Merciful Love as an Educational Value

Abstract

Seeking the essence of merciful love, the author analyses its phenomenon in three aspects: theological, existential, and pedagogical. In the theological aspect merciful love appears to be an attribute through which we come to know God and understand His presence in the world and human life. In the existential aspect it is determined by the need, and in the pedagogical aspect by the attitude, to which people should be educated, bearing in mind a merciful attitude towards one another. Mercy treated as an educational value is understood as appreciative, uplifting and bringing people their lost humanity, lost dignity.

This publication brings home to us the essence of merciful love, but allows us to learn about the papal message concerning the need to develop the new imagination of mercy. It also shows that merciful love is an extremely complex and rich problem, variously interpreted and frequently evoking different opinions and attitudes.