“MERCY IS HEARTFELT SYMPAHY for another’s distress, impelling us to succor him if we can. For mercy takes its name — misericordia — from denoting a person’s compassionate heart for another’s unhappiness,” St. Thomas Aquinas says.

Divine mercy is God’s refusal to leave us in our fallen condition: Jesus enters the “locked doors” of our hearts, banishing fear and sin and saying, “Peace be with you.”

“He showed them his hands and his side”: Jesus shows us his wounds so that we will not be afraid to show him ours.

Finally, Jesus gave the disciples the Holy Spirit so they could be his agents of mercy in the sacrament of penance: “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them.”

Thousands of years later, we continue to receive Christ’s mercy in confession.

“LA MISERICORDIA ES UNA COMPAÑÍA SINCERA por la aflicción ajena, que nos impulsa a socorrerlo si podemos. Pues la misericordia toma su nombre — misericordia — de denotar la compasión de una persona por la infelicidad ajena”, dice Sto. Tomás de Aquino.

La misericordia divina es la negativa de Dios a abandonarnos en nuestra condición caída: Jesús entra por las puertas cerradas de nuestros corazones, desterrando el miedo y el pecado y diciendo: “La paz esté con ustedes.”

“Les mostró las manos y el costado”: ​​Jesús nos muestra sus heridas para que no temamos mostrarle las nuestras.

Finalmente, Jesús dio a los discípulos el Espíritu Santo para que fueran sus agentes de misericordia en el sacramento de la penitencia: “A los que les perdonen los pecados, les quedarán perdonados”.

Miles de años después, seguimos recibiendo la misericordia de Cristo en la confesión.

Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” — cf. John 20:27.

IN THE RISEN CHRIST, wounded and glorified, we see all our hopes realized.

In him all the wounds of our hearts, minds, and bodies are transformed into his holiness.

The sorrow and pain of our lives are made the source of our sanctification and joy.