Roland, entering the 'Door of Mercy' is symbolic. It signifies reconciliation and repentence. What it means is that God forgives and one can change into a new leaf by leaving the past behind. What is important is for one to transform oneself by discarding sins of greed, selfishness,hubristic pride, lust, malicious envy, gluttony, wrath, sloth etc. Confessions are held in all churches,some daily, some weekly. Unfortunately, some people take the literal meaning and miss the essence.
This year being declared the Year of Mercy by the Pope, the faithful are exhorted to reconcile with God. If you have been following the news, the Pope has asked the people to practice forgiveness. Single mothers,divorced couples,couples of inter-religious marriages who in the past were excommunicated have all been welcomed back into the Church. Regarding the protest fast by some people due to which the 'Door of Mercy' at Mount Mary Church was closed, that is a separate issue. More to do with property matters and a way of drawing attention to their grievances, real or imaginary. Regards, Marshall *I was chagrined to read on Goanet recently about some Door of Mercy at Mount Mary's church being closed and people fasting to death over it.It would be amusing if it weren't sad that in this day and age some Catholic faithful believe that passing through such doors grants them a plenary indulgence of punishment in purgatory.First of all hang the Church recanted its purgatory doctrine.Even if has not, can one really bring oneself to believe that passing through a church door gives some spiritual relief? * *Roland Francis*