The corporal and spiritual works of mercy

The works of mercy are fourteen ways of helping our neighbor in what they need. Seven are corporal, because they meet the needs of the body, and seven are spiritual, because they care for the soul. Most of the corporal works come from what Jesus said about the Last Judgment: whatever we do for the least of his brothers and sisters, we do for him (Matthew 25:31-46).

The seven corporal works of mercy

1. Visit the sick.

   Keeping someone who is ill company, at home or in the hospital, and helping to care for them.

2. Feed the hungry.

   Sharing food, at home and with those who have nothing to eat.

3. Give drink to the thirsty.

   Offering a glass of water, and caring that everyone has clean water.

4. Shelter the homeless.

   Welcoming someone who comes from far away or has nowhere to stay. It is what Las Posadas remember.

5. Clothe the naked.

   Giving clothes and blankets in good condition to those who need them, as we would give them to Jesus.

6. Visit the imprisoned.

   Older lists say to ransom the captive. Today we live it by visiting prisoners, helping their families and praying for them.

7. Bury the dead.

   Going to a funeral to be with the family, and treating the body of someone who has died with respect.

The seven spiritual works of mercy

1. Instruct the ignorant.

   Teaching patiently, above all the things of faith. Parents do it every day with their children.

2. Counsel the doubtful.

   Helping someone choose well when they don’t know what to do.

3. Admonish sinners.

   Telling someone kindly that they are doing wrong, without shaming them, the way we would want to be told.

4. Forgive offenses.

   Forgiving those who have hurt us, without holding a grudge, as God forgives us.

5. Comfort the afflicted.

   Staying with someone who is suffering, listening to them, and giving them hope.

6. Bear wrongs patiently.

   Putting up with other people’s faults, and with the wrongs they do us, without anger, as they put up with ours.

7. Pray for the living and the dead.

   Praying for our family and friends, for anyone who asks us, and for those who have died.

The order of the lists changes from one catechism to another. The Church sees in them a concrete way of loving the poor, and many saints, like Saint Martín de Porres, lived them every day.

To read more, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 2443, 2447.

The feast that goes with this topic

November 3Saint Martín de Porres

In the app, the lesson “All of it was good” in Unit 3 goes with this topic.