The Works of Mercy

The Works of Mercy are charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in his bodily and spiritual needs. They flow directly from the two great commandments: love of God and love of neighbor made concrete.

Christ himself names the corporal works in Matthew 25, where the Son of Man judges the nations not by what they said, but by whether they fed the hungry, clothed the naked, and visited the prisoner: "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."

Corporal Works of Mercy

1. To feed the hungry.

2. To give drink to the thirsty.

3. To clothe the naked.

4. To shelter the homeless.

5. To visit the sick.

6. To visit the imprisoned (or ransom the captive).

7. To bury the dead.

Spiritual Works of Mercy

1. To instruct the ignorant.

2. To counsel the doubtful.

3. To admonish sinners.

4. To bear wrongs patiently.

5. To forgive offenses willingly.

6. To comfort the afflicted.

7. To pray for the living and the dead.

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The spiritual works are often harder than the corporal. It costs less to write a check than to bear patiently with a difficult family member or to forgive an old wound. But these works, quietly done, form the hidden charity of the saints.