The Divine Mercy Blog

Acts Of Mercy

The Works of Mercy are acts of love by which we help our neighbors in their bodily and spiritual needs, following the example of Jesus Christ, who identified Himself with those in need. These acts are a key criterion of Christian authenticity .

The Works of Mercy are divided into two categories: Corporal Works of Mercy and Spiritual Works of Mercy.

Corporal Works of Mercy

The Corporal Works of Mercy focus on the physical needs of others. They are based on the teachings of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew, where He describes the acts of compassion that will be the basis of judgment. The traditional list includes:

  • Feeding the hungry 
  • Giving drink to the thirsty 
  • Clothing the naked 
  • Sheltering the homeless 
  • Visiting the sick 
  • Visiting the imprisoned 
  • Burying the dead

Spiritual Works of Mercy

The Spiritual Works of Mercy focus on the spiritual and emotional needs of others. These actions guide individuals toward conversion, deeper faith, and a more profound relationship with God. They include:

  • Counseling the doubtful
  • Instructing the ignorant
  • Admonishing the sinner
  • Comforting the sorrowful
  • Forgiving injuries
  • Bearing wrongs patiently
  • Praying for the living and the dead

These works are integral to witnessing the Gospel, and Christians are encouraged to perform them without seeking personal glory, but out of a genuine desire to serve God and neighbor 78. Jesus teaches that what we do for the least of our brothers and sisters, we do for Him.

St. Faustina Kowalska was a Polish Roman Catholic nun and mystic known for her devotion to the Divine Mercy. Her diary, Divine Mercy in My Soul, records her mystical experiences and conversations with Jesus, emphasizing God’s mercy and love for humanity.

St. Faustina emphasized the importance of acts of mercy, reflecting God’s love to those in need. She believed that everyone could perform acts of mercy daily through prayer, word, and deed 1. Faustina wrote about experiencing the sufferings of others in her own heart and wanting to take their sorrows upon herself to relieve them.

Pope John Paul II highlighted that Christ taught that people should not only receive God’s mercy but also practice it towards others, following the example of Jesus, who attended to all human needs, both material and spiritual.