Thai Catholic weekly looks at how youth view mercy

The Udomsarn weekly gives young Catholics a forum to express their views about mercy during the Extraordinary Jubilee. It “is not only a feeling of pity, but is something that needs to be put into practice every day.” Thai youths are set to participate in the World Youth Day in Krakow in July.

Bangkok (AsiaNews) – The Thai Catholic weekly Udomsarn asked some young Catholics how they plan to experience the Holy Year proclaimed by Pope Francis.

For some of them, mercy is not only a feeling of pity, but is something that needs to be put into practice every day. For others, it is foremost a desire to see happiness in others more than in oneself, and requires bearing witness as a person. One place where they can do this is World Youth Day, set to take place in Krakow (Poland), on 25-31 July 2016.

Ptrika Tawornraat is one of those who penned his thoughts. He represents Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, in the southern province of Suratthani. "Mercy,” he says, “is to love and desire the best for others, be sympathetic towards them and feel no selfishness. It is to wish that people around us be happy. It is not necessary to make some act of charity to be merciful, for mercy is the key feature we must share with others."

"Mercy is something that we learn from God,” writes Than-nan Polsri, from the Student Centre at the Catholic University. “If everyone behaved mercifully, society would be happier and there would not be the oppression we often see nowadays. We should not require others to have mercy, but should instead bear witness to it ourselves. Thus, those who see us will follow our example."

Chaiwat Orpae, from the northern diocese of Chiang Mai, agrees. Mercy is above all something to put into practice. "For me, it is not only a feeling of pity, but it is something that needs to be put into practice every day. It also entails forgiving others even when we are reluctant to do so."

Sister Arunee Fruneg, from the Congregation of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Bangkok, also expressed her thoughts on the Catholic weekly. For her, mercy means "kindness, compassion, goodness, humility, and doing something for the happiness of others. The best example of this is God the Father, who sent his only Son into the world, for the salvation of humanity. It is unconditional love, given to all without distinction."

• thailand
• youth
• mercy
• jubilee
• pope francis
• world youth day
• catholic weekly