The Works of Mercy: A Modern Day Guide

It’s Lent, and a great time to practice the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy.  In this modern world, very few people are seen doing these, and more and more people are in need of them.  How to do them?  In this modern world, many would say, that there is no need of them.  Think again!

They are:

• To feed the hungry;
• To give drink to the thirsty;
• To clothe the naked;
• To shelter the homeless;
• To visit the sick;
• To ransom the captive;
• To bury the dead.

The spiritual works of mercy are:

• To instruct the ignorant;
• To counsel the doubtful;
• To admonish sinners;
• To bear wrongs patiently;
• To forgive offences willingly;
• To comfort the afflicted;
• To pray for the living and the dead.

The Spiritual Works of Mercy:

Admonish Sinners

Correction is sometimes hard for us to give.  It means taking a stand for what is right, and possibly offending whoever did what is wrong.  But admonishing sinners is helping them, and the best way to do it, is by simply expressing morals.

Instruct the Ignorant.

Perhaps you were ignorant yourself?  Did someone tell you about the faith?  Perhaps you can help them the same way they helped you.  It is said, that by converting one man, you will go to heaven*.

Counsel the Doubtful

Advice is cheap, supposedly, but good counsel is irreplaceable.  Think of all the people you could be helping, by simply telling them your experience of something you went through.  It’s the Catholic approach of solving problems, rather than relying of horoscopes.

Comfort the Sorrowful

Sorrow and suffering take many forms: death, injury, divorce, illness, unemployment, etc.  How many of these sorrows happen all around us, and yet not a pray is uttered for the people, and/or their families?  Sometimes, just a simple Hail Mary will make a huge difference.

Bear Wrongs Patiently

Patience: The bane of many great and small men.  Many men who would have conquered the world, or many men who would have had great faith, if they had but the patience to go with it.  Bearing wrongs patiently can greatly humble our pride, and always presents an opportunity to offer up something for a strayed family member, or old friend.

Forgive Offenses

forgive the criticism, the hungriness that is just a normal retort, or even someone that did you or your family a great wrong.  In the school shooting in PA, the Amish forgave the shooter, and helped his family pay for a proper funeral.  Nothing is ever gained by holding a grudge, but much is lost.  Do not let the sun go down on your anger. 

Pray for the Living and the Dead

It is impossible to physically aid many families, who need our help, but prayers can do much more than physical aid.  Perhaps light a candle in remembrance of someone who died long ago, and whose  suffering could have been cut short, aside from that everyone has forgotten them.