Living mercy is essential to strong family ties. It is in the day in and day out routine

where we get sloppy and lack being intentional in our interactions. It’s when we most

likely react and don’t act. I would love to be a perfect wife, mother, sister, friend, co-

worker, but it’s just not possible. I get tired, stressed and live with my own self-doubts.

Without forethought and intention I do not listen intently to my husband when he is

talking. You know, that listening that is superficial. I am looking at you and maybe

nodding my head, but I am not really hearing you because I’m distracted by my own “to

do” list. Sometimes I hurt my children unintentionally by not recognizing and attending to

a need because I have too much going on at one time. Or, maybe I don’t reach out to a

sibling, friend or co-worker because I am tired and fall unthinkingly into laziness.

The commitment of lifelong love in marriage and family reminds me to say, “I’m

sorry” or “please forgive me.” In August we are celebrating the 50th

Wedding

Anniversary of over 800 couples at the Archdiocesan Golden Jubilee Masses on Sunday,

August 27th

at 4:30 p.m. at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral in Cincinnati and Immaculate

Conception in Dayton. At these events we often hear couples joke that the way they stay

together is by two simple words, “Yes, dear.” Those two words may give us a chuckle,

but they are so important to the witness of love, courage, perseverance and mercy

throughout the lives of these amazing couples. Their daily “yes” to each other and their

children is no small matter. That daily “yes” is filled with mercy, filled with love, and

filled with hope. That “yes” makes all the difference. It witnesses to their children a

forgiving and everlasting commitment to live out their vocation of marriage and to love

each other into the best persons they can be. I invite you to say a prayer of gratitude for

these men and women of merciful grace and ask God’s continued blessing on their

marriage. In Amoris Laetitia Pope Francis writes, “Few human joys are as deep and

thrilling as those experienced by two people who love one another and have achieved

something as the result of a great, shared effort.” [130]

Our commitment to love others requires mercy. Without mercy there is no love.

Again, in Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love) Pope Francis says, “I thank God that many

families, which are far from considering themselves perfect, live in love, fulfill their

calling, and keep moving forward, even if they fall many times along the way. The

Synod’s reflections show us that there is no stereotype of the ideal family, but rather a

challenging mosaic made up of many different realities, with all their joys, hopes and

problems.” [57]

I have learned that choices in marriage and life are not always easy. It requires me to

think beyond myself and decide what is good for us. Sometimes that means doing

something I would rather not do and sometimes it means taking care of myself. I am not

perfect at it, but it’s my effort that is respected by my husband, children, and friends. It

also means making choices for the greater good of the world. Being a good steward and

making eye contact and sharing a warm greeting with a stranger who may not look at me.

For me, it requires praying daily to ask for the grace to recognize and act in ways that

express the human dignity of each person, knowing that we all were created in the image

and likeness of God with a potential to be exceptional in ordinary ways, especially through

being merciful.

Colleen Gerke - Director, Family and Respect Life Office, Archdiocese of Cincinnati

CONSIDER HOW TO PARTICIPATE IN CIVIL

DISCOURSE WITH RESPECT AND MERCY.

TAKE A PERSONAL INVENTORY ON LIVING MERCY EVERY DAY

AND CHOOSE A CONCRETE ACTION THAT REFLECTS GOD’S

LOVE AND MERCY.

AUGUST: LIVING MERCY EVERY DAY MERCY

Photo courtesy of Catholic Telegraph

Golden Jubilee Mass Sunday, August 27th

4:30 p.m. Each year, the Family Life Office sponsors a Golden Jubilee Mass

for all couples in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati who are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. The masses will be held in Cincinnati at St. Peter in Chains Cathedral and in

Dayton at Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. The Certificates/Scrolls are distributed to the couples from their

individual parishes.

RSVP: tkaltenbach@catholiccincinnati.org

Civilize It: Dignity Beyond the Debate*

On any given day in the U.S. Catholic Church, faithful members are calling their congresspersons,

meeting with legislators at their Statehouses, and assembling to write letters. They are advocating

at all levels of government on such issues as protecting unborn life, capital punishment, clean

energy, religious liberty and affordable housing. We can also imagine that two parishioners

somewhere are in a lively dialogue about their opposing views on such matters. Both are clearly

committed to their principles but, refreshingly, not threatened by the conversation. In fact, each

want to know if the Holy Spirit has something to say through the experiences of the other person!

This is faithful citizenship in action. It is promoting God’s vision for life, dignity and care for

creation through civic life while recognizing the goodness in those who disagree with us. As Pope

Francis said to Congress, “All political activity must serve and promote the good of the human

person and be based on respect for his or her dignity” (Address, Sept. 24, 2015).

Although few would dispute that, faithful citizenship becomes more of a challenge with each

election season. Heightening antagonism and polarization can tempt us to abandon our Christian

behavior toward each other. As my Archbishop recently shared in the newspaper:

One of the songs we sing in our churches includes the refrain, `Let there be peace on

earth, and let it begin with me.' A fundamental cause of all the negativity we face in our

national conversation is the speed at which we confidently point fingers at others as the

source of our problems. We need to look humbly to ourselves first… We must engage in

dialogue with the person who has a view differing from our own. The Lord is active in all

our lives, so respect demands that we at least try to understand where the other is coming

from. (Archbishop Dennis Schnurr quoted in the Cincinnati Enquirer, May 15, 2016).

The content and tone of our political conversations must not reflect political candidates and the

media. We can make clear the type of rhetoric we expect from those seeking public office, and we

can exemplify respectful dialogue with each other. As a Church, we can help shape the public

discourse.

To that end, the Archdiocese of Cincinnati has launched a new campaign, Civilize It: Dignity

Beyond the Debate. We invite everyone to join the movement and take the pledge at

www.civilizeit.us. As the webpage explains, “Civilize It is a non-partisan movement and a call for

all of us to help change the tone, follow our faith, and quiet the quarrels in our day-to-day lives.”

In the Archdiocese, we’re handing out Civilize It campaign buttons, car magnets, t-shirts and

yard signs. Parishioners have signed letters to our candidates, urging them to keep their campaigns

respectful and to consider the full slate of Catholic Social Teaching in their platforms.

Wherever you are, take the pledge! Share it! Tell yourself, friends and family that you are part

of a movement to infuse civility, clarity and compassion into our political engagements. Instead of

allowing another election year divide American Catholics further, let’s first and foremost respond

to the goodness of Christ in each other. As Pope Francis exclaimed, “No to warring among

ourselves!” As we faithfully live out our consciences in the public square, “[l]et us not allow

ourselves to be robbed of the ideal of fraternal love” (Joy of the Gospel, nos. 98-101). Let’s

Civilize It!

Tony Stieritz – Director, Catholic Social Action Office, Archdiocese of Cincinnati *This is an edited version of the article that first appeared on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ ‘To Go Forth’

blog.

LIVING IN THE YEAR OF

MERCY WHEN IT’S AN

ELECTION YEAR!

Jesus calls us to be merciful 24-7,

but does that really include an

election year? Find out how

Catholics can be civil and engaged

during this election year.

We’ll look at how the Church

forms its conscience through

Scripture and church teaching.

Together, let us call for more

civility in electoral politics and

from each other!

Date: Tuesday, August 23

Time: 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Venue: St. Teresa of the Child Jesus

Fr. Collins Hall (church basement)

1827 N. Limestone Street,

Springfield, OH

For more information call

937-224-3026 or email

csadayton@catholiccincinnati.org

Click here for event flyer.

We hope you will

join us!