to the breathtaking altar and realized it wasn’t the beautiful architecture I was there for. I was there to receive Jesus through the Eucharist. By doing so, we sustain Jesus’ mercy in our lives. We are all imperfect humans in an imperfect world—God grants us mercy with this Sacrament out of pure love for us. —Gabby Cadieux

Recently, I spent two weeks in Peru as a volunteer working at a kindergarten with kids who were mostly from low income families. There I met a 4-year-old boy named Italo.

Italo was innocent, cute, and small, but sometimes he could also be loud and angry. He was raised by a single mom and he came from a low income family, just like most of the other kids. But the children there did not care. All they cared about when they went to the kindergarten was playing with the toys they did not have back at home.

Once, while everyone else was playing with their toys peacefully and joyfully, I saw Italo’s classmate grab his favorite car for no reason. Italo frowned and eventually, after a few seconds, drops of tears ran down across his face. His classmate was scolded by the teacher and began to cry, too. Then Italo ran to his classmate and kissed him on the cheek and offered him a hug. But his classmate was still crying, so Italo kissed him again until his classmate stopped crying.

As a spectator in the classroom, and a stranger to the country, I was moved by Italo’s gesture. My sight blurred with tears and my heart began to melt. I wondered if it might be possible for adults to kiss and hug someone for the sake of begging for mercy, too.

Race, sexuality, social class—there are all kinds of labels that we stick on other people once they appear in the crowd. Because we are all different, we all wear labels on our faces. The problem is that labels become unjust judgments that turn into inequalities. And no one is going to apologize for those judgments because they have more to do with the judge than the label.

Through these two children, God showed me a way through this problem: mercy. Weren’t we all once children, too?

—Kylie Wong

As I was drawing this picture of our Blessed Savior holding this lamb, I couldn’t help but think of my own relationship with Jesus. I couldn’t stop thinking about the compassion that he has for me, how he was willing to die on the cross for all of the sins, both in my past and future. Through all temptations, Jesus is there, constantly pulling me into his arms of mercy, love, and peace. He is holding me, just as if I were this little lamb. —Kaelyn Barlow

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