{"id":230386,"date":"2019-03-14T15:09:39","date_gmt":"2019-03-14T13:09:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/?p=230386"},"modified":"2019-03-14T19:58:07","modified_gmt":"2019-03-14T17:58:07","slug":"patriarch-daniel-have-mercy-on-me-o-god-is-the-call-to-the-only-source-of-eternal-life-christ","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arhiva.basilica.ro\/en\/patriarch-daniel-have-mercy-on-me-o-god-is-the-call-to-the-only-source-of-eternal-life-christ\/","title":{"rendered":"Patriarch Daniel: \u2018Have mercy on me, o God\u2019 is the call to the only source of eternal life \u2013 Christ"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u2018After every troparion of the Great Canon of Repentance of Saint Andrew of Crete we have this calling, this insistent supplication, as a breath of the Church: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me,\u2019 Patriarch Daniel said at the end of the Great Canon officiated at the Patriarchal Cathedral on Clean Monday.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Have mercy on me, o God!<\/h4>\n

Referring to this request, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel said it is \u2018the call to the only source of eternal life \u2013 Christ who conquered death.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018He conquered sin, hell and death, and granted eternal life to those who believe in Him,\u2019 His Beatitude stressed recalling the Saviour\u2019s words, \u2018I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die\u2019 (John 11:25).<\/p>\n

Why do we address this calling so often during Great Lent? \u2018Because we admit that we cannot be saved by ourselves.\u2019<\/p>\n

The Patriarch of Romania explained that \u2018salvation means the union between the passing and mortal man and the immortal and eternal God, the source of eternal life and of eternal joy.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018We cannot give ourselves eternal live, but the only One who can do this thing is our compassionate God,\u2019 the Patriarch added March 12, 2019.<\/p>\n

However, \u2018resurrection is not a natural phenomenon, a natural cycle as some pagans believed when spring came.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018The resurrection given by Christ is not a return to earthly life, but the entry into a life without pain, without sigh and without end. Only Christ the Lord, the source of eternal life, can grant us salvation through His compassion, through His mercy, and His grace.\u2019<\/p>\n

The Patriarch explained the word mercy that is so often invoked during the Lenten season saying that \u2018to have mercy also means to save, i.e. to pour out grace in order to gain eternal life.\u2019<\/p>\n

Repentance is a program for entire life<\/h4>\n

During his homily delivered at the Great Compline on Monday, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel pointed to the black vestments worn by clergy, the prayers of repentance, and prostrations, representing \u2018an offering brought to God.\u2019<\/p>\n

His Beatitude said that Christ is the centre of the Christian fasting season, and that the purpose of Great Lent is \u2018to become united with the crucified and risen Christ.\u2019<\/p>\n

Insisting on the idea of repentance, Patriarch Daniel noted that it is \u2018a program for entire life.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018In our secularized society, the consciousness of sin has weakened, and that is why the practice of repentance has weakened, but where there is no repentance, there is also no longing for holiness.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018When humility is replaced with self-sufficiency, self-praise, self-overvaluation, justification of evil, man reaches spiritual insensitivity, loses his temper and becomes irresponsible,\u2019 the Patriarch said pointing to \u2018the coming to his senses\u2019 of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32).<\/p>\n

Pure love is born out of prayer<\/h4>\n

The Patriarch of Romania noted that during the Lenten season prayer is recommended as a \u2018source of healing\u2019 from sin, which is \u2018a sickness of the soul.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018The man who prays much enlightens his mind, and it is shaped after Christ\u2019s mind. Through the word of prayer we unite with God the Word and our reason is sanctified according to the mind of Christ.\u2019<\/p>\n

The Patriarch ended his speech by quoting St Isaac the Syrian who said that \u2018pure love is born out of prayer\u2019 and stressed that prayer can be a remedy for the division, quarrels and trouble that are increasingly present in today\u2019s society, because \u2018pure love comes forth from Christ\u2019s love.\u2019<\/p>\n