The Concept of Mercy in Theology
“God’s Love is the flower - Mercy the fruit”
The most comprehensive statement by the Magisterium on the meaning of Divine Mercy can be found in Saint John Paul II's Encyclical Letter "Dives in Misericordia" (Rich in Mercy, 1981). In that encyclical, the Holy Father made two very important statements about mercy. First, he wrote, " Mercy is Love's second name." Secondly, he taught that mercy is "The greatest attribute of God."
Pope John Paul II wrote in Dives in Misericordia: "The Bible, Tradition, and the whole faith life of the People of God provide unique proof... that mercy is the greatest of the attributes and perfections of God" (DM, no. 13).
The First Vatican Council teaches: God is one, simple, spiritual, infinitely perfect act of Being. He does not have "parts" as bodily creatures do. Rather, each of His perfections - such as His love, His goodness, His power, His wisdom and His mercy- are just another name for what He is.
According to the First Letter of St. John, "God is love" (4:8). He is infinite, eternal, self-giving love within His own being, among the Three Persons of the Blessed Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. From all eternity, therefore, within His own infinite essence,
He enjoys: the fullness of love given, love received, and love returned. He enjoyed that fullness of perfect love before He ever made the world - and even if He had never made any world at all, He still would have enjoyed this perfect beatitude of eternal love, for "God is love."
In the infinite, eternal love that He is, in the inner life of the Blessed Trinity, there is no need for "mercy," for there is no "want" or "misery" or "suffering" that needs to be overcome in the Infinitely Perfect Being.
What then is Divine Mercy?
Divine Mercy is the Greatest Attribute of God
Mercy is Love's second name
The Concept of Mercy in Theology
In colloquial language we use a number of synonymous terms and expressions to refer to the concept of mercy. Among them, we find expressions such as: tenderness, gentleness, goodness, pity, clemency, benevolence, love of neighbor, compassion and kindness.
Systematic theology defines the mercy of God as: God's attribute in His "ad extra" action, that is, on the outside, in relation to people who are befallen by physical and particularly moral evil, with the desire to offer them assistance.
Mercy is not simply an expression of God’s attitude to the external world and even less an expression of His weakness, but rather it is an attribute of God which belongs to His nature. In every work of God, particularly as regards its primary source, mercy reveals itself. God has revealed His mercy in all of His deeds from the beginning of the world's existence. For it is in mercy that all good things have their origin.
“No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father's side, has revealed him” (cf. Jn 1:18). The most intimate truth which revelation gives about God and man's salvation shines forth in the person of Jesus Christ. It is through Christ that we come to know God in the mystery of His being and in His relationship to man. Jesus makes known and brings close to us the attributes of God in a most perfect way. God, Who is rich in mercy, becomes visible in Christ in a special way. Jesus makes mercy incarnate and personifies it. He Himself in a certain sense is mercy (cf. DM 2).
Through His actions and through His lifestyle Jesus revealed that love is present in the world in which we live - an effective love, a love that addresses itself to man and embraces everything that makes up his humanity. “This love makes itself particularly noticed in contact with suffering; injustice and poverty – in contact with the whole historical human condition, which in various ways manifests man's limitation and frailty, both physical and moral” (DM 3). This love is called mercy.
The most perfect manifestation of God's mercy is the mystery of redemption. Man by himself was unable to atone for the sins of the human nature. And that is why God gave him His Son to make atonement for his sins. This deed was an act of far greater mercy than if He had forgiven man's sins demanding nothing in return.
The Paschal Mystery is the culmination of the revelation and fulfillment of mercy which proves to be greater than any sin committed by man.
The Church remains the main trustee and dispenser of this mercy. The Church is not only the fruit of God's mercy, but she also makes it present in its existence and activity. It is in the Church and through the Church, particularly in the sacraments, that the Savior continues to perform His great work of mercy. The Church reminds the subsequent generations of Christians of Christ's words: Be merciful, just as Your Father is merciful (Lk 6:36).
Until Tomorrow
fr. george