Below, we will feature spiritual reflections made by our own parishioners. These reflections are meant to help you see other perspectives to help us grow in our faith.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Practical Suggestions for Practicing the Works of Mercy
The Corporal Works of Mercy are kind acts by which we help our neighbors with their everyday material and physical needs.
1. Feed the Hungry and 2. Give Drink to the Thirsty
- Go through cabinets and find extra food to donate. Donate all these items to the Athens Catholic Community Food Pantry or another agency that feeds the hungry.
- Decide not to eat out for a meal and donate that money to Catholic Charities, Good Works or another agency that feeds the hungry.
- Educate Yourself about World Hunger.
- Eat well (proper nutrition) and don’t waste food.
- Buy locally. Don’t throw away any food. Only eat and buy what you will eat before it expires.
- Share meals with others.
3. Shelter the Homeless
- Set up a weekly/monthly time to visit the Timothy House (homeless shelter in Athens County) and bring a friend or two.
- Look for opportunities to help parishioners and neighbors care for their home (especially shut-ins and the elderly).
- Volunteer to beautify our churches – picking up trash, pulling weeds, etc.
- Support and volunteer for charitable organizations who care for the homeless (e.g. Catholic Refugee Service or Timothy House).
- Advocate for public policies and legislation that provide housing for low-income people.
4. Clothe the Naked
- Go through drawers and closets and find good-condition clothes and shoes to donate to Good Works or another charitable organization.
- Volunteer to work at a clothing drive or at a shelter where clothing is distributed to those in need.
5. Visit the Sick
- Dedicate yourself to praying for the sick in our community by signing up for our parish Prayer Line. E-mail Wendy at wserbonich@athenscatholic.org or click here.
- Volunteer at the Obleness Hospital. Application and information at ohiohealth.com/oblenessvolunteer
- Volunteer at the Nursing Homes in Athens (Kimes, The Laurels, Hickory Creek).
- Send a card to someone you know who is sick or send a card to someone who doesn’t have any visitors.
- Pay attention to those who have mental illnesses. Pray for them and offer support.
6. Visit the Imprisoned
- Donate or Volunteer at Athens Books to Prisoners.
- Watch the film ‘Dead Man Walking’ and learn about the ministry of Sr. Helen Prejean and The Innocence Project.
- Consider becoming a pen pal to a death row inmate. Visit Catholic Death Row Ministry at prisonministry.net/TDM for more information.
- Support efforts that seek the abolition of the death penalty.
- Volunteer at HVCRC (Hocking Valley Community Residential Center in Nelsonville correctional facility for adolescent boys who have committed a nonviolent crime).
7. Bury the Dead
- Be faithful to attending funerals to pray for the dead.
- Send a card to the families of those who are recently died (usually in the bulletin).
- Spend time with widows and widowers.
The Spiritual Works of Mercy are kind acts by which we help our neighbors with their everyday spiritual and emotional needs.
1. Counsel the Doubtful
- Dedicate yourself to prayer and falling in love with God so that you might be a faithful witness.
- Respond to cynicism, skepticism, and doubt with patience, hope, and love.
- Be articulate about your own hopes and be articulate about your reason for hope.
- Ask people about their hopes and support them in attaining them.
2. Instruct the Ignorant
- Commit yourself to learning about the Catholic faith and share your understanding of the faith with others and with those who welcome it.
- Be unapologetic about your faith. Share your Catholic faith with friends, fellow students, coworkers.
- Take time to tutor and be a mentor for those who are just beginning tasks.
- Be sure to have holy reading; read books and articles on the Catholic faith and spiritual life.
3. Admonish Sinners
- Be courageous yet compassionate in calling people and institutions to be faithful to Gospel values.
- Intervene in situations in which people are clearly doing harm to themselves or others.
- Respond to negative and prejudicial comments with positive statements.
- Put an end to gossip by walking away or saying something redeemable about the person. Set a good example for others.
- Cultivate devotion to the moral life. Resolve to understand and share Catholic sexual ethics, social teaching, and the virtuous life.
4. Comfort the Afflicted
- Walk with others through their pain.
- Offer words of encouragement to those who seem discouraged.
- Offer positive words to fellow students or coworkers who are having a difficult time with their tasks.
- Compliment someone you don’t know.
- Be present to those who are struggling or in emotional pain or despair.
- Offer sympathy to those who are grieving.
5. Forgive Offenses
- Experience the mercy of God in the Sacrament of Confession at least once a month.
- Pray for those who have wronged you and pray for the courage to forgive.
- Ask forgiveness from others. Examine your past and forgive yourself for your offenses.
- Let go of grudges.
- Go out of the way to be positive with someone you are having a difficult time with.
6. Bear Wrong Patiently
- Work at being less critical of others.
- Overlook minor flaws and mistakes in yourself and others.
- Give people the benefit of the doubt.
- Assume that people who may have hurt you did so because they are enduring pain of their own.
7. Pray for the Living and the Dead
- Pray a rosary at Mount Calvary Cemetery.
- Offer prayer intention at mass for diseased relatives.
- Call or text a family member or friend on the anniversary of someone who has passed away.
This list was adapted from a document by Joe Paprocki, DMin, published by Loyola Press by Paul Riffon, Campus Minister.