Editorial

Mercy is not a word we often hear today. Perhaps the only common use is when someone facing a murderer pleads for his life, as in, "Have mercy on me!"

Preparing for Feast of Divine Mercy In preparation for the Feast of the Divine Mercy on the Sunday after Easter (April 15 this year), a novena is to begin on Good Friday, April 6. The Chaplet of Divine Mercy is prayed each day, preferably at 3 p.m., the hour at which Jesus expired. The Chaplet and instructions can be found at www.divinemercysunday.com/chaplet.htm. Relevant Radio (1240 AM) will also be praying the Chaplet each day at 2:55 beginning on Good Friday.

Webster's dictionary defines mercy as "compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one's power." It is also defined as "a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion." In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we find mercy described as "the loving kindness, compassion, or forbearance shown to one who offends (e.g., the mercy of God to us sinners)."

We are sinners. Perhaps people don't talk about mercy these days because they do not recognize their sinfulness. Yet there is plenty of sin around these days, both in individual persons and in our society as a whole. We see the prevalence of immoral, corrupt, and violent behavior in the world every day.

We are all sinners, yet we don't always recognize our sins and realize our need for God's mercy. Perhaps that's why Jesus appeared to Sister Faustina (Helena Kowalska) - now Saint Faustina - in Poland in 1931. She saw Jesus clothed in a white garment with his right hand raised in blessing. His left hand touched his garment near his heart. Two rays came from his heart, one red and one white.

Feast of Divine Mercy. Jesus asked her to paint an image according to the vision. He added this inscription: "Jesus, I trust in You. I want the image to be solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after Easter, and I want it to be venerated publicly so that every soul may know about it."

Jesus told Saint Faustina that he wanted the Feast of Divine Mercy to be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. "On that day," he said, "the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fountain of My mercy."

How to participate. People are asked to celebrate the feast on the Sunday after Easter; repent of all sins; place complete trust in Jesus; go to confession, preferably on or before that Sunday; receive Communion on the feast; venerate the image of Divine Mercy; and be merciful to others through their actions, words, and prayers on their behalf.

More information on the feast is included in the box at right [above right]. A convenient way to participate is to pray along with the novena on Relevant Radio (1240 AM). Just imagine all the good that could be done if everyone sought and received God's mercy!

Mary C. Uhler

Mailbag

	Mailbag policy We reserve the right to edit or reject letters. Limit letters to 200 words or less. All letters must be signed. Please include your city or town of residence. Send letters to: Mailbag The Catholic Herald P.O. Box 44985 Madison, WI 53744-4985 Fax: 608-821-3071 E-mail: info@madisoncatholicherald.org

Immigration laws

To the editor:

I find it peculiar the head of the Wisconsin Catholic Conference would promote a relaxing of our country's illegal immigration laws. Without laws in place, we would be a nation in chaos.

In researching the Catholic Conference's activities on the Wisconsin State Elections Board Web site, I noted the conference actively opposed a bill requiring individuals to prove they are in the country legally prior to obtaining a Wisconsin driver's license. Why would the Catholic Conference waste their time and our financial resources opposing such a common sense bill when innocent babies are being killed every day in our state?

Again, laws serve a purpose. Before one can become Catholic, one must go through the rigors of the RCIA program. There are also rules to marry, baptize a child, etc. So why shouldn't the government have rules in place to get a driver's license?

The Catholic Conference's position on illegal immigration is very interesting considering the backdrop of the millions of dollars we have paid out on behalf of homosexual pedophile priests violating the rights of young people. The law and its coinciding consequences is the same for everyone regardless if one is an illegal immigrant or a priest. Please follow it.

Susan Stork, Evansville

Father Mazzuchelli

To the editor:

I read the article in the Catholic Herald about Fr. Samuel Mazzuchelli. Reading this article gave me an idea to send a letter to the editor about my family.

My great-grandfather Richard Newman and great-grandmother Mary Kelly where married by Fr. Samuel Mazzuchelli August 6, 1854, at St. Augustine's church, New Diggings, Wis.

This is documented by the records at St. Patrick's church, Benton, WI. They both came from Ireland in the early 1800s and are buried at St. Patrick's cemetery. I had other relatives married by Father Mazzuchelli. Thank you for this opportunity.

Gerald Newman, DeForest