Mercy – A Booklist

I've been posting regular thoughts and quotes on mercy which I think is at the heart of the life and message Jesus Christ and what it means to be a Christian, a Jesus-follower. I expect to occasionally post more on the topic, but I am going to take a break so I can focus on some other things. In case you are interested in reading more on mercy, here is a booklist:

Dives in Miseriacordia (Rich in Mercy) 

– Pope John Paul II

Mercy,The Essence of the Gospel and the Key to Christian Life 

– Walter Kasper

The Name of God Is Mercy 

– Pope Francis

The Wisdom of Tenderness: What Happens When God's Fierce Mercy Transforms Our Lives 

– Brennan Manning

The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus 

– Brennan Manning

The Power and Meaning of Love 

– Thomas Merton

The Primacy of Love, An Introduction to the Ethics of Thomas Aquinas 

– Paul Wadell

The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer that Tunes the Heart to God 

– Frederica Mathewes-Green

Where God Happens: Discovering Christ in One Another

– Rowan Williams

To Love as God Loves, Conversations with the Early Church

– Roberta Bondi

The Philokalia

– Collected writings of early Christians

On Ascetical Life

– Isaac the Syrian

The Wisdom of Saint Isaac the Syrian

– Isaac the Syrian

The Spiritual World Of Isaac The Syrian 

– Hilarion Alfeyev

The Gospels

Finally, there is this from Sister Faustina, a Roman Catholic saint of the 20th century:

Help me, O Lord, that my eyes may be merciful, so that I may never suspect or judge from appearances, but look for what is beautiful in my neighbors’ souls and come to their rescue.

Help me, O Lord, that my ears may be merciful, so that I may give heed to my neighbors’ needs and not be indifferent to their pains and moanings.

Help me, O Lord, that my tongue may be merciful, so that I should never speak negatively of my neighbor, but have a word of comfort and forgiveness for all.

Help me, O Lord, that my hands may be merciful, and filled with good deeds, so that I might do only good to my neighbors and take upon myself the more difficult and toilsome tasks.

Help me, O Lord, that my feet may be merciful, so that may hurry to assist my neighbor, overcoming my own fatigue and weariness. My true rest is in the service of my neighbor.

Help me, O Lord, that my heart may be merciful so that I myself may feel all the sufferings of my neighbor. I will refuse my heart to no one. I will be sincere even with those who I know will abuse my kindness. And I will lock myself up in the merciful Heart of Jesus. May your mercy, O Lord, rest upon me.

You Yourself command me to exercise the three degrees of mercy. The first: the act of mercy, of whatever kind. The second: the word of mercy – if I cannot carry ourt a work of mercy, I will assist by my words. The third: prayer – if I cannot show mercy by my deeds or words, I can always do so by prayer.My prayer reaches out even there where I cannot reach out physically.

O my Jesus, transform me into Yourself, for You can do all things.

Becoming a People of God's Mercy and Delight, Part 1

Becoming a People of God's Mercy and Delight, Part 2

More Mercy and Delight