Msgr. Pope on the Spiritual Works of Mercy

"During daily Mass we are currently reading through chapter six of John's Gospel. There is of course a glorious focus on the Lord's true presence in the Most Blessed Sacrament.

"However, there is also another important teaching given at a critical moment in chapter six that is important for us to lay hold of today. It is a call to recover a greater awareness of the importance of the spiritual works of mercy. I will list what they are in a moment, but for now consider that despite living in rather secular times, the corporal works of mercy are still widely appreciated and accepted as both necessary and virtuous. There is little dispute today that we should feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, visit the sick, visit the imprisoned, or bury the dead (the seven corporal works of mercy). . . .

". . . I cannot think of a single individual I know of, religious or not, who thinks that the corporal works of mercy can or should be neglected if within our power to accomplish. This is a great tribute to Christian culture and one of the few of its pillars that remain in the post-Christian West.

"But it is a different matter today with the spiritual works of mercy. Even in the Church they are seldom mentioned. Very few even reasonably catechized Catholics could list all seven of them and many might not even be able to come up with more than one or two. For the record, the spiritual works of mercy are these:

     Admonish the sinner

     Instruct the ignorant

     Counsel the doubtful

     Comfort the sorrowful

     Bear wrongs patiently

     Forgive all injuries

     Pray for the living and the dead

"Here is a great gap in the thinking of many. We tend to reduce charity to caring for people’s bodies, forgetting the needs of their souls. . . ."

In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on the spiritual works of mercy and their place in our lives.

To access Msgr. Pope’s complete post, please visit:

Msgr. Charles Pope: What Ever Happened to the Spiritual Works of Mercy? (16 APR 15)