The corporal works of mercy (flowing from the Gospel, especially Matthew 25: 31-46) are to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, cloth the naked, visit the imprisoned, shelter the homeless, visit the sick and bury the dead. The spiritual works of mercy, also rooted in the Christian scripture, are to counsel the doubtful, instruct the ignorant, admonish sinners, comfort the afflicted, forgive offenses, bear wrongs patiently, and pray for the living and dead.

As the virtue of compassion develops, it leads us to the Works of Mercy. At this point, we offer aid to people in need rather than simply observing their suffering from a distance. The help may be as simple as distributing food and clothing, or as complex as fighting for policies to stop gentrification.

Discussion: Think of Works of Mercy that you have witnessed or unknowingly performed for others.

How does your faith (or others’ faiths) respond to Works of Mercy? What importance do such acts play in your spiritual life and beliefs?

How have others preformed Works of Mercy for you? Think about the blessings we receive from those we serve, as well as others in our lives.