Wednesday, December 9, 2015

A new documentary for the Year of Mercy

A new television documentary on the Sacrament of Reconciliation has been prepared for the Year of Mercy.


The Ends of the Earth Have Seen His Mercy

HM Television, in collaboration with the Apostolic Penitentiary, present The Ends of the Earth Have Seen His Mercy, a documentary on the Sacrament of Penance, on the occasion of the Jubilee Year of Mercy.

Contributions from Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, the Major Penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary; Archbishop Krzysztof Nykiel, the Regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary; Archbishop Arthur Roche, Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments; the penitentiaries of the four major basilicas of Rome and other experts on the subject help us to enter more deeply into the unfathomable mystery of God’s mercy.

The program opens with a glimpse into the Old Testament to discover a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity, continuing his kindness for a thousand generations, and forgiving wickedness and crime and sin (Ex 34:6-7).

What follows is a presentation of Jesus Christ as the Revelation and Incarnation of the Father.  Archbishop Roche explains that: We see the closeness of God our Heavenly Father to us through the Incarnation, through His Son becoming flesh like us, living amongst us.

The central part of the program is dedicated to a reflection on the Sacrament of Penance, the instrument God uses to administer His mercy in the forgiveness of sins. The program offers a commentary on the basic requirements for making a good confession as well as an explanation of the needs and effects of reconciliation with God.  Cardinal Mauro Piacenza says that: When a confession is made with faith, everything falls back into place, because the Lord is always ready to receive us, like the father from the parable of the Prodigal Son. With arms wide open, He awaits us in the confessional. All we have to do is be sincere and have contrition in our hearts.

The Ends of the Earth Have Seen His Mercy - Trailer



The program concludes with a brief reflection on how priests should dedicate themselves to this ministry and a look at the indulgences the Church grants to penitents.

The program includes interviews with:

  • Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, Major Penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary;
  • Archbishop Arthur Roche, Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments;
  • Archbishop Krzysztof Nykiel, Regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary;
  • Father Ján Ďačok, SJ, Theologian of the Apostolic Penitentiary;
  • Father Pedro Fernández, OP, Penitentiary of the Basilica of St. Mary Major;
  • Father Ciro Stanzione, OFM, Penitentiary of the Basilica of St. John Lateran;
  • Father Kevin Hanley, OFM, Penitentiary of the Basilica of St. Peter (Vatican);
  • Father Roberto Dotta, OSB, Penitentiary of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls.

The Ends of the Earth Have Seen His Mercy has a running time of approximately 30 minutes and is available in Spanish, English, and Italian.

The DVD version of the program (in all three languages) is available for purchase on the EUK Mamie Foundation website.  It can also be downloaded free of charge, with the possibility of making a donation to HM Television to help support future productions.

Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, says the Lord God, and not rather that they should turn from their ways and live? (Ezk 18:23) 

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