You may have noticed the "Holy Door" inside the entrance to the church. We have been reflecting in Faith Formation 1 on the corporal and spiritual works of mercy as Pope Francis has asked us to do during this Year of Mercy, which began December 8th and will last until November 20th, the weekend before Advent starts. Another name for this celebration is a jubilee and one of the special things they do during jubilees is open a Holy Door. The pope opens the Holy Door at four huge churches near where he lives. Holy Doors represent Jesus, who said, "I am the door." (John 10:7). Three Holy Doors have been designated for our diocese.

Virtues are the good habits we practice over and over again to help us be able to do these works of mercy. This past week our corporal work of mercy was bury the dead. Burial is a final act of respect. We listened to an example of this from scripture: When Jesus died on the cross, Joseph of Arimathea requested the body from Pilate and "...he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid." Read the article below for further reflection.