When Catholics serve others, they give witness to Jesus Christ. As acts of love that help us care for the needs of others, the Works of Mercy are an opportunity for Catholics to give witness to Christ.
Jesus entrusted his followers the responsibility of caring for others. One way that Catholics fulfill this responsibility is by performing the Works of Mercy.
Mercy is one of the fruits of charity, which enables us to show love and compassion to those who are suffering in any way, whether in mind, body, heart, or soul. The Works of Mercy are divided into two categories: ▪︎
The Corporal Works of Mercy (dealing with the body) and ▪︎
The Spiritual Works of Mercy (dealing with the mind, heart, and soul).
■ THE CORPORAL ACTS:
1) To feed the hungry:
“For I was hungry and you gave me to eat.” (Mt. 25:35)
2) To give drink to the thirsty: “…I was thirsty and you gave me to drink…” (Mt. 25:35)
3) To clothe the naked: “I was…naked and you clothed me…” (Mt. 25:36)
4) To visit the imprisoned: “I was in prison and you came to me.” (Mt. 25:36)
5) To shelter the homeless: “…I was a stranger and you took me in…” (Mt. 25:35)
6) To visit the sick: “…I was sick and you cared for me…” (Mt. 25:36)
7) To bury the dead: “Amen, I say to you, insofar as you did it for one of these least of my brothers, you did it for me.” (Mt. 25:40)_______________________
■ THE SPIRITUAL ACTS:
1) To admonish the sinner: “…there will be more joy in Heaven at the repentance of one sinner than at ninety-nine of the righteous who had no need of repentance.” (Lk. 15:7)
2) To instruct the ignorant: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the good news to all creation.” (Mk. 16:15)
3) To counsel the doubtful: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you…Let not your hearts be troubled…” (Jn. 14:27)
4) To comfort the sorrowful: “Come to me, all you have grown weary and burdened, and I will refresh you.” (Mt. 11:28)
5) To bear wrongs patiently: “…Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you.” (Lk. 6:27-28)
6)To forgive all injuries: “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” (Mt. 6:12)7)To pray for the living and the dead: “Father, I desire that they, too, maybe with me where I am…” (Jn. 17:24)
CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH