Corporal Works of Mercy
- Feed the hungry
- Give drink to the thirsty
- Clothe the naked
- Shelter the homeless
- Visit the sick
- Visit the imprisoned
- Bury the dead
Spiritual Works of Mercy
- Teach others about God and the Faith
- Counsel the doubtful
- Encourage reconciliation with God and others
- Bear wrongs patiently
- Forgive offenses willingly
- Comfort the afflicted
- Pray for the living and the dead
Contemporary corporal and spiritual acts of mercy extend traditional Corporal (body) and Spiritual (soul) works to modern life, involving tangible aid like feeding the homeless (soup kitchens, food banks), clothing the needy (donation drives), sheltering (homeless shelters, refugee aid), visiting the sick/imprisoned (hospitals, prisons, online check-ins), and spiritual help through mentoring, mental health support, forgiving online, and offering compassionate presence in a digital age, extending mercy beyond just traditional church settings.
Which corporal works of mercy might you be called to practice? Which spiritual works of mercy?