Corpus Christi Blog

When I was in my twenties, I bought a car from Enterprise rental car sales. My brother advised me against it saying, “don’t you know what people do to rental cars?” I imagined this average Dodge sedan going four-wheeling in the desert with the driver and passengers hootin’ and hollerin’ while holding on for dear life! I’ve also lived in several different apartments in my life.

The Spiritual Works of Mercy, compared to the Corporal Works of Mercy, can seem more vague, difficult to identify or understand. The corporal works might seem easier because they involve physically doing things and supporting others in very tangible ways. The key to the spiritual works of mercy is charity – love – agape love, which is an honest-to-goodness, heartfelt concern with the spiritual well-being of another.

What are works of mercy? Why do we have them? How do we do them? It’s a good idea to ask ourselves questions like this from time to time. We can get wrapped up in the busyness of our lives and routines, forgetting that we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those in need. The works of mercy – corporal (bodily, worldly, tangible) and spiritual – are identified by the Church for our benefit. As the Catechism says, “The works of mercy are charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily necessities” (#2447).

Thank you. Two very powerful words that can convey the state of a person’s heart. Surely any of us can recall a time when our mother reminded us to say “thank you” for gifts, for help, and even for a piece of candy. Learning to acknowledge someone’s kindness is part of our basic formation as children. As adults, even though it is mostly second nature, we may forget from time to time to say thank you.

This week, we examine the Catholic Church’s teachings on how we are saved, or how we obtain eternal salvation with God in heaven. I’m going to begin with a somewhat perplexing scripture verse. St. Paul, in his letter to the Colossians, states, “I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church” (Col 1:24).