Art: David Teniers the Younger: The Works of Mercy
Pope Francis called mercy “the Lord’s most powerful message.” He was commenting on the actions of Jesus to the woman caught in adultery. (John 8: 1-11) http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+7%3A53-8%3A11&version=NRSV;ESV These links can help explain mercy.
General Audience St Peter’s Square Wednesday, 12 October 2016 Corporal and spiritual works of mercy
YouTube link to Angelus found on the Salt and Light website: http://saltandlighttv.org/blog/general/pope-franciss-first-sunday-angelus-address
Textweek links to movie clips showing Mercy and Grace http://www.textweek.com/movies/grace.htm
Fr. Ron Rolheiser OMI Corporal Works of Mercy |. Other Fr. Ron articles on Mercy “Risking God’s Mercy” http://www.ronrolheiser.com/columnarchive/?id=569
Catechism of the Catholic Church on the works of mercy:
2447 The works of mercy are charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbour in his spiritual and bodily necessities. Instructing, advising, consoling, comforting are spiritual works of mercy, as are forgiving and bearing wrongs patiently. The corporal works of mercy consist especially in feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned, and burying the dead. Among all these, giving alms to the poor is one of the chief witnesses to fraternal charity: it is also a work of justice pleasing to God:
“He who has two coats, let him share with him who has none and he who has food must do likewise. But give for alms those things which are within; and behold, everything is clean for you. If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit?” James 2:15-16; cf. 1 Jn 3:17.
The Works of Mercy, by the Master of Alkmaar made for the Church of Saint Lawrence in Alkmaar, Netherlands. The wooden panels show the works of mercy in this order: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, bury the dead, shelter the traveler, comfort the sick, and free the imprisoned. Circa 1504. Source:Wikimedia Commons.
The Canadian Bishops Office for Evangelization and Catechesis have produced two resources to help teach the Corporal Works of Mercy http://www.cccb.ca/site/eng/office-for-evangelization-and-catechesis/4355-corporal-works-of-mercy
United States Bishops Corporal Works of Mercy. and Spiritual Works of Mercy
Archdiocese of Toronto Corporal Works of Mercy and Spiritual Works of Mercy
From Deanna Bartalini of Amazing Catechists
