Saints LightThe Works of Mercy
The fourteen works of mercy, seven for the body and seven for the soul, are how God's mercy to us flows out to others. Christ counts what we do for the least as done to Him.
What this lesson teaches
- The works of mercy are charitable acts that meet our neighbor's bodily and spiritual needs.
- The seven corporal works care for the body, mostly drawn from Matthew 25.
- The seven spiritual works care for the soul and include forgiving and bearing wrongs patiently.
- Giving to the poor is both an act of love and a work of justice.
Catechism paragraphs this lesson cites
- CCC 2443-2449
- CCC 2447
CCC means the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Saints Light teaches it in its own words and never quotes it. Look up any paragraph in a printed copy or at vatican.va. See every lesson by paragraph in the Catechism index.
Scripture read in this lesson: Matthew 25:35-36, 40; Galatians 6:2.
A sample question from this lesson
Which of these is a spiritual work of mercy?
- Clothing the naked
- Burying the dead
- Bearing wrongs patiently
- Sheltering the homeless
Show the answer
Bearing wrongs patiently. Bearing wrongs patiently cares for the soul and is one of the seven spiritual works; the others listed are corporal (CCC 2447).
The lesson in the app has three questions, each with an explanation.
Words to know
- Corporal works of mercy
- Seven acts of charity that meet bodily needs, such as feeding the hungry and visiting the sick.
- Spiritual works of mercy
- Seven acts of charity that meet spiritual needs, such as forgiving offenses and praying for others.
More terms in the Catholic glossary. More passages in the Scripture index.
Read the full lesson in the app
"The Works of Mercy" is lesson 8 of Grace, Virtue and Sin. In Saints Light you get the whole teaching, the Scripture quoted in full, all three questions and a step to live it this week.
Every course is open free for your first 14 days. After that, one payment of $14.99 unlocks every course. There is no subscription.
Related lessons
- The Seventh Commandment: Do Not Steal (The Commandments)
- What Is the Preferential Option for the Poor? (Social Teaching)
- What Did the Middle Ages Build? (Church History)