Historically, today has been an important commemorative Day for the Sisters of Mercy.
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Back in 1878, a little group of religious women, called nuns in those days, arrived here to commence living and working among the people of Orange and district.
As time has passed, we have become a little group again but still carry the Mercy spirit.
The Order was founded in Dublin in 1831 by an Irish lady - Catherine McAuley.
Catherine and the ladies who had been working with her, offering loving care and assistance to countless needy people from her home in Baggott Street, were the foundation of what became an international religious order.
They made their vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience and added another one of Service of the poor, the sick and the uneducated.
This was a lifetime commitment and is still alive and meaningful today.
In the Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare attributes a wonderful quotation to Portia: "The quality of mercy is not strained, it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath". In another place, he states that there is no justice without mercy.
In today's world, with all the terrors and traumas afflicting so many people right across the world, as well as all the problems associated with the coronavirus, it could be very opportune to take a look at how we are living and exercising mercy.
Mercy starts from the heart, travels to the head and shows itself in acts of goodness and kindness.
The whole matter of refugees and asylum seekers needs to be addressed by all nations with both mercy and justice.
Our Australian total of Afghanistan refugees is far less than that of other countries.
Why are there people on short-term visas for extended periods?
Why is the Murrugattan family on yet another short-term visa?
Why is caring for our planet and the environment of less political importance than coal mining?
Why are there so many deniers of climate change and its outcome?
Why are there so many people resisting and objecting to the restrictions currently in place to try and contain the spread of the virus, with people dying, suffering mental health problems, and financial difficulties?
There are so many other questions that can be asked, but the bottom line is - where is there Mercy in our world?
Of course, this does not imply that common sense can be overlooked.
One of Catherine McAuley's sayings, which is high on my mind, is where she describes common sense as the rarest of virtues.
Another of her sayings is about needy people: "The poor need help now, not next week."
As time marches on and life begins to take on a more normal existence, we can only try to do what we can with what we've got to rebuild our lives and help all those around us along the way.
Hopefully, our governments will manage to balance both mercy and justice above money and power so that no one will suffer unnecessarily.
Loving greetings to all our readers, especially the staff and students of Catherine McAuley School. May Catherine's legacy remain alive and well into the future.
