Divine Mercy for Moms by Michele Faehnle

Author:Michele Faehnle
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ave Maria Press
Published: 2016-02-03T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 5

The Spiritual Works

of Mercy

Write this for the many souls who are often worried because they do not have the material means with which to carry out an act of mercy. Yet spiritual mercy, which requires neither permissions nor storehouses, is much more meritorious and is within the grasp of every soul. If a soul does not exercise mercy somehow or other, it will not obtain My mercy on the day of judgment. Oh, if only souls knew how to gather eternal treasure for themselves, they would not be judged, for they would forestall My judgment with their mercy. (1317)

The idea of comforting or ministering to others might seem a bit overwhelming to those of us who are caught up in the details of running our households. I know I (Emily) sometimes feel as though I am already juggling too many balls. How in the world can I do one more thing?

The spiritual works of mercy remind us to consider the person behind the “work,” a person who needs our love, care, and compassion no matter who they are or how our paths cross. Our goal is to embody the mercy of Christ by reaching out and showing others compassion as the opportunities arise. The following are the spiritual works of mercy:

1. Counsel the doubtful.

2. Instruct the ignorant.

3. Admonish sinners.

4. Comfort the afflicted.

5. Forgive offenses.

6. Bear wrongs patiently.

7. Pray for the living and the dead.

In the school parking lot, sitting on the third baseline, and standing in line at the grocery store checkout, I have had occasions to speak to others about God and to practice the spiritual works of mercy outlined in The Catechism of the Catholic Church: to “come to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily necessities. Instructing, advising, consoling, comforting are spiritual works of mercy, as are forgiving and bearing wrongs patiently” (CCC 2447).

Many times, chances to practice mercy arise as we witness the sufferings of others, or are reminded of the compassionate heart of Jesus in our own times of distress. Suffering pinpricks the heart to wake up and notice what really matters. For Catholics, the journey to holiness is not a solitary expedition in which we remain engrossed in our own interior lives. Rather we must be inspired to reach out into our communities to bring others closer to Christ. In the words of St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta:

The greatest disease in the West today is not TB or leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for. We can cure physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness is love. There are many in the world who are dying for a piece of bread but there are many more dying for a little love. The poverty in the West is a different kind of poverty—it is not only a poverty of loneliness but also of spirituality. There’s a hunger for love, as there is a hunger for God.1

Sharing Mercy through Motherhood

Motherhood is an amazing opportunity to expand our world, bring love to others, and help break the cycle of loneliness.

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