ACTS OF MERCY

"Be Merciful Even As Your Father is Merciful" (Lk 6:36)

"Jesus Christ taught that man not only receives and experiences the mercy of God, but that he is also called 'to practice mercy' toward others. 'Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy' (Mt 5:7). The Church sees in these words a call to action, and she tries to practice mercy. All the beatitudes of the Sermon on the Mount indicate the way of conversion and of reform of life, but the one referring to those who are merciful is particularly eloquent in this regard. Man attains to the merciful love of God, His mercy, to the extent that he himself is he interiorly transformed in the spirit of that love towards his neighbor."

– John Paul II, Rich in Mercy, 14

Ways to be merciful to others:

THE CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY:

  1. Feed the hungry
  2. Give drink to the thirsty.
  3. Clothe the naked.
  4. Shelter the homeless.
  5. Comfort the imprisioned.
  6. Visit the sick.
  7. Bury the dead.

THE SPIRITUAL WORKS OF MERCY:

  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.

Try expanding your merciful reach to others in any way – small or large it's all good…
But it takes action! Put your mercy into action!