Reginald Alva, S.V.D. (“Mercy and Christian Mission”) retraces the role of mercy in Jesus’ public ministry and reflects on the importance of this virtue in the Christian mission. He recounts many episodes in the Gospels which clearly show that Jesus’ life and ministry are permeated with acts of love and mercy. The mission of the Church is primarily to reveal the love and mercy of God—at the opening of the Second Vatican Council, St. John XXIII said: “Now the Bride of Christ wishes to use the medicine of mercy rather than taking up arms of severity …” (Misericordiae Vultus 4). – from the Editor’s Preface