Father’s admirable love: For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son
(Blessed Paolo Manna)
The Father sends the Son out of love for creation

From the Gospel according to John

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” (Jn 3:16-17)

From the Magisterium of the Catholic Church

“All the elect, before time began, the Father ‘foreknew and pre-destined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that he should be the firstborn among many brethren’” (Second Vatican Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium, 2)

“Going from town to town, preaching to the poorest - and frequently the most receptive - the joyful news of the fulfillment of the promises and of the Covenant offered by God is the mission for which Jesus declares that He is sent by the Father.” (Paul VI, Apostolic Exhortation on Evangelization in the Modern World, Evangelii Nuntiandi, 6)

“Missionary activity is being directed that all of this has but one purpose: to serve man by revealing to him the love of God made manifest in Jesus Christ.” (John Paul II, Encyclical Letter on the permanent validity of the Church’s missionary mandate, Redemptoris Missio, 2)

“His death on the Cross is the culmination of that turning of God against himself in which he gives himself in order to raise man up and save him. This is love in its most radical form. By contemplating the pierced side of Christ (cf. 19:37), we can understand the starting-point of this Encyclical Letter: ‘God is love’ (1 Jn 4:8). It is there that this truth can be contemplated.” (Benedict XVI, Enyclical Letter on Christian Love, Deus Caritas Est, 12)

“A renewal of preaching can offer believers, as well as the lukewarm and the non-practising, new joy in the faith and fruitfulness in the work of evangelization. The heart of its message will always be the same: the God who revealed his immense love in the crucified and risen Christ. God constantly renews his faithful ones.” (Pope Francis, Apostolic Exhortation on the Proclamation of the Gospel in Today’s World, Evangelii Gaudium, 11)

From the writings of Blessed Father Paolo Manna

“This decree of love of the heavenly Father, realized in Adam, was destroyed by sin. Adam sinned and dragged all his descendants into their misfortune. But this divine Father does not want us to be overcome by sin, he loves us too much, and to save us, to restore to us the lost grace of sonship, by a decree of infinite love, by an invention of justice and mercy, he ordains that his only Son, who lives eternally in his bosom, becomes man, remaining God, to save fallen humanity.” (P. Manna, Chiamati alla santità, Naples 1977, p. 22)

“Father’s admirable love: For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son (Jn 3:16).” (P. Manna, Chiamati alla santità, Naples 1977, p. 22)

“The blood shed by Jesus Christ was the price of this great gift, for which we can still call God our Father, for which we can still esteem ourselves and be children of God and hope to be with Him in heaven for all eternity.” (P. Manna, Chiamati alla santità, Naples 1977, p. 23)

“God loving humanity abases Himself, becomes man, therefore we have on earth a man-God.” (P. Manna, Chiamati alla santità, Naples 1977, p. 35)

“God overcomes all distances and difficulties, wants to establish a covenant with mankind, in kinship and consanguinity with men and women, wants there to be a Man-God among humankind. But is that possible? Yes, the evangelist John says: Et Verbum caro factum est.” (P. Manna, Chiamati alla santità, Naples 1977, p. 36)

“God through the infinite mystery of love wanted to make Himself man [...] He becomes man to cancel sin and save sinners [...]. He comes down from heaven to save men and women, and therefore He becomes man like us, and in a humanity like ours He suffers and dies as we suffer and die. [...] What love!” (P. Manna, Chiamati alla santità, Naples 1977, pp. 36-37)

Questions for reflection

• How much gratitude do I show toward the Father who sent His Son into the world for my salvation?
• Do I realize how great the Father’s love for me is? Do I thank Him for this love?
• Can I pass on this great love of God to other people and how?

 PRAYER

Litany to The Divine Mercy

Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy

Christ have mercy, Christ have mercy

Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy

God, good father we trust in you

God, you are a father and a tender mother

God, rich in mercy

Father, you seek your children with tireless love

Father, you are always waiting for us

Father, you forgive, forget, you disregard our faults

Father, you want the happiness of your children

Father, you protect the humble and succor the poor

Father, always faithful to your promises

Father, you call all to be your children

Father, you conduct everything with patience and love

Father, you have compassion on our suffering

Father, you give us everything freely

Father, you for us gave your Son

Jesus, Merciful Love incarnate

Jesus, good shepherd of our souls

Jesus, who out of love gave your life

Jesus, you took upon yourself our sins

Jesus, for us humbled unto death

Jesus, physician of our infirmities

Jesus, source of our joy

Jesus, you gave us your peace

Jesus, fortress and shield of those who hope in you

Jesus, hope of eternal goods

Jesus, you called us friends

Jesus, inexhaustible source of grace

Jesus, receive us sinners with immense tenderness

Jesus, beloved son of Mary

Jesus, you gave us your Mother

Jesus, you love everyone without exception

Jesus, you are Way, Truth and Life

Holy Spirit, Love of the Father and the Son

Spirit of Love, you penetrate the heart of every man

Spirit of Wisdom, you enlighten minds

Spirit of Goodness, inspiring mercy

Spirit of Holiness, begetting virgins

Spirit of Beauty, bestowing the joy of life

Spirit of Fortitude, which upholds the poor and weak

Spirit of Faithfulness, which you bestow perseverance

Spirit of Prudence, you turn everything to the glory of God

Spirit of Patience, who waits for our conversion

Spirit of Mercy, you fill man’s heart with God

Spirit of Humility, leading through obedience

Spirit of Justice, measuring guilt with mercy.

O Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, forgive us, Lord.

O Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, hear us, Lord.

O Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Pray for us O Mary, Universal Mediatrix, that we may be made worthy of Christ’s promises.

pray

O God, Trinity of Love, see how much power of love today’s man and the world need; how much strength of Merciful Love!

We beseech Thee, do not fail; be untiring; be ever greater than all the evil in man and in the world; be greater than that evil which has grown in our century and generation; be more powerful with the strenght of the Crucified King. He is God and lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.