CLF 4

A LIFE
OF DISCERNMENT

LESSON 5
CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY
and THE CARDINAL VIRTUES

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Prayer of St. Augustine
Lord Jesus, let me know myself and
know You. And desire nothing save only
You. Let me hate myself and love You.
Let me do everything for the sake of
You Let me humble myself and exalt
You. Let me think of nothing except
You. Let me die to myself and live in
You. Let me accept whatever happens
as from You. Let me banish self and
follow You. And ever desire to follow
You.
Prayer of St. Augustine
Let me fly from myself and take refuge
in You, That I may deserve to be
defended by You. Let me fear for
myself, let me fear You, And let me be
among those who are chosen by You.
Let me distrust myself and put my trust
in You. Let me be willing to obey for the
sake of You, And let me be poor because
of You. Look upon me, that I may love
You. Call me that I may see You. And
for ever enjoy You. Amen.
 CLF 4
A LIFE
OF DISCERNMENT

LESSON 5

CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY and

THE CARDINAL VIRTUES

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luizclas from Pexels
ACTIVITY 1 SHARE IT!
1. Using your PT grouping,
brainstorm and create a list of
virtues as a group.
2. Using digital devices, pick an
emoji that best represents each
virtue on your list.
3. Volunteers share from their lists
to the class.
ACTIVITY 1 i WATCH it!
1. Students will watch the video
about the seven virtues under two
columns: Theological Virtues |
Cardinal Virtues.
2. Using digital devices, they pick
an emoji that best represents each
virtue on their list.
3. Volunteers share from their lists
to the class.
ACTIVITY 1 i WATCH it!
 You shall love the Lord, your God,
with all your heart, with all your
soul, and with all your mind. This is
the greatest and the first
commandment. The second is like it;
You shall love your neighbor as
yourself.” – Matthew 23:37-39
We've already learned that the Ten Commandments are
more than rules and laws but a foundation of moral teaching
and shape our obligations as Christians in relationship to
God.
 

The Catholic Church teaches us the meaning of grace which

leads to holiness and aid in sanctification. The "Corporal
works of mercy" are concerned with the material and
physical needs of others; while the Cardinal Virtues are
important because they are the basic qualities necessary for
our well-being and happiness.
LEARNING COMPETENCY 1
LC 1. Explain how the cardinal virtues spur the
By recognizing the importance of virtues in our lives, it will
corporal works of mercy in responding to the
lead to better communication, understanding and
commandment of love
acceptance between us and our fellow man.
LC 2. Celebrate Jesus works of mercy in the
church apostolates especially with the poor and
the marginalized
 ACTIVITY 2: “U” COMPLETE me

Questions to ponder:
1. What are the commonalities of the
pictures being shown to you?

2. What virtue/s could enable us to

help our neighbor when they need
help the most? Explain. Identify what particular
action is being depicted in
3. What is virtue? each picture.
ACTIVIT
Y
ACTIVIT
Y
ACTIVIT
Y
ACTIVIT
Y
ACTIVIT
Y
ACTIVIT
Y
ACTIVIT
Y
 “Give something, however
small, to the one in need. For
it is not small to one who has
nothing. Neither is it small to
God if we have given what
we could.”(Saint Gregory)
ORD
OF
GOD
ORD
A reading from
WORD the gospel according to

OF
OF
GOD
Matthew
GOD Chapter 25
Verses 31-40

ORD
OF
From the holy gospel according to Matthew

“When the Son of Man comes in his

Narrator: 

glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit

upon his glorious throne, and all the
nations will be assembled before him. And he
will separate them one from another, as a
shepherd separates the sheep from the
goats. He will place the sheep on his right and
the goats on his left. Then the king will say to
those on his right,
King: ‘Come, you who are blessed by my
Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the world. 
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I
was thirsty and you gave me drink, a
stranger and you welcomed me, naked and
you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in
prison and you visited me.’ NARRATOR: Then the
righteous will answer him and say,
RIGHTEOUS: ‘Lord, when did we see you
hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you
drink? When did we see you a stranger and
welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When
did we see you ill or in prison, and visit
you?’ Narrator: And the king will say to them in
reply, KING: ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever
you did for one of these least brothers of
mine, you did for me.’
The gospel of the Lord.
ORD Matthew
OF Chapter 25: 31- 40

GOD
ORD
WORD
OF
OF
GOD
GOD
ORD
OF
Process Questions:
1. What is the message of the gospel?

2. Who are the “least of these brothers of mine”?

3. What kind of work does the Lord command us to do

towards the least among us?
The Gospel reminds us how the Corporal Works of
Mercy that we genuinely give to others— we also
give to God. This, we can relate to the one of the
Lord's commandments which is to "Love one
another as I have loved you." After all, it is through
Him that we are capable of loving. This love— we
may truly show through a dedication to charity and
service.
 THREE STAGES
Understanding THAT
the works HUMANI
of Mercy
IS CREATED IN GRACE
THREE STAGES THAT HU
“The works of mercy are charitable actions by which we come to the aid
of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily necessities” (CCC 2447).

Jesus presented the corporal works of mercy as the way to love Him.
They are “corporal” because they address our neighbor’s physical
needs. Through the corporal works of mercy we have compassion,
fixing an injustice. We learn two important things:

1) Loving others in these ways is loving Jesus Christ Himself,

2) Failing to do these works of mercy can lead to eternal damnation.
 THREEFeed
STAGES THAT HUMANI
 

the Hungry
 
 
 

IS CREATED IN GRACE
 
 
 

THREE STAGES THAT HU

 
 
“. . . if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of
 
  the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your
gloom be like the noonday.” – Isaiah 58:10
Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes by Giovanni
Lanfranco (1620-1623)

The body needs nourishment to live on. God has provided food in major ways in the Bible:
- Providing manna from heaven to the Jews as they journeyed through the desert
- Christ’s multiplication of the fish and the loaves
- Christ giving His body and blood in the Eucharist for us to consume
 
Feeding the hungry also helps the giver. Giving of what we have shows our gratitude for
what God has given us, bringing us great joy.

What are some ways we can feed the hungry?

• Donate to a food drive or a food bank.
• Volunteer at a local food pantry or soup kitchen.
• Only buy as much food as you can eat and
decreasing waste.
 
 
THREE
Give
STAGES
Drink to the
THAT
Thirsty
HUMANI
IS CREATED IN GRACE
 
 
 

THREE STAGES THAT HU

 
 

Christ and the Samaritan Woman at the Well by

Angelica Kauffman (1796)
 
Like food, the body needs water to survive. Providing drink to the thirsty is nourishing Jesus
Himself.
“. . . and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a
disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.” – Matthew 10:42
There are many examples of giving drink to the thirsty in the Bible.
- Rebekah giving drink to Abraham’s servant
- The widow giving drink to Elijah
- Obadiah giving drink to 100 prophets
 

What are some ways we can give drink to the thirsty?

o Donate to organizations that provide water to those without it.
o Donate water bottles to those in need in your local
community.
o Limit wasting water in the bathroom or at meal time.
 
 
THREEClothe
STAGES
the
THAT
Naked
HUMANI
IS CREATED IN GRACE
 
 

THREE STAGES THAT HU

 
 
 
The Good Samaritan by Jacopo Bassano (1562-
1563)
 
Giving clothing to the naked also extends to any other material needs the poor may need.
“And the crowds asked him, ‘What then should we do?’ In reply he said to them, ‘Whoever has
two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.‘”
– Luke 3:10-11

Giving alms to the poor is a crucial part of the Christian life. Almsgiving shows our own
detachment to or material belongings. We recognize that everything we have is a gift from God.

What are some ways we can clothe the naked?

• Gather excess clothing in your closet and give it away to those in need.
• Take part in local clothing drives, especially in the winter.
• Volunteer your time, treasure, and talent for the Church and other charitable
organizations.
 THREE STAGES
Shelter the
THAT
Homeless
HUMANI
IS CREATED IN GRACE
THREE STAGES THAT HU
Even in first world countries, homeless is a major issue. Many of
those without homes feel the emotional pains of feeling unwanted
and unloved.

What are some ways we can shelter the homeless?

• Volunteer time or donate to a local homeless shelter.
• Help organizations that build homes for those in need, like Habitat for
Humanity.
• Host and provide shelter for visitors in town.
 THREE STAGES THAT HUMANI
 
 

Visit the Sick

 

IS CREATED IN GRACE
 
 

THREE STAGES THAT HU

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Christ Healing the Sick at the Pool of Bethesda by Carl
Heinrich Bloch (1883)
 
 

Those who are sick are some of the most vulnerable people in
society. Christ had a special love and mercy for the sick during His
ministry. We can bring great relief to the sick with our loving
presence, especially to those who feel abandoned.

What are some ways we can visit the sick?

• Volunteer at a nursing home.
• Build a relationship with any elderly neighbors living nearby. Help them
with any services like yard work or cooking them a meal.
• Assist and visit sick family members.
 
 
THREE STAGES
Visit the
THAT
Imprisoned
HUMANI
IS CREATED IN GRACE
 
 
 

THREE STAGES THAT HU

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Liberation of St. Peter by Antonio de Bellis (c. early 1640s)
 

Everyone is made in the image and likeness of God, no matter what

they may have done. They often need to know of God’s love and
mercy for them. Often there are restrictions to visiting prisons, but
there are still some ways we can help.
What are some ways we can visit the imprisoned?
• See if any of your parish ministries help or visit the imprisoned and get
involved.
• Help provide for the children of the imprisoned.
• Promote humane treatment of the imprisoned, especially services that
focus on rehabilitation.
 
 
THREE Bury
STAGES
the
THAT
Dead
HUMANI
IS CREATED IN GRACE
 
 
 

THREE STAGES THAT HU

 
 
Entombment of Christ by Rogier van der Weyden (1450)
 
 

Our bodies are sacred, temples of the Holy Spirit. Paying respect for the dead allows us to show our love for
the dead and their loved ones.

What are some ways we can bury the dead?

• Attend funerals and wakes for those who have passed away.
• Offer condolences and support for those who have lost a loved one.
• Visit graveyards and pray for the dead.
 
EFFECTS
The OF THE
Cardinal ORIGINAL
Virtues
INNOCENCE EFFECTS OF THE
ORIGINAL INNOCENCE
The cardinal virtues are the
four principal moral virtues. Whatever is true, whatever is
honorable, whatever is just, whatever
The English is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is
word cardinal comes from the
Latin word cardo, which means
gracious, if there is any excellence, if
"hinge." All other virtues hinge there is anything worthy of praise,
on these four: prudence, think about these things.”CCC1803
justice, fortitude, and
temperance.​
 
EFFECTS
The OF THE
Cardinal ORIGINAL
Virtues
INNOCENCE EFFECTS OF THE
ORIGINAL INNOCENCE
A virtue is a habitual and firm disposition to do the good. It allows the person not only to
perform good acts, but to give the best of himself.

 
CCC 1804 “Human virtues are firm attitudes, stable dispositions, habitual
perfections of intellect and will that govern our actions, order our passions, and
guide our conduct according to reason and faith. They make possible ease, self-
mastery, and joy in leading a morally good life. The virtuous man is he who
freely practices the good”
Prudence Prudence
Prudence
Prudence Prudence

It is the virtue that allows us to judge correctly what is

right and what is wrong in any given situation. When we
mistake the evil for the good, we are not exercising
prudence—in fact, we are showing our lack of it. Because it
is so easy to fall into error, prudence requires us to seek
the counsel of others, particularly those we know to be
sound judges of morality. Disregarding the advice or
warnings of others whose judgment does not coincide with
ours is a sign of imprudence.
Prudence Prudence
Justice
Prudence Prudence
The moral virtue that consists in
the constant and firm will to give
their due to God and neighbor …
Justice toward men disposes one to
respect the rights of each and to
establish in human relationships
the harmony that promotes equity
with regard to persons and to the
common good. 
Prudence Prudence
Justice
Prudence Prudence

GOD’S
JUSTICE is
HIS MERCY.
Prudence Prudence
Fortitude
Prudence Prudence
Fortitude is the only one of the cardinal virtues
that is also a gift of the Holy Spirit, allowing us
to rise above our natural fears in defense of
the Christian faith.

 
This virtue is commonly called courage, it is different from what much of
what we think of as courage today. Fortitude allows us to overcome fear
and to remain steady in our will in the face of obstacles, but it is always
reasoned and reasonable; the person exercising fortitude does not seek
danger for danger's sake. Prudence and justice are the virtues through
which we decide what needs to be done; fortitude gives us the strength to
do it.
Prudence Prudence
Temperance
Prudence Prudence
The moral virtue that moderates the attraction of pleasures and
provides balance in the use of created goods. It ensures the will’s
mastery over instincts and keeps desires within the limits of what
is honorable … In the New Testament it is called “moderation” or
“sobriety.” We ought “to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this
world.”

Temperance, is the final cardinal virtue. While fortitude is concerned

with the restraint of fear so that we can act, temperance is the
restraint of our desires or passions. Food, drink, and sex are all
necessary for our survival, individually and as a species; yet a
disordered desire for any of these goods can have disastrous
consequences, physical and moral.
 Model of Faith
From: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Joseph

St. Joseph is the patron of the universal church in Roman

Catholicism, and his life is recorded in the Gospels, particularly
Matthew and Luke.
Joseph was a descendant of the house of King David. After
marrying Mary, he found her already pregnant and, “being a
righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace”
(Matthew 1:19), decided to divorce her quietly, but an angel told
him that the child was the Son of God and was conceived by the
Holy Spirit.
Obeying the angel, Joseph took Mary as his wife. After Jesus’ birth
at Bethlehem in Judaea, where the Holy Family received the Magi,
an angel warned Joseph and Mary about the impending violence
against the child by King Herod the Great of Judaea, whereupon
they fled to Egypt.
There the angel again appeared to Joseph, informing him of
Herod’s death and instructing him to return to the Holy Land
oseph, Feast day: March 19
 CELEBRATION
INTEGRATI As Catholics, we see Christ in the marginalized, the vulnerable, the
materially deprived and oppressed and their suffering and misery as
ON an expression of the frailty of the human condition. We hold them
close to the heart as an “object of a preferential love on the part of
the Church which, since her origin and in spite of the failings of many
of her members, has not ceased to work for their relief, defense, and
liberation through numerous works of charity which remain
indispensable always and everywhere” [Catechism of the Catholic
Church, #2448].

Works of mercy that address the ‘social and political dimensions of the problem of
poverty’ are not just works of charity, but also of justice, which are pleasing to God
(Compendium of Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church, 184). The Compendium
states: “In her teaching the Church constantly returns to this relationship between
charity and justice: “When we attend to the needs of those in want, we give them
what is theirs, not ours. More than performing works of mercy, we are paying a
debt of justice”. The Council Fathers strongly recommended that this duty be
fulfilled correctly, remembering that “what is already due in justice is not to be
offered as a gift of charity”. Love for the poor is certainly “incompatible with
immoderate love of riches or their selfish use”” (ibid.)
 
 ACTIVIT
VIRTUE–AL REALITY
Y
Instructions:
1. Each group will be given a situation they might encounter on a
common day.
2. Create a list of the risks, temptations, and moral dilemmas your
group might face in the scenario you have been assigned.
3. Then draft a plan of action that will help your group counter these
risks, temptations, and moral dilemmas before they occur.
4. List the moral virtues that could be drawn upon.
5. Select someone from your group to collate and write your list and
plan of action.
6. Provide a 3-5 sentences to expound your plan of action.
7. Kindly refer to posted instructions and rubrics on Quipper Essay.
 CELEBRATION
Conclusion
“The corporal works of mercy
consist especially in feeding the
hungry, sheltering the
homeless, clothing the naked,
visiting the sick and
imprisoned, and burying the
dead. Among all these, giving
alms to the poor is one of the
chief witnesses to fraternal
charity: it is also a work of
justice pleasing to God.” (CCC
2447) It can be founded in the
teachings of Jesus and give us
a model for how we should
treat all others, as if they were
Christ in disguise. They "are
charitable actions by which we
help our neighbors in their
bodily needs" (USCCA).
They respond to the basic needs of
humanity as we journey together through
this life. While, Virtues are gifts from God
that lead us to live in a close relationship
with him. Virtues are like habits. They
need to be practiced; they can be lost if
they are neglected. The three most
important virtues are called theological
virtues because they come from God and
lead to God. The cardinal virtues are
human virtues, acquired by education and
good actions. Cardinal comes from cardo,
the Latin word for hinge, meaning “that
on which other things depend.”
CELEBRATION
CELEBRATION

At the end of the lesson the

prayer Act of Hope will be
prayed by the class. The
students must prepare a
lighted candle and should
face on their altar while
praying sincerely.