Above: African Artist's rendition of the Last Supper.

Corporal and Spiritual Mercy

True Charity:  Mercy for the Body and Mercy for the Soul

By studying Jesus' teachings, parables and instructions to the Apostles, Christians are able to discern God's will for their lives.  The Catholic Church pulls all of these teahings together and provides guidance to us through the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  As a part of our Faith, we often reflect on the Church's teaching around charity or love to one another.  As we reflect on God's love, we also seek to mirror his works of mercy by practicing the Corporal Works of Mercy and the Spiritual Works of Mercy.

Corporal Works of Mercy
The Corporal Works of Mercy are those acts of charity that we should express to support the physical body of our fellow man.  As Christians we should strive to perform these seven acts of love whenever we have the ability to meet a need.  They are as follow:

• Feed the hungry
• Give drink to the thirsty
• Clothe the naked
• Shelter the homeless
• Visit the sick
• Visit those in prison
• Bury the dead

Spiritual Works of Mercy
The Spiritual Works of Mercy are those acts that demonstrate our concern for our neighbor's soul.  As Catholic Christians, we strive to bring all souls--including our own--into earthly and heavenly union with HIM and HIS WILL.  The seven acts that indicate our loving expression of the Spiritual Works of Mercy are as follow:

• Convert the sinner
• Instruct the ignorant
• Counsel the doubtful
• Comfort the sorrowful
• Bear wrongs patiently
• Forgive injuries
• Pray for the living and the dead