The final Spiritual Work of Mercy is something that every Christian can certainly do, but do we consciously and intentionally “Pray for the Living and the Dead?” In God’s family, the Church, there are three distinct groups: The Church Militant on Earth, the Church Suffering in Purgatory, and the Church Triumphant in Heaven. The third […]
Corporal Works of Mercy: To Bury the Dead
In the Old Testament Book of Tobit, the virtuous Tobit interrupts his dinner to go out to bury one of his Jewish countrymen who had been murdered, and his body had been left in the street. This act of burying the dead, especially those who have no one who will bury them, is a prime […]
Spiritual Works of Mercy: Forgive All Injuries
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!” These powerful words from our Savior should make every Christian think twice: Do I forgive injuries? Have I forgiven those who have hurt or offended me or one of my loved ones? Or do I hold on to old hatreds and grudges? The sixth Spiritual […]
Corporal Works of Mercy: Visit the Sick
One of the very important Corporal Works of Mercy is to Visit the Sick. How many people are suffering from various illnesses, from cancer, or from accidents today! Many people who are ill suffer from loneliness as well. There are many elderly persons whose families live far away from them. Others have family in the […]
Spiritual Works of Mercy: Comfort the Sorrowful
One of the Spiritual Works of Mercy is to “Comfort the Sorrowful.” There are a tremendous number of people who suffer from sorrow and grief in our world today, so there is a tremendous need for Christians to practice this work of mercy. First of all, what are some examples of people in sorrow today? […]
Corporal Works of Mercy: Visit the Imprisoned
The fifth Corporal Work of Mercy is “Visit the Imprisoned.” This work of mercy is important, and often neglected. When I was in college, I had the privilege of being involved in the Legion of Mary, a Catholic lay apostolate that began in Ireland, that involves a commitment of two hours of apostolic work done […]
Spiritual Works of Mercy: To Bear Wrongs Patiently
One of the Works of Mercy that can be the hardest to live, but is absolutely necessary for all of us is to “Bear Wrongs Patiently.” There are many times in our lives in which people mistreat us, or speak to us in ways that might hurt our feelings. And so often … we just […]
Corporal Works of Mercy: Shelter the Homeless
The fourth Corporal Work of Mercy is “Shelter the Homeless,” but in some older listings, it is “Harbor the Harbor-less.” What, essentially, does it mean? Down through history, there have always been a certain number of people who were homeless, or, for those who were sailing but didn’t have a home port, they were “harbor-less.” […]
Spiritual Works of Mercy: Admonish the Sinner
One of the most difficult Works of Mercy for any of us to perform is to “Admonish the Sinner.” It is very difficult to correct someone, especially when the thing they are doing is morally wrong! Oh, we can correct someone for holding their knife and fork incorrectly, or for chewing with their mouth open, […]
Corporal Works of Mercy: Clothe the Naked
The third Corporal Work of Mercy is “Clothe the Naked.” In times past, there may have been many people who only possessed the clothes on their backs, and those might have been so threadbare and worn out that the person might have been virtually naked. Although times have changed, and there are few people (in […]