R. (8a) The Lord is kind and merciful. Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.R. The Lord is kind and merciful. He pardons all your iniquities, he heals all your ills. He redeems your life from destruction, he crowns you with kindness and compassion.R. The Lord is kind and merciful. He will not always chide, nor does he keep his wrath forever. Not according to our sins does he deal with us, nor does he requite us according to our crimes.R. The Lord is kind and merciful. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from us.R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
REFLECTION: “The Lord is kind and merciful.”
Have you ever noticed how the Lord brings his kindness and mercy to earth through the saints? St. Colette of Corbie’s life began with the Lord showing kindness and mercy to her aged parents. They miraculously had their first and only child at the age of 60 after praying to St Nicholas. They named her Nicole, after this saint; and yet, nicknamed her Nicolette, which was later shortened to Colette. Upon her parent’s passing, she joined a lay order of Benedictines, where she did not feel challenged enough in her spiritual life.
She left this order to receive her habit in the third order of St. Francis, living as a hermitess near the monastery for four years. There she had visions and dreams to reform the Franciscan second order to its original austere lifestyle of poverty and obedience. She doubted her visions and her ability to carry out this enormous task of reforming the Poor Claires. So, God struck her dumb and blind in her hesitation. She then had a change of heart and was ready to do the will of God. Not only did God restore her vision and speech, but he paved her way to remain faithful in restoring the Poor Claire Order.
Her path of mercy began with a visit to the antipope in Avignon, Benedict XIII, the pope recognized by France during the Western Schism. There she was given permission to join the Order of Poor Claire and the responsibility to found new monasteries. She renewed the Franciscan order by opening 17 monasteries, known as the Colettine Poor Claire, before she died March 6, 1447.
There were many miracles in Colette’s life. She received a gold ring, visible to anyone, from St. John the Apostle, whom she had a great devotion. He said, "by my own right and on behalf of the sovereign King and Prince of virginity and chastity," and placed the ring on her finger. She also miraculously received a gold crucifix imbedded with a relic of the true cross after contemplating the passion of the Lord and praying for a relic. Years later as she was preparing for her death, she gave this away to the abbess and said, "Keep it and treasure it, for it is from Heaven."
God’s kindness and mercy were shown to others during her journey to follow God’s will. Once, Colette stayed at a friend’s house, where his wife was in extreme danger during childbirth. Colette went to the church and prayed for a safe delivery. The mother and baby survived and Colette was given credit for this miracle.
Another famous miracle happened when a father of a stillborn child rushed his baby to the local church out of desperation to have his child baptized. The priest refused to baptize the dead infant and sent the grieving father to the monastery for help. There Colette wrapped the child in her veil and told the father to return to the priest. The priest heard the baby crying when the father returned and gladly baptized the infant.
