Mercy (Middle English, fromAnglo-Frenchmerci, fromMedieval Latinmerced-,merces "price paid, wages", fromLatinmerc-,merxi "merchandise") isbenevolence,forgiveness, andkindness in a variety of ethical, religious, social, andlegal contexts.
In the social and legal context, mercy may refer both to compassionate behavior on the part of those in power (e.g. mercy shown by a judge toward a convict), or on the part of a humanitarian third party (e.g., a mission of mercy aiming to treat war victims).[1]
"Mercy" can be defined as "compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one's power"; and also "a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion."[2] "To be at someone's mercy" indicates a person being "without defense against someone."[3]
In a judicial context mercy is often termed "clemency". It is a sovereign prerogative that resides in the executive and is entirely discretionary.John Locke defined it as "the power to act according to discretion, for the public good, without the prescription of the Law, and sometimes even against it."[4] The U.S.Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit explained that "The very nature of clemency is that it is grounded solely in the will of the dispenser of clemency. He need give no reasons for granting it or for denying it."[5]
The concept of a merciful God appears in various religions, includingHinduism,Christianity,Judaism, andIslam. Performing acts of mercy as a component of religious beliefs is also emphasized through actions such as the giving of alms, care for the sick, andWorks of Mercy.
Hebrews 4:16 says, "So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help." Grace and mercy are similar in that both are free gifts of God and both are dispensed absent any merit on the part of the recipient. Grace is the favor of God, a divine assistance. Grace is what one receives that one does not deserve while mercy is what one receives when one doesnot get what one deserves.[6]
An emphasis on mercy appears in theNew Testament, for example in theMagnificat[7] andBenedictus (Song ofZechariah),[8] inLuke's Gospel, and in theBeatitudes inMatthew 5:7: "Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy."[9] InEphesians 2:4–5Apostle Paul refers to the mercy of God in terms of salvation: "God, who is rich in mercy... even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ."
Psalm 117 calls upon all nations to praise the Lord on account of his "merciful kindness". This is quoted by the Apostle Paul inRomans 15:11 to show that God has now fulfilled this prophecy and promise through Jesus Christ, who has been merciful in giving his life as a sacrifice for his people, both Jew and gentile.1 Peter 2:9–10 reads:
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
This devotional element of mercy as part of the Christian tradition was echoed bySaint Augustine who called mercy "ever ancient, ever new".[9][10] TheWorks of Mercy (seven corporal and seven spiritual works) are part of the Catholic andEastern Orthodox traditions.[11]
In the encyclicalDives in misericordia ("Rich in Mercy")Pope John Paul II examined the role of mercy—both God's mercy, and also the need for human mercy.[13] He saw in theParable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–32) "the essence of the divine mercy".[13] Having squandered his patrimony, justice would dictate that the prodigal should only expect to be received back as a hireling. The figure of the father is analogous to God as Father, who goes beyond the requirements of justice to welcome his son with compassion.
TheCatechism of the Catholic Church emphasizes the importance of theWorks of Mercy. InRoman Catholic teachings the mercy of God flows through the work of the Holy Spirit.[11][14] RomanCatholic liturgy includes frequent references to mercy, e.g., as inKyrie eleison, Christe eleison: Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy.[15]
Mercy has also been an important subject of Christianiconography. Since theMiddle Ages, many representations in art encouraged people to practice theworks of mercy and, as the art historianRalf van Bühren explains using the example ofCaravaggio, helped "the audience to explore mercy in their own lives".[16]: 79–80
In the 20th century, there was new focus on mercy in the Roman Catholic Church, partly due to theDivine Mercy devotion.[12][17][18] The primary focus of the Divine Mercy devotion is the merciful love of God and the desire to let that love and mercy flow through one's own heart towards those in need of it.[17]
Pope John Paul II was a follower of the Divine Mercy devotion, due to SaintMary Faustina Kowalska (1905–1938), who is known as theApostle of Mercy.[18][19]
A number of Roman Catholicshrines are specifically dedicated to Divine Mercy, e.g. theBasilica of Divine Mercy in Krakow Poland, and theNational Shrine of The Divine Mercy (Stockbridge, Massachusetts).[20] During the dedication of the Basilica of Divine Mercy, John Paul II quotedthe Diary of Faustina and called mercy the "greatest attribute of God Almighty".[21]
The firstWorld Apostolic Congress on Mercy was held in Rome in April 2008 and was inaugurated byPope Benedict XVI.[9][22]
In 2015, atSt. Peter's Basilica, in aPapal Bull ofIndiction entitledMisericordiae Vultus ("The Face of Mercy"),Pope Francis proclaimed a Special and Extraordinary Holy YearJubilee Year of Mercy, from December 8, 2015:Solemnity of theImmaculate Conception of theBlessed Virgin Mary, until November 21, 2016: the Solemnity of Our Lord JesusChrist the King.[23] The theme of the Extraordinary Jubilee was taken fromLuke 6:36, "Merciful, Like the Father".[24]
InIslam the title "Most Merciful" (Al-Raheem) is one of thenames of Allah and "Most Compassionate" (Al-Rahman), is the most common name occurring in theQuran.Rahman andRahim both derive from the rootRahmat, which refers to tenderness and benevolence.[25] As a form of mercy, the giving of alms (zakat) is the fourth of theFive Pillars of Islam and one of the requirements for the faithful.[26]
The concept of mercy encompasses two terms in Hebrew.Chesed, which is also translated as 'loving-kindness' and 'goodness', is the seventh of thethirteen defining attributes of God.
The other,rachamim, is also translated as 'compassion' (or because its noun form is grammatically plural, as 'mercies').Rachamim is the fourth of the thirteen attributes.Exodus 34:6 says: "The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness."[27] This is also emphasized in the context of the Babylonian exile in Isaiah: "For the Lord has comforted his people, and will have compassion on his suffering ones. But Zion said, 'The Lord has forsaken me, my Lord has forgotten me.' Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you." (Isaiah 49:13–15) Also: "It is good to pray and fast, to be merciful and just." (Tobit 12:8) WhenDavid, because of his sin, was told to choose between a three-year famine, pursuit by his enemies for three months, or a three-day pestilence, he chose the pestilence, saying, "Let us fall by the hand of God, for he is most merciful; but let me not fall by the hand of man." (2 Samuel 24:14)Psalm 103:8 praises God for his mercy.
Kwan Yin the bodhisattva of mercy and compassion, is one of the best known and most veneratedBodhisattva in Asia.[28]
Karuṇā (often translated as "compassion") is part of the beliefs ofHinduism,Buddhism, andJainism.Karuṇā is present in all schools of Buddhism and in Jainism it is viewed as one of the reflections of universal friendship.
The spiritual teacherMeher Baba described God as being "all-merciful and eternally benevolent" in hisO Parvardigar prayer, and he held that we can approach God through the "invocation of His mercy."[29]
The quality of mercy is not strain'd.
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest:It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
