 
General Theme: Pilgrims of Hope General Objective: To live with faith and hope this Jubilee Year Objective of the week: To realize the signs of hope around us. INTRODUCTION Last week we were meditating on the whole Letter from CBCP to all the faithful. We will focus our reflection this week on a specific part taken from this Letter. The Bishops want to make us aware of the “SIGNS OF HOPE” in our society. An excerpt from CBCP pastoral letter calling on faithful to a pilgrimage of hope in Jubilee 2025 “… and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts” (Romans 5:5) Into the darkest and starkest space of death, Jesus Christ, our Savior entered and transformed death by his salvific love. Black Saturday triggers not only pious thoughts of sadness at the death of the Savior, but it conceals a powerful force where God’s love penetrates our suffering, our misery and death, saves and transforms us. This space of abandonment is a place where hope and new life germinate. As believers, this is our anchor and our strength. Love generates hope, because hope is in Jesus who works within and around us. Love piercing through darkness reveals glimpses of hope.
We sense a strong surge of hope, above all, in the feeling of uneasiness and disturbance -symptoms of an inner affliction, prodding us that something is wrong, yet at the same time urging us that something can and must be done within, among ourselves, and our institutions.” This week our Guidelines Sheet Committee will transmit to all of us the “SIGNS OF HOPE” they recognize in their own environment. Can we also identify signs of hope around us? MONDAY “Blessing in Disguise” Life is a mystery. There are unfavorable circumstances that we cannot understand why these are allowed to happen when in fact God's love is overflowing for each one of us. When we answer this question in an absence of faith, we cannot comprehend. The wisdom of God is so difficult to fathom. As in Is. 55:8 "As the heavens are higher above the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." It was a bright Sunday morning when the two grown-up siblings were dressed up elegantly bound for the northern part of Cebu for a wedding. Suddenly, a passenger bus bumped into their car which made them both unconscious and that made the ambulance rush them to the hospital. As soon as they got conscious they could not move their body for it had bruises. One sibling had a broken leg and arm. The other sibling had broken ribs. Both of them were seriously injured. It was such a devastating incident because both of them are also breadwinners. They spent quite some time in the hospital with fastened stainless steel in their injured body. Many times they almost surrendered and thought they could not make it. What consoled them was their relatives and friends who showed them financial and moral support who at the same time gave them a surge of hope. As St. Paul says, "We who are strong in the faith ought to help the weak to carry their burdens. We should not please ourselves. Instead, we should all please our brothers and sisters for their own good, in order to build them up in the faith." (Rom.5:1-2) And the passage that sustained them amidst their trials, (Is. 43:1-3) "Do not be afraid, I will save you. I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you; your troubles will not overwhelm you. When you pass through fire, you will not be burned; the hard trial that comes will not hurt you. For I am the Lord your God, the holy God of Israel, who saves you." The siblings gained conviction that soon God would heal them and true enough, they are both recovering. Now they never fail to attend mass every Sunday despite disabilities just to give thanks to the Lord for His mercy and kindness. They are blessed with this unfavorable circumstance for all the more they encounter Jesus in their lives. (Ps. 145:18-19) "The Lord is near to all those who call upon Him.... He hears their cries and saves them. Though we are unworthy before the Lord, we must be willing to approach Him with humility and perseverance for He does not forsake us His children most especially in times of dire need. As St. Paul testifies his faith, (Cor. 12:9) "My grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness.
TUESDAY “Hope is journeying with others” A dear friend of mine has been dealing with a profound sense of stagnation and longing for something more, despite the abundant blessings in her life. She is surrounded by a loving family, holds a stable job, and lives in a beautiful home, yet an elusive yearning grows stronger with each passing day. There seems to be a deeper need or desire within her that remains unfulfilled. Her heart and mind ache for the vibrancy and hope she once felt. She confided in me about the emptiness she feels, an emptiness that her circumstances cannot fill. Often, she said she would gaze out the window, her eyes reflecting the grey clouds, and whisper, "I don't know what I'm looking for." Sensing her struggle, I encouraged her to explore her innermost desires and passions. "Why not try setting new goals and aspirations?" I suggested gently. "Sometimes, discovering what truly excites you can reignite your sense of purpose." More importantly, I urged her to reconnect with Jesus, the ultimate source of hope, comfort, and peace. "Spend more time in prayer or meditation," I gently advised. "Seek guidance and comfort from Christ. He can provide clarity and peace." I shared with her how Jesus offers a peace that surpasses all human understanding, capable of filling the deepest voids in our hearts. Even now, I continue to pray for her, hoping she finds her sense of purpose and direction through Christ and learns to be mindful and grateful. Such practices can elevate one's sense of well-being and fulfillment, renewing hope and helping one overcome emptiness and despair. In this encounter, I was reminded of a powerful promise from Philippians 4:6-7: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." I shared this passage with my friend which I hope gives light and guidance to her. Reflecting on this encounter, I realized that truly only Christ's presence in our lives can bring unparalleled peace and hope. When we turn to Him with our worries and anxieties, He offers a peace that transcends our comprehension, guarding our hearts and minds. Through this process, I've also come to understand the importance of having someone to walk with you, to support and pray for you. I want her to know she's not alone. Together, we seek peace and renewed hope in Jesus.
WEDNESDAY “Hope Overcomes Fear” Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold on firmly to the hope we profess, because we can trust God to keep his promise. When we started our journey as a couple, we had so many goals and dreams we wished to accomplish together. And yet, as we move to pursue those goals, we have faced a lot of challenges, difficulties and expectations that at some point has brought us feelings of fear, frustration and hopelessness. But we cannot give up on loving when our journey as a couple has just begun. The rough roads of our life didn't stop us from moving closer to God, receiving him through the sacraments, and hoping that all things will come into place through His will at the right place and right time. As we enter the Lenten season, we are reminded that our life on earth is fleeting yet as we move forward in our lives, God is there with us in our struggles and victories. And so let us cling to hope and trust that whatever we might experience in life, God has a plan for us. Despite our failures, our hope in God will move us forward and onward.
THURSDAY “Hope is to ask and we will receive” Two years after I recovered from a deadly illness, my immediate family is burdened with all the financial struggles due to my prolonged hospitalization and continuous medication. I also need to stop working for a while, since it is still impossible for me to work. This has added more to our financial constraints. To make the situation worse, we as a family decided not to go back to our old house after I recovered, because it’s no longer safe for us to live there, especially for our growing child. So, we decided to look for a place to rent. We went from place to place. We exhausted all means to find a safe place that is within our budget, but to no avail. While doing this, I remember the passage from Luke 2:7 when Mary has to give birth to Jesus in a manger because there wasn’t any room for them in the inn. It seems to us, “there is no room for us”, we become hopeless as we badly need to find a place to stay before classes start. However, in one of the dialogues we have with a missionary in our community, he assured us that God is with us and He is preparing a place for us. He told us that God will give you your very home, you do not even need to rent, because He will give you a home. Me and my husband just listened but we never really believed what he said would come true because we know our present situation, we do not have resources to build our very own house. Though half believing, we asked him to pray for us and we all agreed that we will be one in prayer with the conviction that God will grant our petition as in Mt. 7:7-8 “Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. Everyone who asks will receive. The one who searches will find, and for the one who knocks, the door will be opened. True enough, a few months after that, we find resources to be able to build a simple house of our own (since we already have a piece of land to build it upon). Difficult as it may seem, God has provided us what we need through people he sent to us to help us with the project. As of this moment, we are living in our new house. Truly, we can always place our trust and hope on God because nothing is impossible with Him Lk 1:37.
FRIDAY “I Put My Trust to Our God of Hope” Recently a cousin of mine needed to be hospitalized due to cellulitis. This is a bacterial infection involving the inner layer of the skin. In his case, it is at the bottom of his foot. Since he has diabetes, the doctor ordered him to be hospitalized so that it will be cleaned well and to acquire the proper treatment. If not treated right away then his foot might be amputated. Due to lack of budget they went to a public hospital. There he cannot be attended immediately because of too many patients waiting ahead of him. Since his case needs immediate attention, he decided to go to a private hospital. As he was there, he underwent surgery to take off all the dead flesh. For it has to be cleaned thoroughly. The challenge now is the hospital bills amounting to 197,000 pesos. He and his wife considered it as a hopeless situation. For he was supposed to check out from the hospital but not enough money to pay for the bills. His family and relatives tried to help but it was not enough. When I called him by phone, my cousin shared it with me and even crying he said," I put everything in the hands of God. It is a dead end for me." Two days later from that conversation, l called again to have an update of his situation. He told me, "thank you very much for praying for me. I am already at home. God is so good. I cannot imagine his goodness, mercy, and love. Many people were helping me: NGO'S, friends, and friends of our friends. For me that was a hopeless situation. But then I realized that if we put our trust in the Lord he never fails to answer. God is my hope." Matthew 8:5-11. Trust without faith is futile. Anything we ask from God needs our total trust with great faith. Like my cousin's experience in the hospital. As he said,"I put everything in the hands of God." A total surrender in front of God with great confidence. This is what Jesus wants to see in our hearts as his disciples. That we may have full trust and to hope in his love and mercy for us with great faith. As Matthew 8:10 says, "I tell you I have never found anyone in Israel with faith like this." Our faith gives us the opportunity to savor "JOY" in the midst of our miseries. When we concretely experience God's saving power. A moment of being in heaven while we are still on earth. Matthew 8:11 says, " I assure you that many will come from the east and the west and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the kingdom of heaven."
THE JUBILEE PRAYER Father in heaven,
may the faith you have given us in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother, and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your Kingdom. May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel. May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth, when, with the powers of Evil vanquished, your glory will shine eternally. May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven. May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth. To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever. Amen
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General Theme: Pilgrims of Hope General Objective: To live with faith and hope this Jubilee Year Objective of the week: To continue to prepare ourselves to obtain the Plenary Indulgence. INTRODUCTION This week we will center our reflection on the Letter from the Filipino Bishops to all the faithful people in the Philippines. Let first read slowly the letter underlining the most important points that challenge us to live this Jubilee Year in our specific Filipino context. CBCP pastoral letter calling on faithful to a pilgrimage of hope in Jubilee 2025 Dear People of God, Greetings of Peace and Hope! In hope, we concluded our 129th CBCP Plenary Assembly where we reflected on the call for Transparency and Accountability towards becoming a more Missionary and Synodal Church. We also engaged in communal discernment on the current realities affecting our nation. “Hoping against hope” (cf. Romans 4:18) ‘Abandon hope all ye who enter here…’ are the haunting words written at the entrance of the descent into hell in Dante Alighieri’s L’inferno. What the author was writing about in the context of his time’s political turmoil and moral decay can mirror today’s Filipino People wrestling with hopelessness, striving to find hope amidst adversities. Hoping against hope, like Abraham in the letters of St. Paul, we, Christians examine ourselves and allow our faith in God to engage the situation that afflicts our nation. In trying to understand the reality around us, we experience frustration and anguish in the face of the following:
Given this background, hope seems to be more elusive than ever. Thus, we all ask: “May pag-asa pa nga ba?” (Is there still hope?) Whom do we turn to? As we reflect on these situations, we realize that the first thing we need to do is to examine ourselves and pursue the path of personal, institutional, and ecclesial conversion in order to rediscover hope. This is the opportunity that the Jubilee Year provides us. Thus, we too make ourselves accountable before the Lord. “… and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts” (Romans 5:5) Into the darkest and starkest space of death, Jesus Christ, our Savior entered and transformed death by his salvific love. Black Saturday triggers not only pious thoughts of sadness at the death of the Savior, but it conceals a powerful force where God’s love penetrates our suffering, our misery and death, saves and transforms us. This space of abandonment is a place where hope and new life germinate. As believers, this is our anchor and our strength. Love generates hope, because hope is in Jesus who works within and around us. Love piercing through darkness reveals glimpses of hope.
We sense a strong surge of hope, above all, in the feeling of uneasiness and disturbance -symptoms of an inner affliction, prodding us that something is wrong, yet at the same time urging us that something can and must be done within, among ourselves, and our institutions. “… through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Romans 5:5) We, your spiritual leaders, share the pain brought about by these wounds of affliction. We, too, feel the deep disturbance and seeming paralysis that plague many who are dragged into the pit of hopelessness. In this Jubilee Year of Hope, together we hold precious, the gift of hope sparked by the Holy Spirit. This hope is not simply optimism or a positive feeling. These are glimpses of the gift of hope that comes from the Holy Spirit urging us to act. Any action of hope is sourced from the Holy Spirit. As such, we exhort you, our dear people, to allow the hope within you to be rekindled. May it become a flame of hope. Let the Holy Spirit renew the face of the earth and breathe transformation into the dark spaces and places of our lives and our nation. The grace of the Holy Spirit is a gentle breeze that spurs us to continue breathing when we are tempted to give up on our seemingly hapless condition. Such grace is like a feather we possess, that when joined together with those of others, can become wings for us to rise beyond our apathy, and allow us to soar high in patriotism, volunteerism, and pursuit of change. The same grace is like a tempest that can sweep away the decay of corruption, paving the way to moral recovery. We call upon all leaders, as we fervently remind ourselves, to breathe the spirit of sincerity of God-directed service, breathe transparency and accountability. We call upon our young people, to share your single feather to become your wings for a better world. Stand up for change and responsible leadership for the present and future of our country. We call upon our dear faithful, in government, in business, in public or religious communities, to harness a tempest of change by a sincere witness to our Christian values and fidelity to conscience. May we safeguard our dignity and our future by not selling them to the highest bidder. Hopelessness can lead to despair. Yet to hope is not to be overcome by fear and despair. Hopelessness can paralyze and enslave us. Yet hope gives us courage and freedom. We pray for courage, so that we may always freely stand up for truth, and uphold the good and the rule of law, as we protect democratic institutions and processes. Let us hold power to accountability. Let us continue to build on what we have accomplished. May we have the courage and perseverance to walk the path of conversion to change for the better, and relentlessly pursue the good of all, over personal interests. May we never tire of caring for the most vulnerable members of our society: specifically the unborn and the children, the elderly and the sick, the poor and the marginalized, the weak, the voiceless and powerless. May we not give up on one another and our country, for God does not give up on us. There is hope! May Pag-Asa! And St. Paul counsels us: “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9). With our prayer for a spiritual revolution of hope, let us all walk together in this Pilgrimage of Hope towards the Father’s Kingdom. We pray with Pope Francis: “May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel. May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth, when with the powers of Evil vanquished your glory will shine eternally” (Pope Francis, Jubilee Prayer). We entrust our journey and pilgrimage, as Filipino People, with our afflictions and dreams unto the hands of Our Blessed Mother Mary, Our Lady of Hope, that she may accompany and guide us as we follow the Way of Jesus, Our Lord. Amen. For the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines +PABLO VIRGILIO S. CARDINAL DAVID Bishop of Kalookan CBCP President February 2, 2025 Feast of the Presentation of the Lord After reading slowly and underlining the most appealing inputs from this Letter, we can reflect together during this week on our committed contribution, as Verbum Dei Family, to be pilgrims of hope with the Filipino people, with the universal Church and with the whole world. There is a paragraph that challenges us to live a meaningful Jubilee Year: “Hopelessness can lead to despair. Yet to hope is not to be overcome by fear and despair. Hopelessness can paralyze and enslave us. Yet hope gives us courage and freedom. We pray for courage, so that we may always freely stand up for truth, and uphold the good and the rule of law, as we protect democratic institutions and processes. Let us hold power to accountability. Let us continue to build on what we have accomplished. May we have the courage and perseverance to walk the path of conversion to change for the better, and relentlessly pursue the good of all, over personal interests. May we never tire of caring for the most vulnerable members of our society: specifically the unborn and the children, the elderly and the sick, the poor and the marginalized, the weak, the voiceless and powerless. May we not give up on one another and our country, for God does not give up on us.” We are encouraged in the Letter to be flames of hope: “Any action of hope is sourced from the Holy Spirit. As such, we exhort you, our dear people, to allow the hope within you to be rekindled. May it become a flame of hope.” As Verbum Dei members we rekindled in us the Christian hope through living out faithfully the four exercises very known by each one of us. The whole week we propose a main passage from Ephesians 3:14-21. MONDAY “Be agents of hope to our brothers and sisters” Exodus 3:1-12; Moses and the Burning Bush Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” 4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” 5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father,[a] the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. 7 The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” 12 And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you[b] will worship God on this mountain.” Psalm 34:18; The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Isaiah 42:16 I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. As we reflect this pastoral letter, it gives us a glimpse of what is so called the "Signs of Time" where worst scenario is happening, where there is an increase of anguish and frustrations among the people here and now, and the worst of all is the loss of sense of sin that endangers our salvation. Do we remain deaf, mute, and blind over these social concerns? The church is exhorting and making an earnest request to each one of us as VD family to open our eyes and make a significant contribution from the Synodal Church. The Lord is calling us like Moses in the burning bush to come and listen to His invitation to liberate His people from misery. We too are in bondage of our pride, ambitions, anger, anguish, and misery that make us also fail to do the mission. Our Lord suffers much from our situation of losing His grace and squandering our time at nonsense. God's love penetrates our sins and His concern is to liberate us all and examine the path that we are taking each day. As pilgrims of hope, we must rekindle our faith and continue our pillars of prayer in order to fan the flame of faith of our brothers and sisters, especially those who are deeply troubled. Let us proclaim to them that "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." (Ps. 34:18) This is a true pilgrimage of hope that no one is left behind as God wishes us all because His immense love does not leave us in this poor condition. He wanted us all to collaborate with Him as we celebrate this Jubilee Year, a year of forgiveness and conversion. Let us walk together with joyful hope and trust in the Lord.
TUESDAY “Our Hope comes from the Holy Spirit” Ephesians 3:14-21; 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Matthew 6:5-7 5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. “Prayer is to surrender your time, your capacities, your distraction, your job, your worries to God. It is not to bring God to your life but to offer your life to God. He knows the plans for you.” Being aware of God’s presence in our day to day life gradually expands our confidence and trust in Him seeing and navigating life in His perspective full of hope amidst the discouraging concerns we encounter today. Do I pray kneeling down before the Father? To kneel down is a gesture expressing humility and trust in God who can lead me/us to conversion through the loving action of the Holy Spirit.
WEDNESDAY “Spreading hope through acts of mercy” Corporal works of mercy: to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger, heal the sick, visit the imprisoned, and bury the dead. Spiritual works of mercy: to counsel the doubtful, instruct the ignorant, admonish sinners, comfort the afflicted, forgive offences, bear patiently those who do us ill, and pray for the living and the dead. Matthew 25: 34-40 34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you as a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothed you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ 1 Corinthians 16:14-16; 14 Do everything in love. 15 You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the Lord’s people. I urge you, brothers and sisters, 16 to submit to such people and to everyone who joins in the work and labors at it. Ephesians 3:14-21 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Christ has given us an example of how we can show kindness towards the least of our brothers and sisters. In prayer, when we allow God to touch our hearts, we too can do everything in love. When we are sincere in following Christ, we can see Him in every person we meet, and be moved to help others in their physical and spiritual challenges. Doing these works of mercy is not only for ourselves but also for our brothers and sisters, especially those who are in need. Afterall, the exercise of fraternal love is not done alone but with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
THURSDAY “Jubilee year, a moment of renewal and reconciliation” Hebrews 12:1-4 12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart 4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. Matthew 4:17 17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Acts 3:19-20 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. Additional passages for reflection: Hebrews 12:1-4; Matthew 4:17; Acts 3:19-20 Jesus says to the adulterous woman: “Go but don´t sin again” (Jn 8:11). What does it mean for us? Jesus heals and forgives but He does not agree that we continue to sin and conform to live a life that is opposite to what the Gospel preaches. Jubilee Year is a special time for conversion. It’s time for reconciliation with God and with others. The time to take a moment to reflect on how we are living our lives and what are the sins that we continue to commit. As to what hinders us to be that “new creation” Jesus desires us to be. Most of the time we are discouraged if we can truly change, but we are all invited to continue to hope by “fixing our eyes” to Jesus. As Verbum Dei disciples, do you believe that you can become a better person when you avoid committing sins? That the world will become a better place when there is lesser evil? If we believe in this, let us start with our very own selves to “repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand”. As disciples, we can lead others to do the same, when we are living a life of conversion. This is true witnessing. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to give us light and courage each day to choose the better part-to remain united with Jesus. Let us also continuously ask the guidance of our dearest Mother Mary who teaches us how to obey God’s will in all circumstances and realities of daily life.
FRIDAY “A Missionary Who has the Eyes and Heart Like Christ Jesus” Matthew 6:34-44; 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. 35 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. 36 Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But he answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages[a]! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?” 38 “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.” 39 Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42 They all ate and were satisfied, 43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. 44 The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand. Luke 12:49 49 “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! As we continue to prepare ourselves to obtain the plenary indulgence for this Jubilee Year 2025. Let us take advantage of the vineyard for mission where God provides for us, "Verbum Dei Missionary Disciples." Our beloved country Philippines is a rich vineyard for mission. In the places where we live, work, and to the different designated apostolate where we are one with the VD Community to mission. This is a great place to do the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. The question is, what is to be a missionary? How to bring this faith and hope to others? Today we are reminded again to fix our eyes in Jesus. For it is in Him that we can learn the right disposition on how to become an effective missionary. Jesus wanted us to possess the EYES and HEART like Him. Do we have an open eyes to see and be conscious of the different situations in our country today that makes many Filipino people suffer? Do we have the heart to feel compassioned and be with them in their sufferings? As in Mark 6:34 that says, " "When Jesus got out of the boat he saw this large crowd and his heart was filled with pity for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began to teach them many things." What can we offer to God to help out in His mission? Jesus trusts us so much because He himself knows us deeply. That we can help Him. Jesus knows that our life can be a loaf of bread to be blessed by Him and can feed the many who are hungry in both body and soul. As in Mark 6:37 says, " You yourselves give them something to eat, Jesus answered." Today we are invited to ask ourselves, how can I gain and possess the EYES and HEART like Christ? First and foremost is by being responsible of our prayer life with faithfulness to follow what Jesus is telling us through His WORDS. Where it is the key for ourselves to be transformed personally and socially as disciples of Christ. In here we can rekindle the fire of faith and hope in others. As in Luke 12:49 says, "I came to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already kindled!
THE JUBILEE PRAYER Father in heaven,
may the faith you have given us in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother, and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your Kingdom. May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel. May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth, when, with the powers of Evil vanquished, your glory will shine eternally. May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven. May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth. To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever. Amen 
General Theme: Pilgrims of Hope General Objective: To live with faith and hope this Jubilee Year Objective of the week: To continue to prepare ourselves to obtain the Plenary Indulgence. INTRODUCTION In “INDULGENTIARUM DOCTRINA,” an Apostolic Constitution of Pope Paul VI (1967), is written about the Indulgences. We will quote some inputs from this document. ID 9 The Church also in our days then invites all its sons to ponder and meditate well on how the use of indulgences benefits their lives and indeed all Christian society. To recall briefly the most important considerations, this salutary practice teaches us in the first place how it is "sad and bitter to have abandoned ... the Lord God."(44) Indeed the faithful when they acquire indulgences understand that by their own powers, they could not remedy the harm they have done to themselves and to the entire community by their sin, and they are therefore stirred to a salutary humility. Furthermore, the use of indulgences shows us how closely we are united to each other in Christ, and how the supernatural life of each can benefit others so that these also may be more easily and more closely united with the Father. Therefore, the use of indulgences effectively influences charity in us and demonstrates that charity in an outstanding manner when we offer indulgences as assistance to our brothers who rest in Christ. ID 10 Likewise, the religious practice of indulgences reawakens trust and hope in a full reconciliation with God the Father, but in such a way as will not justify any negligence nor in any way diminish the effort to acquire the dispositions required for full communion with God. Although indulgences are in fact free gifts, nevertheless they are granted for the living as well as for the dead only on determined conditions. ID 3 It is therefore necessary for the full remission and—as it is called—reparation of sins not only that friendship with God be reestablished by a sincere conversion of the mind and amends made for the offense against his wisdom and goodness, but also that all the personal as well as social values and those of the universal order itself, which have been diminished or destroyed by sin. San Augustine affirmed: “The God who created you without your cooperation will not save you without your cooperation” During this week, we will continue praying on some passages to deepen more on the mercy of God and the sincere conversion needed to obtain Plenary Indulgence. MONDAY “Be Aware of God’s Unconditional Love” Luke 15:11-24 The Parable of the Lost Son 11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and was found.’ So they began to celebrate. The parable of the Prodigal Son shows us the image of God who is merciful and forgiving. A very simple and beautiful presentation of His unconditional love that is easily grasped by our limited understanding of love. An inviting story to make us return to the Father who is ever willing to accept us as we are despite our limitations and weaknesses. How blessed we are to have a wonderful God who treated us His children, who never counts our sins but mercy overwhelms His heart to a repentant sinner. He is full of hope, waiting and wanting that someday, we will all return to Him. How about us, are we full of hope to change and be accepted by our Father? Let us open our eyes to His unconditional love for His love is truly evident in the Catholic Church that offers us a "Jubillee Year." A year of rejoicing and reconciling a broken relationship with Him. It offers us a gift of Plenary Indulgence for the remission of sins. A gift of removing our temporal punishments for sins that have already been forgiven. A "special offer" for us to become newly baptized infants in which all our sins are forgiven. It is always the Lord who does the initiatives for us His children to be back in His loving arms because He wants all of us to live with Him forever. Let us also do our share to obtain plenary indulgence by doing charitable actions, making our hearts to be Christ by helping people in need. Let us make sacrifices to compensate for our offenses against our God who is so kind and loving so that we can enjoy His mercy and forgiveness.
TUESDAY “The Passion and Death of Christ brings Hope and Redemption” Romans 5:12-21 Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ 12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned-- 13 To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come. 15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16 Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! 18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. 20 The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. In the sacrifice of Christ, we see the ultimate expression of hope that transcends. Jesus, in the face of evil and suffering, chose to respond with love and forgiveness. We are reminded of the reality of sin in our lives. We often find ourselves trapped in patterns of behavior that lead us away from God and towards darkness. As we reflect on our own lives, we may realize that we have indulged in sinful behaviors or attitudes. But the good news is that we can turn back to God, seeking forgiveness and healing. It is through Christ's indulgence in love that we recognize our own weaknesses and vulnerabilities and seek God's mercy and forgiveness. In this Jubilee Year we are encouraged by the Church to hope. Yet, hope is a decision to trust in the goodness of God, even when we cannot see or understand His plan. Hope is the conviction that, no matter what challenges we face, we are not alone – that Christ is with us, guiding us, and empowering us to overcome. Take a small step today to choose hope, to seek forgiveness, and to walk in the light of Christ.
WEDNESDAY “Reconciliation and Commitment” 2 Corinthians 5:1-3.14-21 Awaiting the New Body 5 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin[b] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are all called to redemption and freedom from sin. When we reconcile with our faults wholeheartedly, and live a life guided by prayer and devotion, we too are able to help cleanse away the sins of our forebears. When we accept that we are born of sin and commit to changing our ways, the sins of the pasts will have no power over us, for Christ our guiding light will continue to shower His blessings upon our new selves. In this jubilee year, we are all graced to view ourselves once more, to acknowledge our sins, and turn away from them so that we may understand the meaning of reconciliation. So that as ambassadors for Christ, we too can lead others to Christ by example.
THURSDAY “We are witnesses of God's mercy and hope” Isaiah 1:15-20 15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood! 16 Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong. 17 Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed.[a] Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. 18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. 19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land; 20 but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. No matter how we hurt God because of our inequities, He continues to reach out to us “to settle this matter” with Him. He is always waiting for our return to Him, a manifestation of His great love for us. We are grateful for this God who is merciful and loving. We are blessed that our Catholic church remains steadfast in the offer of sacrament of Reconciliation and in this Jubilee year of faith and hope, the Church intensifies its offer of plenary indulgences. In CCC 1474 it says, the Christian who seeks to purify himself of his sin and to become holy with the help of God's grace is not alone. "The life of each of God's children is joined in Christ and through Christ in a wonderful way to the life of all the other Christian brethren in the supernatural unity of the Mystical Body of Christ, as in a single mystical person. Indeed, we are never without hope. No one is hopeless in the front of the faith and hope generously offered to each one of us. As disciples of Christ we are the first recipients of the mercy and goodness of God. We are witnesses to these. Yet we know that many remain hopeless and faithless in the challenging realities that they are facing. Let us reach out to them first, as God did to us, so they too, may receive the hope and faith they so needed.
FRIDAY “To Approach God with all Humility and Contrite Heart” Psalm 51 For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba. 1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. 5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. 6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place. 7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. 14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. 15 Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 My sacrifice, O God, is[b] a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise. 18 May it please you to prosper Zion, to build up the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous, in burnt offerings offered whole; then bulls will be offered on your altar. It cannot be denied that God never stops loving us, His people. His merciful love is so abundant even how sinful we are in front of Him. God himself is very hopeful for his desire that we always come to Him to ask for forgiveness. God is so happy if we can approach Him with all humility and contrite heart. Every end of each day is an opportunity to examine our conscience and humbly recognize our sinfulness. Though it is very hurting to acknowledge our wrong doings because of the feeling of being ashamed in front of God. But God's merciful love strongly encourages us not to fail in approaching Him. For He is ready to free us from our sins. How good it is if we open ourselves and be ready for the plenary indulgence for this Jubilee Year 2025. For it is not only our sins that are forgiven with it, the punishment due to our sinfulness will be totally erased. But as long as we properly prepare ourselves by spending time praying, listening to the words of God's mercy and love. We need also to heartily beg in front of Him his healing power to cleanse us. As in Psalm 51:7 that says "Remove my sin, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow." God is waiting for us each day, to ask for forgiveness. How happy God will be if we can show to Him our willingness to submit ourselves to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. For this is one of the precious gifts we receive from the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Confession to the priest is one of the concrete actions of humility. Showing to God that we recognize our sinfulness as in Psalm 51:17 that says: " My sacrifice is a humble spirit O God; you will not reject a humble and repentant heart." A repentant heart is seen when we have the determination to change our life as in Psalm 51:14-15 that says: " Spare my life, O God and save me, and I will gladly proclaim your righteousness."
THE JUBILEE PRAYER Father in heaven,
may the faith you have given us in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother, and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your Kingdom. May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel. May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth, when, with the powers of Evil vanquished, your glory will shine eternally. May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven. May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth. To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever. Amen 
General Theme: Pilgrims of Hope General Objective: To live with faith and hope this Jubilee Year Objective of the week: To value the grace of Plenary Indulgence BRIEF EXPLANATION ABOUT THE PLENARY INDULGENCE GRANTED DURING THE JUBILEE YEAR 2025 In our guidelines sheet for this week, we will explain about the Plenary Indulgence granted by the Catholic Church during the Ordinary Jubilee Year of 2025. We will also pray on some biblical passages on the mercy of God. In the CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH (CCC) and in the CATECHISM FOR FILIPINO CATHOLIC (CFC), published by Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines on 1997, we find some numbers which can help us to know more about Plenary Indulgence. A) In the first place, in these two documents, we find a clear definition of sin and its consequences: CFC 1860. What really is sin? Sin is: a) a moral attitude, power, action, or refusal to act, b) that leads us into evil, c) alienates/separates us from • our true selves, • our neighbors, the community, and • God. It often becomes “compulsive” or “addictive,” and weakens our power of resistance. Despite its often-glamorous cover, actually sin injures, destroys, dishonors, poisons, and corrupts. CFC 1820. By its very nature sin has two effects. When grave/mortal, it destroys our communion with God, thus depriving us of eternal life (eternal punishment). But all sin also weakens and wounds our union with God and our relations with others and the community (temporal punishment). Both these “punishments” are not imposed by God, but rather flow from the very reality of sin. Eternal punishment of sin is remitted when the guilt of our sins is forgiven and we are restored to communion with God. Yet the temporal consequences remain. We are called to work against these temporal effects by patient suffering, toil, prayer, and acceptance of death as term of our earthly human condition. We are urged to put aside “the old self” corrupted through deceitful desires, and “put on that new man created in God’s image, whose justice and holiness are we born of truth” (Eph 4:22-24). CCC 1472. To understand this doctrine and practice of the Church, it is necessary to understand that sin has a double consequence. Grave sin deprives us of communion with God and therefore makes us incapable of eternal life, the privation of which is called the "eternal punishment" of sin. On the other hand, every sin, even venial, entails an unhealthy attachment to creatures, which must be purified either here on earth, or after death in the state called Purgatory. This purification frees one from what is called the "temporal punishment" of sin. These two punishments must not be conceived of as a kind of vengeance inflicted by God from without, but as following from the very nature of sin. A conversion which proceeds from a fervent charity can attain the complete purification of the sinner in such a way that no punishment would remain. CFC 1821. But we carry on this effort precisely as members of one great communion, Christ’s Body, the Church. Now the Church, as “communion of saints,” helps its members by granting indulgences, that is, by authoritatively assigning the penitent a portion of the treasury of merits of Christ and the saints to remit the temporal punishment due to sins already forgiven. These indulgences remit before God either all (plenary indulgence) or part (partial indulgence) of the temporal punishment due to sins that have already been forgiven. B) Secondly, in the CFC and CCC we can discover the meaning of Plenary Indulgence: CFC 1865. What are “indulgences”? Indulgences are the remission of all (plenary) or part (partial) of the temporal punishment due to sins which have already been forgiven. They are granted in view of the merits of Christ the Redeemer, and the prayers and good works of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints. Upon reading these numbers from the CCC and CFC, we can emphasize that “Punishment is not imposed by God, but rather flows from the very reality of sin.” We believe that our God is an eternal merciful Father. In fact, in the “Decree on the Granting of Indulgence during the Ordinary Jubilee Year 2025” given in Rome, from the Offices of the Apostolic Penitentiary on 13 May 2024, is emphasize that the indulgence is a grace from the merciful God who loves us. As it is written in this Decree: In the Bull of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy in 2015, Pope Francis emphasized how indulgences acquired in that context had "a particular importance" (Misericordiae vultus, 22), since the mercy of God "becomes the indulgence of the Father who, through the Bride of Christ, reaches out to the forgiven sinner and frees him from every residue of the consequence of sin". Similarly, for this Holy Year, the Holy Father emphasizes that the gift of the Jubilee Indulgence "is a way of discovering the unlimited nature of God’s mercy. Not by chance, for the ancients, the terms ‘mercy’ and ‘indulgence’ were interchangeable, as expressions of the fullness of God’s forgiveness, which knows no bounds." (Spes non confundit, 23). The Indulgence is, therefore, a very real Jubilee grace. PASSAGES FOR THE WEEK ON THE MERCY OF GOD Psalm 103:8 “Merciful and gracious is the Lord, slow to anger, abounding in mercy.” Jeremiah 3:12 “Go, proclaim these words toward the north, and say: Return, rebel Israel—oracle of the Lord—I will not remain angry with you; For I am merciful, oracle of the Lord, I will not keep my anger forever.” Do I return to God because I believe that He is a merciful Father welcoming me? Psalm 33:1-5 “Rejoice, you righteous, in the Lord; praise from the upright is fitting. Give thanks to the Lord on the harp; on the ten-stringed lyre offer praise. Sing to him a new song; skillfully play with joyful chant. For the Lord’s word is upright; all his works are trustworthy. He loves justice and right. The earth is full of the mercy of the Lord.” How often do I give thanks to God for His mercy? Do I rejoice in the mercy of the Lord? Matthew 9:27-29 Jesus left that place, and as he walked along, two blind men started following him. “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” they shouted. When Jesus had gone indoors, the two blind men came to him, and he asked them, "Do you believe that I can heal you?" "Yes, sir!" they answered. Then Jesus touched their eyes and said, "Let it happen, then, just as you believe!" Do I pray to God for all those in need of His mercy? Do I trust in His mercy seeing the conflicts and hard situations in this world? Matthew 18:25-35 “You should have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you.” Matthew 5:7 "Happy are those who are merciful to others; God will be merciful to them” Do I know somebody expecting from me to be merciful to him/her? Psalm 26:3 “Your mercy is before my eyes; I walk guided by your faithfulness.” What does it mean for me to be guided by His mercy? When do I lose sight of His mercy? HOW TO OBTAIN A PLENARY INDULGENCE DURING THE 2025 JUBILEE As we have said above, the basis document to explain to earn the Plenary Indulgence is the “Decree on the Granting of Indulgence during the Ordinary Jubilee Year 2025” given in Rome, from the Offices of the Apostolic Penitentiary on 13 May 2024. In order to gain a plenary indulgence, a person must:
1) Specific acts to which the Jubilee Plenary Indulgence is attached: a. Perform works of mercy. The Jubilee Year is a time when Catholics are especially encouraged to practice the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. The Apostolic Penitentiary states: In a special way "during the Holy Year, we are called to be tangible signs of hope for those of our brothers and sisters who experience hardships of any kind" (Spes non confundit, 10). Therefore, the Indulgence is also linked to certain works of mercy and penance, which bear witness to the conversion undertaken. The faithful, following the example and mandate of Christ, are encouraged to carry out works of charity or mercy more frequently, especially in the service of those brothers and sisters who are burdened by various needs. More especially, they should rediscover these “corporal works of mercy: to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger, heal the sick, visit the imprisoned, and bury the dead" (Misericordiae vultus, 15) and rediscover also "the spiritual works of mercy: to counsel the doubtful, instruct the ignorant, admonish sinners, comfort the afflicted, forgive offences, bear patiently those who do us ill, and pray for the living and the dead" (ibid.). In this way, the faithful will be able to obtain the Jubilee Indulgence if they visit, for an appropriate amount of time, their brothers and sisters who are in need or in difficulty (the sick, prisoners, lonely elderly people, disabled people...), in a sense making a pilgrimage to Christ present in them (cf. Mt 25, 34-36) according to the usual spiritual, sacramental and prayer conditions. The faithful can repeat these visits throughout the Holy Year, even daily, acquiring a plenary indulgence each time. b. To develop a spirit of penance and fasting. The Decree stays: “The Jubilee Plenary Indulgence can also be obtained through initiatives that put into practice, in a concrete and generous way, the spirit of penance which is, in a sense, the soul of the Jubilee. In particular the penitential nature of Friday can be rediscovered through abstaining, in a spirit of penance, at least for one day of the week from futile distractions (real but also virtual distractions, for example, the use of the media and/or social networks), from superfluous consumption (for example by fasting or practicing abstinence according to the general norms of the Church and the indications of the Bishops), as well as by donating a proportionate sum of money to the poor; by supporting works of a religious or social nature, especially in support of the defense and protection of life in all its phases, but also by supporting the quality of life of abandoned children, young people in difficulty, the needy or lonely elderly people, or migrants from various countries; it can also be obtained by dedicating a reasonable portion of one’s free time to voluntary activities that are of service to the community or to other similar forms of personal commitment. c. Formation in the teaching of the Second Vatican Then Decree states: In addition, the faithful will be able to obtain the Jubilee Indulgence if, with a devout spirit, they participate in popular missions, spiritual exercises, or formation activities on the documents of the Second Vatican Council and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, held in a church or other suitable place, according to the mind of the Holy Father. d. Visit your local cathedral The Decree states: The faithful, pilgrims of hope, will be able to obtain the Jubilee Indulgence granted by the Holy Father if they undertake a pious pilgrimage by visiting the Cathedral or other church or sacred place designated by the local Ordinary. Bishops will take into account the needs of the faithful as well as the opportunity to reinforce the concept of pilgrimage with all its symbolic significance, so as to manifest the great need for conversion and reconciliation. Likewise, the faithful can obtain the Jubilee Indulgence if, individually or in a group, they devoutly visit any Jubilee site and there, for a suitable period of time, engage in Eucharistic adoration and meditation, concluding with the Our Father, the Profession of Faith in any legitimate form, and invocations to Mary, the Mother of God, so that in this Holy Year everyone "will come to know the closeness of Mary, the most affectionate of mothers, who never abandons her children" (Spes non confundit, 24). 2) Conditions for obtaining an Indulgence In addition to the specific acts required to obtain Plenary Indulgence, the faithful must fulfill all the usual conditions, which are:
3) Plenary Indulgence in special cases The Decree takes also into consideration all those in special situations: The faithful who are truly repentant of sin but who cannot participate in the various solemn celebrations, pilgrimages and pious visits for serious reasons (especially cloistered nuns and monks, but also the elderly, the sick, prisoners, and those who, through their work in hospitals or other care facilities, provide continuous service to the sick), can obtain the Jubilee Indulgence, under the same conditions if, united in spirit with the faithful taking part in person, (especially when the words of the Supreme Pontiff or the diocesan Bishop are transmitted through the various means of communication), they recite the Our Father, the Profession of Faith in any approved form, and other prayers in conformity with the objectives of the Holy Year, in their homes or wherever they are confined (e.g. in the chapel of the monastery, hospital, nursing home, prison...) offering up their sufferings or the hardships of their lives. 4) Benefits of a Plenary Indulgence
THE JUBILEE PRAYER Father in heaven,
may the faith you have given us in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother, and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your Kingdom. May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel. May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth, when, with the powers of Evil vanquished, your glory will shine eternally. May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven. May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth. To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever. Amen |
About the Guidelines SheetThe Guidelines sheet is a prayer guide with the Word of God to help us journey together and be one in our weekly prayer as one community. This contains daily passages from scriptures together with reflections focused on a common theme and intention for the week. Archives
July 2025
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