Pope Francis declares Year of Mercy on the vigil of Divine Mercy and the feastday of St Gemma

Pope Francis declares a Year of Mercy on the solemn Vigil of Divine Mercy and also the feast day of St Gemma Galgani, stigmatic and victim soul

April 11, 2015, St Peters Basilica, Rome
Pope Francis will officially declare a Jubilee Year of Mercy at an evening ceremony and vigil celebration of the Feast of Divine Mercy.

Providentially, this day also marks the feast day of St Gemma Galgani (April 11)--a stigmatic and victim soul who very befittingly to the occasion was well known for calling upon the mercy of Jesus, and whom suffered greatly for the conversion of sinners.

The solemn bull of indiction proclaiming the year-long Jubilee, entitled 'Misericordiae Vultus', (the Face of Mercy) will be released at the April 11 ceremony. The document announces the dates for the beginning and closing of the Year of Mercy, and explains the Pope’s intentions and his plans for the observance.

This momentous and profound Jubilee Year will offer Catholics the opportunity to reflect much more deeply on the infinite love and mercy of Jesus as revealed through His Passion and death, along with the contemplation of Our Father's care and concern for His beloved children.

Pope Francis entrusts the Jubilee Year of Mercy to the Mother of Mercy
At the initial announcement of the upcoming Year of Mercy, Pope Francis stated:
"I am convinced that the whole Church will find in this jubilee the joy needed to rediscover and make fruitful the mercy of God, with which all of us are called to give consolation to every man and woman of our time. From this moment, we entrust this holy year to the Mother of Mercy, that She might turn her gaze upon us, and watch over our journey.”

This Holy Year of Mercy will begin on this coming Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (December 8, 2015) and will end on November 20, 2016, the Sunday dedicated to Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.

"For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy upon us and upon the whole world!
-St Faustina Kowalska, pray for us!
-St Gemma Galgani, pray for us!
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Some words of St Gemma imploring Jesus' mercy:
"Lord, if you wish, you can save me; but the number of the sins I carry with me is great. Remember, oh Jesus, your mercy."

"Every time the clock strikes I will repeat three times: 'My Jesus, mercy!'' (written by Gemma in her Autobiography)

"My heart is always united to Jesus, who more and more consumes me. Oh my most sweet Jesus, I would wish to be all dissolved in the midst of the flames of Your Love. Oh, how can I correspond, my God, since You have given me so much? Who will help me in this? To Your Mercy alone I owe the little love that there is in my poor heart for Thee."

"You see, my Jesus, that I have such great confidence in You that if I saw the gates of Hell open and I stood on the brink of the abyss, I should not despair. And even if I saw heaven and hell against me, still I would not despair of Your mercy, because I would put my faith in You. You are so compassionate, so merciful!"
-Words of St Gemma