What Are The 7 Spiritual Works Of Mercy

As you may recall, I mentioned in my previous column that I would write about the 7 Spiritual Works of Mercy in the same way that I wrote about the 7 Corporal Works of Mercy. However, I did include a disclaimer. It's a lot easier to perform the 7 Corporal Works of Mercy than it is to perform the 7 Spiritual Works of Mercy. Why, you might wonder? Because doing spiritual deeds of mercy involves a great deal more humility, disciplined charity, and the capacity to communicate without appearing arrogant or nagging. So here we go…

• To educate the uninitiated. This compassion task entails that we are all called to share and teach the faith that has been passed down to us. This, of course, necessitates a thorough understanding of our faith and what our church actually teaches. And the most effective approach to instruct and teach is to lead by example.
• To give advice to those who are unsure. Everyone has doubts and concerns regarding their beliefs. Mother Teresa, like everyone else, had dark hours of the soul when she felt uncertainty and despair. This act of mercy reminds us of the importance of walking intimately with individuals going through changes, loss, or significant trials, praying for them and being there for them.
• To chastise a sinner. This is a difficult one, especially if one is honest about one's own life. “Those who live in glass homes should not fling stones,” as Pope Francis put it, or “Who am I to judge?” as he put it. However, this third act of kindness requires us to engage in a dialogue with people about any sinful behavior that may occur. This is where compassion and charity must be utilized with caution, with words carefully chosen to avoid coming across as preachy, nagging, or “holier than thou.” This isn't going to be easy.
• To patiently suffer wrongs. Our pride is to blame here, and revenge is the temptation. The words of Jesus, “Turn the other cheek,” resound in our ears, but doing so is difficult. And I believe it is often more difficult to bear wrongdoings and be patient in the face of adversity when someone harms our children or grandchildren.
• To willingly forgive wrongdoings. This act of mercy is inextricably linked to patiently bearing wrongdoing. It takes time to forgive, and even if one does not feel fully at ease with the other, the desire to forgive is the first step toward full forgiveness. The promise from the Lord Jesus that “as many times as you forgive others, Keith, that's how many times I'll forgive you” helps me forgive another.
• To console the bereaved. There are moments when we witness someone going through a difficult period and we are powerless to help him or her. Our words are insufficient, and our actions are ineffective. All we can do is walk silently in love and prayer with him or her. I'll never forget something a seminary classmate did for me one day. Bill patted me on the shoulder one day in chapel, knowing how sad and afraid I was when Momma was dying, and said, “I'm thinking you're having a hard time praying right now.” In your honor, I'm praying especially hard right now.”
• It is customary to pray for both the living and the deceased. Prayer is unquestionably the most vital aspect of every work of mercy, whether spiritual or corporeal. Prayer that tries to bring us closer to God transforms the physical act of feeding the needy into a spiritual act of doing good for others while giving God honor. “Our private prayers for our neighbors and for the departed offers us little glory or acclaim from others,” one writer writes, “but in the end, when we stand before God, we will be able to give an account of our prayerful charity to others, and thus Jesus will grant mercy to us.”

This brings us to the end of the spiritual list, and coupled with bodily deeds of mercy, we can help to make the world a better place while also growing in holiness. Have a wonderful and safe Mardi Gras! This Sunday and on Ash Wednesday, I hope to see you in church!

Msgr. Keith DeRouen is the chancellor of Opelousas Catholic School and the pastor of Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church.

What are the 7 spiritual acts of mercy?

According to Catholic tradition, the seven actions of corporal mercy meet the poor's physical necessities. Feeding the hungry, visiting the imprisoned, burying the dead, clothing the naked, caring for the ill, providing refuge for travelers, and providing drink to the thirsty are just a few examples.

What are the 8 spiritual works of mercy?

In Christian ethics, works of mercy (also known as acts of mercy) are behaviors that are seen as virtuous.

In the Catholic Church, it is widely practiced as a form of penance and compassion. Furthermore, according to the Methodist church, deeds of kindness are a means of grace that lead to holiness and aid in sanctification.

Traditionally, mercy deeds have been classified into two groups, each with seven elements:

• “Corporal works of mercy” concern other people's material and bodily necessities.

On November 30, 1980, Pope John Paul II published the papal encyclical “Dives in Misericordia,” in which he stated that “Jesus Christ taught that man is called not only to accept and feel God's mercy, but also to ‘perform kindness' toward others.” The Divine Mercy devotion, which is based on apparitions of Jesus Christ to Saint Faustina Kowalska, is another noteworthy devotion related with actions of mercy.

What is spiritual mercy?

Mercy spirituality is about coming face to face with God's love. God's love makes it possible to love oneself, and these two things combined make it possible to love one's neighbor. Mercy spirituality becomes the foundation of compassionate service in this way.

What is Mercy in the Bible?

What does the Bible say about mercy? Mercy is mentioned in the Bible in relation to forgiveness and the withholding of punishment. Healing, consolation, the easing of suffering, and caring for those in distress are examples of God's mercy for those who are suffering. He responds compassionately and mercifully.

How do you work spiritually?

Seven Ways to Boost Your Spiritual Well-Being

• Examine your spiritual foundation. You are merely asking yourself questions about who you are and what you mean when you explore your spiritual essence.

How do you practice the 7 corporal works of mercy?

We are in the Jubilee Year of Kindness, as I indicated last week, in which we are all urged to experience the fullness of God's mercy via increased prayer and penance. We are also challenged to recognize that being open to God's mercy requires us to be merciful to others.

The Catholic church provides a list of “acts of compassion” that can assist us in carrying out this charge to be merciful to others. Seven bodily actions of mercy and seven spiritual works of mercy are included on the list.

Spiritual acts of compassion are those that have to do with the spirit, whereas corporal acts of kindness are those that have to do with the body. I'll write about the corporeal works of kindness this week, and then on Feb. 5, I'll write about the spiritual works of mercy, which are more difficult to perform.

1. Provide food for the hungry. This act of charity can be as easy as adding more meat to a beef stew and more rice to a pot of rice and bringing a supper to a neighbor who no longer cooks. What matters is that we recognize that there are hungry people not just in Calcutta, but also right here in Opelousas, and that we, as believers, must do something to aid them.

2. Give thirsty people something to drink. This act of mercy is inextricably linked to the first.

3. Cover up the bare. How many of us have closets stuffed with clothes we haven't worn in a year? Clean out your closet and donate your items to Goodwill or give them to somebody you know who could benefit from a pair of barely worn shoes or a coat.

4. Provide shelter for the homeless. While it can be tough to offer our homes to strangers, Opelousas is lucky to have two shelters, one for men and one for women. Donating to the New Life Center or the Opelousas Lighthouse Mission would be a wonderful way to do this act of charity.

5. Pay a visit to the sick. This is a wonderful and vital thing to do. Hospitalized patients aren't the only ones that are sick. This ministry of kindness, I believe, would include visiting folks in nursing homes or assisted living facilities. Many people at these types of institutions are lonely, especially if they have no family nearby to look after them.

6. Pay a visit to those who are incarcerated. This is critical for those who have been imprisoned as a result of poor choices. These visits cannot be spontaneous, but the parish and city jails frequently have hours available for visitation. You might want to talk to the sheriff or the chief about paying them a visit. For the sake of safety, this must be done under the limits of the facilities.

7. Lay the deceased to rest. Funerals are costly. When we learn of someone who was impoverished and has died, we might assist the family by making a donation to help alleviate the costs. This work of kindness, in my opinion, would also entail a person planning and paying for one's own burial while still living, so that the family is not overburdened when dealing with bereavement.

The seven corporeal works of mercy are as follows. I'll be writing about the seven spiritual actions of mercy on February 5th. To you, a happy jubilee!