The term "mea culpa" translates
into an admission of guilt for a transgression by one's own fault (one that
could have been avoided if the person had been more diligent). The origin of
the expression is from a prayer of confession of sinfulness known as Confiteor
(Latin for "I confess").The phrase “through my fault, through my
own fault, through my own most grievous fault” has been reinstated
in the new approved 2010 ICEL English translation of the prayer.
I recently had reason to meditate on the
concepts of guilt and mercy when I heard of the death of Derek Permin Isaac. I
questioned whether as a community we could have done anything to avoid his
death:
-Did Social Services offer rehabilitation
services to this disturbed man and his family?
-Did Police Services protect and serve the
public from the danger he posed?
-Did City Council do all they could to
address the environmental eye-sores he created?
Who was responsible for this man? Who knew
him? Who cared? – I wanted to respond that we did try - We gave hand-outs! We
called the authorities! We complained! Still deep down in my conscience I know
that we operated on the surface. We did not want to get too involved. He was the
cross that we would wear decoratively on our chests, but he was not the cross
we would carry. He was too heavy.
I guess on the surface level where we chose
to interact we are not responsible, but on the deeper level where justice and
mercy dwell our consciences admit “mea culpa”. When we cross to the other side
and avert our eyes “mea culpa”. When we give a dollar and hurry off to Church
“mea culpa”. When in our community we know a man not by his name but by the
animal we think him to be and the animal he had become “mea culpa”. When we are
in positions of authority and refuse use that position to make life better for
the least among us “mea culpa, mea maxima culpa”.
“No one may
claim the name of Christian and be comfortable in the face of hunger, homelessness,
insecurity, and injustice found in this country and the world.” (Economic
Justice for All, U.S. Catholic Bishops, 1986).
Social Justice calls us from our
complacency, inertia and indifference. It calls us to recognize the
relationship between mercy and justice:
“When we attend to the needs of those in want, we give
them what is theirs, not ours. More than performing works of mercy, we are
paying a debt of justice.” (Social Doctrine of the Church, 184).
As we embrace the Divine Mercy of Jesus
Christ in this Easter season we acknowledge the call to mission that transforms
our indifference and the mercy that is available on those occasions when we
abdicate our responsibility to action. Moreover, we recognize the Divine Mercy
made available through the less fortunate in our society which provide us with
the opportunity to show mercy and so participate in God’s plan of universal
compassion and love. To show mercy is not a choice, it is divine grace.
Erica Brereton
CCSJ
– St. Joseph / Mt.
D’Or
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