The Works of Mercy

Episode 7
Feed the Hungry; Give Drink to the Thirsty (Corporal)

Bring a bag of groceries to a St. Vincent de Paul food pantry.
Volunteer to serve a meal at a local shelter.
Make a meal at home for friends or family instead of grabbing quick food out to eat.
Send or take a meal to someone in need (elderly, sick, new parents).
Pay for person in line behind you at coffee shop.
Carry water bottles in car and hand them out to folks asking for assistance on side of the road.
Offer a beverage to those who enter your home or office.

Bury the Dead (Corporal); Pray for the Dead (Spiritual)

Talk about family members who have passed away, share pictures.
Attend a memorial Mass at your parish.
Visit a cemetery, choose a grave, and pray for that person.
Make a rubbing of a gravestone and let it remind you to pray for that person and their family.
Lay flowers on a grave.
Volunteer to cook for a parish funeral luncheon.
Write the names of deceased loved ones in a Book of the Dead.

Clothe the Naked (Corporal)

Go through closets and donate unused clothes.Donate winter coats to a clothing drive.
Donate shoes or cleats for use by kids in other countries.
Donate to a non-profit serving pregnant women or people living in poverty.
Give diapers to a pregnancy center.
The next time you buy an item of clothing for yourself, buy one to donate as well.

Visit the Sick (Corporal); Comfort the Sorrowful (Spiritual)

Visit a nursing home; donate flowers or balloons to a home.
Make or send a card or email to someone who is not well.
Send a meal to someone homebound.
Pray for all those affected by violence.
Call a long-distance relative.
Go to hospital chapel and pray for folks in ER at that moment; or those undergoing surgery that day; or those in the hospital.

Shelter the Homeless (Corporal)

Volunteer to help with repairs or staffing at a homeless shelter.
Pray for refugees; donate to an organization serving refugees.
Join Catholic Relief Services in their efforts to assist refugees. 

Visit the Imprisoned (Corporal)

Inquire with your diocesan jail ministry to find someone in prison with whom to begin a correspondence.
Help support Dismas Ministry’s national prison outreach with a donation or action. http://www.dismasministry.org/act/
Write to a Christian imprisoned for his or her faith in one of many places facing religious persecution through The Voice of the Martyrs.

Instruct the Ignorant; Counsel the Doubtful (Spiritual)

Attend a class or faith formation event in parish or on campus.
Offer to serve as a substitute teacher in CCD or other venues.
Start a Bible study or faith sharing group, or host a gathering.
Tutor children at a library, parish school, or through an after-school support center.
Support the mission center of the Congregation of Holy Cross. https://www.holycrossusa.org/holy-cross-mission-center/ways-to-give/
Read up on a Church teaching you are unsure of and discuss it with others to grow in your understanding.
Donate to a school’s fund for tuition assistance.

Admonish Sinners; Bear wrongs; Forgive (Spiritual)

Prayerfully reflect on our sinfulness (Mt 7:1-5, Mt 18:15, Mt 18:12-14).
Examine your conscience. http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/sacraments-and-sacramentals/penance/examinations-of-conscience.cfm
Go to confession (maybe take someone along).
Invite someone to attend a parish reconciliation service with you.
Show extra patience in traffic or while waiting in line.
Cultivate forgiveness in yourself and in your family.
Ask for forgiveness and apologize to anyone you may have wronged.
Pray for patience (especially in relationships that are a struggle).
If someone who loves you gives you gentle correction, take it graciously and try to put it into action.
Next time someone annoys or slights you, hold your tongue and instead say a silent prayer for them.