How do you help humanity if local regulations want you to stay by yourself or with your immediate household?
Serving other faulty, smelly human beings can be many things, but one thing Catholics believe it’s not -- optional. In “Catholic Central: Corporate Works of Mercy,” Kai and Libby give you several ways to break out of selfishness and put love into action today.
Diving Deeper
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Do you need to be Catholic to do corporal works of mercy? How might being Catholic enrich service to others?
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Have you ever witnessed a positive impact from someone carrying out one of the corporal works of mercy? What were some of the effects on those involved?
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Just as “burying the dead” was added to the original corporal works of mercy when early Christians recognized a need for it, Pope Francis recently proposed “care for the environment” as a complement to our existing corporal works of mercy. How can caring for the environment help to meet people’s material or physical needs?
Activity
Create a bookmark, note card, wallet card, poster or any other visual with a list of the eight Corporal Works of Mercy or images that represent them. Put your list in a place where you’ll see it regularly as a reminder – Feed the hungry. Give drink to the thirsty. Clothe the naked. Shelter the homeless. Visit the sick. Visit the imprisoned. Bury the dead. Care for the environment.
Reflection by Father Vince Kuna C.S.C.
In rare moments when physical interaction is impossible, think of ways of affecting Corporal Works of Mercy through the wonders of technology. Contribute to the project of a “starving artist” through a crowdfunding platform. Donate rarely used clothing to a homeless shelter. Offer alms via an app or online to a friend trying to pay for a deceased loved one’s funeral. Send an email or text to someone living alone and/or under the weather. If truly itching for physical work, try cooking a meal based on vegetables that you grow yourself. (See “Care for the Environment” reflection.)
