We had our annual retreat from July 24-31 this year with Msgr. Jan Liesen, Bishop of Breda, Nl. The theme was about “God’s Mercy” fitting for this Year of Mercy. To avail ourselves of the indulgence by passing through a Holy Door, before our Evening Prayer on the eve of our retreat, we assembled in the corridor. Bishop Liesen blessed our chapel door transforming it into the “Door of Mercy” during these days of our retreat. Now we have the opportunity of gaining the indulgence without going out of our cloister. We see this as God’s loving mercy towards us, his cloistered servants. (Read also: Misericordia Vultus)
During this retreat, we were encouraged to look back and reflect on God’s mercy in our lives, where his mercy has led us and continually leading us and to recognize and accept his invitation to “go and do likewise.” (Read: Luke 10:25-37)
When one deeply experienced God’s mercy and has been inwardly changed by his merciful love, one cannot help but share his mercy to all. With his abiding merciful love, one also receives the courage and the grace to “go and do likewise.”
