Vision, Theology, Praxis

Mercy - Kindling

The theological reflection process developed by the Mercy International Research Commission began with the articulation of experience, the naming and gathering of the story of Mercy throughout the world.  This experience was analyzed and contextualized in a series of papers. At the Conference held in Burlingame, California in November 2007, this social analysis and history came into dialogue with the tradition (biblical, theological, spiritual and ecclesial).  From this dialogue emerged statements of vision, theology and praxis. These now flow out into the Mercy world, inviting you, in all your various locations, to continue the spiral, undertaking your theological reflection processes in dialogue with what has begun here. This ongoing process we name “Mercy – Kindling”.

Vision:

A vision is the reality of the future for which we yearn. Out of the first three stages of our theological reflection process, this vision emerged.

We Sisters of Mercy in the twenty-first century are in radical communion beyond all borders. We are grounded in the compassion of God. We are nurtured by the Gospel, and by the story of Catherine McAuley and of Mercy lived and living. Aware of our own brokenness, we join with others in healing the wounds of Earth and Earth’s peoples.

Theology:

Theology emerged from the major themes that both informed and provoked our process of theological reflection. Our theologizing was multifaceted, reflecting the different contexts of Mercy.

Doing theology during these days spiralled into and out of our engagement with experiences of the contextual and historical realities we shared. These then spiralled into dialogue with the biblical, theological, spiritual and ecclesial traditions in which we stand.

• We were touched deeply by the pain of those who are impoverished, especially women and children and the Earth.
• We recognized our own complicity in the brokenness and woundedness and our need for forgiveness.
• We were caught up into the womb-compassion, steadfast love, faithfulness and graciousness of God, of Jesus as embodied mercy and of the Spirit permeating all.
• We were drawn into a theology of communion, of God who is communion.
• We experienced in our theologizing a yearning for God to be imaged female as well as male.
• We were impassioned toward a theology of mercy that is formed and tested by justice as well as compassion.
• We were challenged to break the cycles of violence in our world and in our own realities through radical forgiveness of the other.

Recognizing that what we had begun was but a single moment, we were impelled to continue to develop theologies and spiritualities of Mercy that draw on the rich resources among us as Sisters of Mercy engaged in Mercy across the globe.  This will enkindle in us the fire of Mercy in response to the cries and pain of the most wounded, including Earth.

Praxis:

Praxis is reflective and reflected action emerging out of a new vision and theology for liberation and transformation.

We Sisters of Mercy embrace the vision of a radical communion beyond all borders.  Therefore, we will:

• Develop theologies and spiritualities for Mercy that flow from ongoing storytelling in our different contexts, in dialogue with our local and global experiences and with our sacred traditions and texts.
• Engage in theological reflection processes in ways that deepen and expand our theological understandings and praxis.
• Reclaim the motivating force in the call of Catherine McAuley and give new expression to the spiritual and corporal works of Mercy.
• Use multiple ways to share the passion and pain in the stories of Mercy so that our local experiences resonate with the global.
• Deepen and expand images of God in ways that will give women the confidence to know that they have been made in the image of God.
• Provide opportunities for cross-cultural, contextual, and global engagement through Mercy International Association, its expanded Mercy International Centre, and other organizations.
• Foster increased participation of women in leadership and policy-formation.
• Use the new technologies to enable the fire of Mercy to shape anew our local Mercy ministries and to increase our collaboration in global projects.
• Share our Mercy human and financial resources to facilitate this praxis.