Spiritual Works of Mercy…
Spiritual Works of Mercy
- To counsel the doubtful;
- Instruct the ignorant;
- Admonish sinners;
- Comfort the afflicted;
- Forgive offenses;
- Bear wrongs patiently;
- Pray for the living and the dead.
Corporal Works of Mercy…
Corporal Works of Mercy
- To feed the hungry;
- Give drink to the thirsty;
- Clothe the naked;
- Shelter the homeless;
- Visit the sick;
- Visit the imprisoned;
- Bury the dead.
Do not lose…
Do not lose by saving but gather in by scattering. Give to the poor, and you give to yourself. You will not be allowed to keep what you have refused to give to others.
— Saint Peter Chrysologus (c. 380 – c. 450)
Share our earthly blessings…
Not one of this world’s blessings belongs to its owner securely enough to prevent time destroying it, or envy transferring it elsewhere…Let us profit by them in the only good way we can, that is, let us gain possession of our souls by giving alms, and share our earthly goods with the poor so as to enrich ourselves with the wealth of heaven.
–Saint Gregory Nazianzen (329-c. 391)
That spirit of compassion…
We should strive to keep our hearts open to the sufferings and wretchedness of other people, and pray continually that God may grant us that spirit of compassion which is truly the spirit of God.
— Saint Vincent de Paul (1581-1660)
Of what use…
Of what use is it to weigh down Christ’s table with golden cups, when he himself is dying of hunger? First, fill him when he is hungry; then use the means you have left to adorn his table. Will you have a golden cup made but not give a cup of water? What is the use of providing the table with cloths woven of gold thread, and not providing Christ himself with the clothes he needs? What profit is there in that? Tell me: If you were to see him lacking the necessary food but were to leave him in that state and merely surround his table with gold, would he be grateful to you or rather would he not be angry? What if you were to see him clad in worn-out rags and stiff from the cold, and were to forget about clothing him and instead were to set up golden columns for him, saying that you were doing it in his honor? Would he not think he was being mocked and greatly insulted?
–Saint Augustine (354-430)
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