This thought-provoking app provides users with a morning inspiration and evening reflection to help frame the day, attentive to the events, interactions, relationships and circumstances of each day within the context of 'being Mercy'. The app also includes the daily repetition of a consistent mercy 'mantra', as well as an inbuilt timer to assist with reflective process.
Drawn from a wide selection of sources including scripture, contemporary theology, activists and thinkers, the app's content uses 'Mercy' as a verb, capturing the sense of movement inherent in the heart of Mercy.
Mercy Ethos Educator of the Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea, Natalie Acton, shares her excitement about the new app and the ease of integrating daily reflection into everyday life.
"The idea of the app came from a group discussion looking at how people could integrate a reflective practice centred on Mercy into their everyday, busy lives," says Natalie.
"Everyone in the working group had a sense that there were many lay people who would find it useful to have a daily practice, supported by a portable tool such as an app, to help people to reflect on the many ways that mercy is manifest in our everyday lives and to heighten our attentiveness to this."
The app's title has a direct connection with Pope Francis, who, when translating his motto from Latin to Spanish, coined the word misericordiando, which translates to 'Mercy-ing'.
“We all have so many competing priorities today, so having the app on your phone with a set timer provides a manageable way for people to make space to do their reflections, as they go about their daily lives,” says Natalie.
“I do it in the car or at my desk when I need a quick break. One night I even did my reflection at a restaurant whilst waiting for my friends to arrive!"
In the Papal Bull of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, Pope Francis reflects on looking at mercy as a verb saying, "Mercy is a key word that indicates God's action towards us. He does not limit himself merely to affirming his love, but makes it visible and tangible."
"The app gives us a piece of reflection, and then asks us to engage with it, helping us to really put 'mercy' into action," says Natalie.
The app was funded by the Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea, and was developed with the support of the Sisters of Mercy Parramatta, and Nga Whaea Atawhai o Aotearoa, Sisters of Mercy New Zealand.
Mercy-ing is now available for download on itunes or on google play.
Image courtesy of Sisters of Mercy Parramatta.