Pope Francis defined mercy, from the very beginning of his pontificate, as «the structural cornerstone of the Church’s life» (cf. Misericordiae Vultus, no. 10).
Editrice Shalom recently published the highly valuable book The Hour of Divine Mercy, an aid for prayer and reflection.
The author of the text is Father Pasqualino di Dio, a priest of the Diocese of Piazza Armerina, where he officially serves as an exorcist and Episcopal Vicar for the City of Gela. In 1996, he founded the “Apostolic Fraternity of Mercy” and, in 2013, at the request of Pope Francis, the “Little House of Mercy” and the “Raphael” Social Cooperative, which assist disadvantaged families in the Nisseno area. A doctoral student in spiritual theology at the Antonianum in Rome, he is a Missionary of Mercy, director of the National Center for Mercy Spirituality, and a contributor to TV2000, Radio Maria, and Vatican Radio.
We asked Father Pasqualino a few questions to learn more about the book’s content.
Following the success of his book “In My Struggle, Lord, You Do the Fighting”, a new collaboration with Editrice Shalom for “The Hour of Divine Mercy”. Could you briefly introduce the book to us?
The book was born from a desire expressed by many people: not only to pray the Chaplet inspired by Jesus of Divine Mercy and given to Saint Faustina Kowalska, but also to be accompanied by the Word of God and the accompanying meditations.
Over these six years, many faithful have become connected to our Apostolic Fraternity of Mercy of Gela through the valuable service that Tv2000 and Radio Maria provide every day. It is consoling, especially in this difficult time, to feel like one family imploring divine mercy for all weary and suffering humanity.
In these years I have experienced the power of intercessory prayer, especially that of the elderly and the sick, which has particularly sustained me in my ministry as an exorcist.
Your book places great importance on meditating on biblical texts through the words of saints and great men of the Church. Can you explain your choice to us?
The Word of God must be our daily bread; just as the body needs nourishment, the spirit and mind also need sustenance. Many times we are unable to attend daily Eucharist, but nothing prevents us from drawing close to the Word of the day, setting aside time in the morning to read and meditate on it so that during the day it may re-emerge in our hearts and illuminate our choices and our words.
The Word must be the lamp for our journey and a light for our steps.
The title is very emblematic, because God's Mercy should be at the center of our life of faith. Does it have something to tell us about this?
“Mercy is God's first name,” Pope Francis often says. We need Mercy because everything is enveloped by it.
We must not understand mercy as a devotion, but as the movement of God's heart toward humanity, which in turn urges us to pour it out upon our brothers and sisters. If the roots of our eyes spring from the heart, then we will see our brothers and sisters not as enemies, but as precious gifts to be cared for and loved. Mercy will save the world; it is God's feeling, indeed his essence. If we allow God to “show us mercy,” then our life will be a true masterpiece of humanity and tenderness.
Thank you, Father Pasqualino! We hope that this little text will bear much fruit in those who read it.
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