By the power of the Holy Spirit, she brought into the world Divine Mercy Incarnate: Jesus Christ. Because she is the mother of Jesus—who is Mercy Himself—Mary is rightly called the Mother of Mercy. What an awe-inspiring mystery to contemplate: a simple human being, a teenage girl, a humble Jewish maiden, chosen to bring Divine Mercy into the world. With her own body, she nursed, nourished, and lovingly cared for Him with tender, unwavering affection. And with that same maternal love, she continues to desire to be an instrument of God’s mercy in our lives.

The word mercy—misericordia in both Spanish and Latin—comes from miserere, meaning "to have pity," and cor, meaning "heart," along with the suffix -ia, denoting action. It describes a heart so moved by the suffering of another that it must act to bring comfort and healing. Yet sometimes, suffering is not something to be removed, but something mysteriously permitted by the Father for a greater purpose. Such was the case with the Passion of Christ. The Father allowed His Son’s suffering—not out of indifference, but as the very path through which the salvation of the world was won. This truth transforms our understanding of mercy. True mercy does not always take away the cross, but it never leaves us alone beneath it. It accompanies. It redeems. It transforms. Mercy becomes more than a feeling—it becomes love in action, rooted in hope

And so, the greatest act of mercy is what Mary did: she remained at the foot of the Cross. She did not run from pain—she embraced it with faith, compassion, and hope. She stood with love, even in sorrow. This is the mercy Mary longs to offer us. She does not erase our crosses, but stands beside us—faithful and strong. She feels our pain, carries it in her heart, and, in Christ, offers it to the Father—praying that joy may rise from sorrow, and that God’s greater good may come swiftly. And as she does for us, we learn how to do for others. In living out this spiritual work of mercy alongside Mary, we too become Mothers of Mercy in the world.