The works of Mercy

It is in giving that we receive. St. Francis of Assisi.

One can give without loving, but one cannot love without giving. Amy Carmichael.

In many occasions we have the opportunity of escaping the routine and performing some particular acts in benefit of our neighbors. In this sense the Church points to us the works of mercy, through which we can express our love for our neighbors as we help them. There are two types of work of mercy: Some are corporal and others are spiritual. Some can be part of our daily life, depending on our circumstances and others we practice sporadically, depending on the opportunity. Nevertheless, we must keep in mind that we are called to practice them with love, each and every one of them, whenever we have the opportunity to practice them.

We are the vessels, Christ is the fountain. St Augustin.

The corporal works of mercy are seven, and were extracted from a list made by the Lord when he described the Final Judgment. They are as follows:

1. Feed the hungry.

2. Give drink to the thirsty.

3. Clothe the naked.

4. Shelter the homeless.

5. Visit the sick.

6. Visit the imprisoned.

7. Bury the dead.

The spiritual works of mercy are also seven, and come from different sources, such as the Bible, Jesus teachings, and others. Let’s see them:

1. Admonish sinners.

2. Instruct the uninformed.

3. Counsel the doubtful.

4. Comfort the sorrowful.

5. Be patient with those in error.

6. Forgive offenses.

7. Pray for the living and the dead.

Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received, only what you have given. St Francis of Assisi.

Whatever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters you do to me. Matthew 35:40

Although the Church catalogues the works of mercy in two groups, we need not see them as different. Instead we should integrate them to our daily life, whenever they are within our reach. It should be pointed out that if we want that the works of mercy be edifying and of great benefit for our souls, they must be performed for love, not for obligation, neither to gain merits, nor expecting any compensation. For example, a person who works in a field of health may visit many sick persons daily and perhaps will receive some sort of compensation for his or her work. Nevertheless, if the work is performed with love and without pecuniary interest, he or she will receive great spiritual benefits for the same. On the same vein, there are numerous professions and occupations that faithfully comply with the call to perform works of mercy. Remember not only so many priests and religious workers that give their lives to serve the Christ that lives in neighbors, but also the many lay persons in countless fields and occupations that serve the Christ in our brothers and sisters. For that reason we must perform our work with love and joy in every moment and every place, because we have all been called to preach the love of God through our work and our example, with humility and unselfishness. Unselfishness is the thoughtfulness for others and humility is the recognition of our own capacities and limitations. Therefore, our works must be founded in the love for our neighbor and inspired in humility and unselfishness at all times.

For a small reward we may deprive ourselves of something invaluable and we may easily make that the giver give no longer. St Francis.

A saint is not someone who never sins, but one who sins less and less frequently and gets up more and more quickly. St Bernard of Clairvaux.

Teach us, good Lord, to serve you as you deserve: to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds; to toil and not to seek for rest; to labor and not to ask for any reward, save that of knowing that we do Thy will. St Ignatius of Loyola.

We should realize that some of the works or mercy are easier to accomplish today than just a few years ago. For example, we can visit someone who is sick by a phone call or a video conference. We can feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty or clothe the naked by donations and contributions to the many charities created for these purposes, as not always we will have the opportunity of performing these works of mercy personally. However, there are some works like counseling, forgiving whoever offends us, or being patient with our neighbors errors, that may be, and usually are part, of our daily routine. There are others, like praying for the living and the dead, that should be, by all means, part of our day.

It is believed that the following prayer was dictated by our Lord to Saint Gertrude with the promise that He would release 1000 souls from Purgatory each time it was prayed:

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in Purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the Universal Church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.

Learn it by heart and pray it four or five times every day. You’ll be doing an important work of mercy and the souls of purgatory will be very grateful and will pray for you when they get to Heaven. Let’s look at other daily prayers:

All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle. St Francis of Assisi.