Lesson 8: Works of Mercy

Prayer
 
PRAYER BASED ON TODAY'S GOSPEL
Wednesday 4/28/21
(Jn. 12:44-50)
 
Lord Jesus, we thank you for your light of faith, hope, and love that dispels the darkness of sin and evil in
our present time. In today's Gospel, you proclaimed: "I came into the world as light, so that everyone
who believes in me might not remain in darkness." Lord, may we remain in the light of your joy and
peace. We pray for all those who are suffering and are in various difficulties in our present time. Let the
light of hope shine brightly amidst this pandemic. Have mercy on us all. Bless too our family and dear
friends. We glorify you in the love of the Blessed Mother. AMEN.

 
 
PRAYER BASED ON TODAY'S GOSPEL
Thursday 4/29/21
(Jn. 13:16-20)

Lord Jesus, we thank you for your Gospel message about humility. In today's Gospel, you proclaimed:
"...No servant is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you
understand this, blessed are you if you do it." Lord, strengthen the virtue of humility in our hearts. May
we serve with humility just as you "...washed ths feet of your apostles." May we also bear in mind these
words: "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up" (James 4:10). Have mercy on us all.
Bless too our family and dear friends. We glorify you in the love of the Blessed Mother. AMEN.

Video
 
 
Corporal Works of Mercy | Catholic Central

 
 
LIBBY: So, first off, feeding the hungry and giving drink to the thirsty.
KAI: Good thing because I am starving. Hey Libby, you got any extra mercy snacks in your purse?
LIBBY: Unfortunately, not, and this doesn't just mean giving a spare granola bar to someone who
otherwise has more than enough.
KAI: It's important to seek out ways to serve those that don't have enough to eat.
LIBBY: You can do this by donating to food pantries, serving meals to the homeless, or taking meals to
new mothers or families that have lost a loved one.
KAI: Also, Catholic bishops point out that clean drinking water is a human right.
LIBBY: So we can work to bring water to communities in need and be mindful of how much water we
us

 
KAI: Next up is clothing the naked.
OLD LADY SHOW: This is a family show.
KAI: That's literally the name for it.
OLD LADY KAI: Well, I suppose those are the people who need clothes the most.
KAI: It doesn't just mean people who aren't wearing any clothes.
It can be people that don't have enough warm clothes for example.
LIBBY: To do this one you can donate your old clothes to a charity, or your new ones, I mean.
KAI: Why not? LIBBY: Yeah.
KAI: And look into buying clothes that are produced ethically
for a fair wage under good working conditions.
 

 
LIBBY: Moving on to sheltering the homeless.
KAI: OK, so this one can apply to building physical shelters for people without homes.
LIBBY: But it can also extend to organizations that work with refugees and victims of domestic violence.
KAI: Or even reaching out to new people at school, work, or in the community and making them feel at
home.
 

 
Next up, visiting the sick.
OLD LADY KAI: If only my grandkids would come visit me.
It would warm my poor (coughs) sick (coughs) heart.
LIBBY: Not to make you feel super guilty or anything but visiting can be a great help to the person who
is sick.
KAI: If you don't happen to know anyone who is sick right now, you could look at volunteering in a
hospital, a nursing home, or hospice.
LIBBY: Or ask someone who's a full-time caregiver if they need a break.
KAI: You can also literally give of yourself by donating blood.
 
 
PRISONER LIBBY: Hey, can we get on with this?
LIBBY: I'm sorry, yes, next is visiting the imprisoned.
KAI: Prisoners challenge us to see the image and likeness of God in everyone, regardless of what
they've done.
PRISONER LIBBY: Wait, even me?
LIBBY: Wait, what did you do?
KAI: The point is that it doesn't matter. Yes, even you are made in the image and likeness of God.
PRISONER LIBBY: Thank you.
LIBBY: For this one you can look into prison ministries or writing letters to prisoners.
KAI: Or charities that aid children whose parents are in prison or organizations that work against
human trafficking.
LIBBY: You can also look into programs that work in restorative justice which focuses on repairing the
harm caused by an offense through rehabilitation and reconciliation.
 

 
KAI: Then there's burying the dead.
LIBBY: Ooh, fun fact. This one wasn't an original work of mercy,
but was declared one when during the years of early Christianity, there were a lot of people that
needed to be buried
once the lions were done with them.
KAI: Now most of us probably won't have to go out and dig graves.
LIBBY: Although it is a skill that would come in handy during a zombie apocalypse. (screams) (zombie
groans)
KAI: So, for this one you can look for opportunities to support those who have lost loved ones. You can
attend funerals...
LIBBY: ...And pray for the dead. Catholics believe that we can still pray for people to be able to join God
in Heaven even after they've passed away.
 

 
KAI: So, there you have it. Seven ways ...
LIBBY: But wait, there's more.
KAI: More? We really need to be wrapping this up.
LIBBY: In 2016, Pope Francis proposed Care for the Environment as a compliment to the other works of
mercy.
KAI: Ah, and fortunately we have a whole episode with ideas on how to do that.
LIBBY: As with all of these, it's important to strive to see the face of Christ in everyone that we
encounter.
KAI: When it comes to mercy, there's never too much that we can give or do.
LIBBY: For more on putting the corporal works of mercy
into action, check out our website at CatholicCentral.com.
KAI: I'm Kai.
LIBBY: And I'm Libby.
Until next time, work it.
 KAI: Corporally.
 

Spiritual Works of Mercy | Catholic Central

 
INIGO MONTOYA KAI: Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father, prepare to be patiently
forgiven, even though you are a sinner, since you didn't realize the full impact of what you did. Don't
doubt that everything will be OK. I will pray for you.
DIRECTOR LIBBY: Cut! This isn't gonna work. One more time, with less mercy. (upbeat music)
 
KAI: Hi I'm Kai. LIBBY: And I'm Libby.
KAI: Welcome to Catholic Central. Today we're talking about the Spiritual Works of Mercy, which are
still important,
even though they don't make for great revenge movies.
LIBBY: The Spiritual Works of Mercy are seven ways in which we can help others spiritually.
KAI: Shocking, right. (gasping)
LIBBY: You might wanna tone it down a little.
KAI: Good point. If you're going to do them well, the Spiritual Works of Mercy require humility,
patience, and tact.
 

 
LIBBY: Or you know, I don't know, maybe, what's the word, mercy.
KAI: We can get a clue on how to put mercy into action by looking at the Latin word for mercy,
misericordia, which means to take to heart, core, someone else's suffering, miseria. So what's the first
Spiritual Work of Mercy? Well actually Libby, let me tell you, instructing the ignorant.
 
 
LIBBY: There are several ways not to go about this.
DOOMSDAY PROPHET KAI: You're ignorant, and you're ignorant,
you're all hopelessly ignorant!
KAI: Yeah, that never really works.
LIBBY: Ignorant isn't supposed to be an insult here.
KAI: It means more someone who lacks knowledge, or who is maybe seeking a truth they haven't
found yet.
LIBBY: Catholics believe that they are called to share their faith.
KAI: Matthew's Gospel ends with this command from Jesus,
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you."

 
LIBBY: But we all have to keep in mind where the person we're talking to is coming from and treat
them with love and respect.
KAI: And remember that there are areas that we are definitely ignorant in as well.
 
 

 
LIBBY: Which brings us to counseling the doubtful.
KAI: Everyone has doubts or difficult decisions to make from time to time, it's a natural and healthy
part of the spiritual life.
LIBBY: The poet Mary Oliver alluded to this when she asked,
"How many roads did Saint Augustine follow before he became Saint Augustine?"
KAI: Answer, lots. So when those close to us express doubt, we can be there for them, listen, and give
advice.
LIBBY: And remember that sometimes, periods of doubt can lead to the greatest spiritual growth.
KAI: So when someone expresses doubt, there's no need to assume you know what's going to happen
when they die or to condemn them yourself.
LIBBY: Speaking of condemnation.
 

 
KAI: Next is admonishing the sinner.
LIBBY: Admonish means to advise or caution against, not
SIN COP LIBBY: Oh, you got a little angry
when someone stole your shopping cart at Wal-Mart yesterday?
You're a sinner. And you told a lie to get out of going to bridal shower. Sinner.Oh, and you stole money
from the collection plate.
Hahaha, big sinner.
LIBBY: Here we can take a page from Pope Francis, who, in his address to the U.S. Catholic bishops in
2015 said,
"Although harsh and divisive language may momentarily seem to win the day, only the enduring allure
of goodness and love remains truly convincing."

 
KAI: And also remember the many times
Jesus warned against hypocrisy.
LIBBY: Everyone struggles with sin in their lives, so it's important to do some introspection on ourselves
before focusing on others.
 

 
KAI: Next up, bearing wrongs patientlyand forgiving offenses willingly.
LIBBY: OK, you know what, I am trying.
KAI: Whoa, I wasn't talking to you specifically.
LIBBY: Sorry, this one's just not fair.You have no idea what my arch-nemesis has donein the past week
alone.
(slow tempo music) (dramatic music) (cackling)
LIBBY Great grandpa's pipe, not again!
KAI: It might help to remember Jesus's words on forgiveness.
"But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek,
turn the other one to him as well."
 
 
LIBBY: Phew, easier said than done, buddy.
KAI: Well, yeah, it is, which is kinda the point. Forgiveness is hard, it takes time, and sometimes doesn't
seem fair. And that's why Jesus' message on this was revolutionary.
LIBBY: The idea of justice before Jesus was pretty brutal.
KAI: Yeah, eyes gouged out, hands chopped off, (screaming), that kind of thing.
LIBBY: But bearing wrongs and forgiving offenses are two of the Spiritual Works of Mercy that are
good, not only for the person receiving patience and forgiveness, but also the person giving them.
 

 
KAI: As is the case with comforting the afflicted.
LIBBY: Afflictions can be emotional, physical, mental, or spiritual.
KAI: And some of us, when faced with someone else's affliction, do a pretty bad job of comforting.
CRYING LIBBY: My dog died. (exhales in disgust)
OLD LADY KAI: Well, why don't you just adjust your attitude? God has a plan, it could be worse, offer it
up.
LIBBY: A better way to comfort the afflicted is to accompany people through it.
KAI: And realize that sometimes there is no way you can fix something or take away someone's
suffering.
LIBBY: But you can listen, offer words of encouragement and pray.
 

 
KAI: Which is an excellent segue to our last work of mercy, praying for the living and the dead.
LIBBY: Catholics believe that you can still pray for the dead to join God in Heaven after they die.
KAI: Because Catholics don't presume to know where people will end up.
LIBBY: But Catholics also believe that prayer has benefits that go far beyond whatever we're praying
for.
KAI: Praying for others helps us to overcome our own selfishness and brings us closer to God.
LIBBY: And that wraps it up, seven ways ...
KAI: But wait Libby, there's more.
LIBBY: More? (gasping)
 

 
KAI: In addition to these seven Spiritual Works of Mercy, Pope Francis has proposed an eighth:
Gratefully contemplating God's world.
LIBBY: Yes, looking to God's creation
helps us to appreciate God in all things.
KAI: And see what God wants to teach us through them.
LIBBY: All right, so there you have it,
eight ways to put love into action.
KAI: For more resources,
check out our website, CatholicCentral.com.
LIBBY: And be sure to subscribe to our channel.
KAI: Thanks for watching Catholic Central.
LIBBY: Until next time, make it work.