Suggestions for practicing the Corporal Works of Mercy

[Hubertus]

The Corporal Works of Mercy are set forth by Christ in the verses Matthew 25:35-46, and therefore listed by the Church as follows:

• Feed the hungry
• Give drink to the thirsty
• Clothe the naked
• Shelter the homeless
• Visit the sick
• Visit the imprisoned
• Bury the dead

So my question is, what are some good suggestions in how specifically we can practice these in our lives? I am an American college student and looking for ways that I can live this out. Any ideas would be appreciated!

 

[Catholic1954]

You can fullfill most of these by volunteer work. You could start by calling your local Catholic Charities and ask about volunteering for one their organizations. Your school might even have opportunities for charity work it doesn’t have to be Catholic.

 

[DihydrogenOxide]

Give to a food bank.
Donate to the Salvation Army.
Give money to charity.
Give money/food/drink/clothes, etc. to a homeless shelter.
Do work at a food bank, kitchen.
You could go and pray the rosary with the sick in the hospitals. I know at my church we have the Legion of Mary go to the old folks home and pray the rosary weekly.
Accompany a priest to the hospital.

Use your imagination. Talk to your priest about it. They may have groups that do these things already.

 

[Barbkw]

Visit the imprisoned:

Volunteer to read Scripture at a Catholic or nonCatholic nursing home.
If you have a musical talent, volunteer to sing or play at nursing homes.

Assist ministries that center on getting Scripture to Catholics in prisons.

Assist homebound people with their needs.

Assist in-home care providers with time away to take care of their needs.

 

[puzzleannie]

in how specifically we can practice these in our lives? I am an American college student and looking for ways that I can live this out. Any ideas would be appreciated!

find your Catholic campus ministry, and see what apostolates they can steer you toward. You don’t have to do all of them at once, in fact it might be wiser to focus on one, but when you become able to financially support other ministries that is also a way to help in all of them. The best and most direct is always personal service in one of these areas that is appropriate for your gifts, abilities and situation in life.

Feed the hungry: some very basic things include don’t waste food; pay for a meal for a fellow student who is short on cash; participate in a food drive on campus or a hunger-awareness event during Lent; participate in a fund-raiser for an organization that feeds the hungry etc. Many supermarkets allow you do donate to the local food bank at the register, or they have collection bins for canned goods that go there. You could donate a couple of dollars or buy a couple of extra cans of an entree each time you shop (unless you are down to the ramen noodle stage yourself).
See what is going on at the parish where you attend Mass, such as serving at a meal for the needy. Feed the hungry also includes nutrition education and personal choices about what to eat, when to eat, and eating mindfully and prayerfully.