Year of Mercy-Works of Mercy: Ideas for families

[lifeisbeautiful]

In this year of mercy we are trying to find ways to perform works of mercy as a family in one way or another. We are looking for ideas on how to do each one (visiting a nursing home can be visiting the sick, donating clothes can help clothe the naked, etc…) I am not sure how to address the “visit the prisoners” one with my family. I think I saw that Pope Francis is suggesting two specific ones for the month of Feb.
Does anyone have any suggestions, or any other ideas to help families live the year of Mercy.
(I got this list from the Catholic Encyclopedia, there are some lists that are in easier to read terminology)
The corporal works of mercy:

To feed the hungry;
To give drink to the thirsty;
To clothe the naked;
To harbour the harbourless;
To visit the sick;
To ransom the captive;
To bury the dead.

The spiritual works of mercy:

To instruct the ignorant;
To counsel the doubtful;
To admonish sinners;
To bear wrongs patiently;
To forgive offences willingly;
To comfort the afflicted;
To pray for the living and the dead.

ETA: I just saw this on USCCB, it was kind of what I was looking for, but I would still like to hear any suggestions:
usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/new-evangelization/jubilee-of-mercy/the-corporal-works-of-mercy.cfm
usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/new-evangelization/jubilee-of-mercy/the-spiritual-works-of-mercy.cfm

 

[PBP]

Visit the prisoners. Your diocese may have that ministry in place already and should have a point of contact for you.
Can you think of another way to think about exactly who the prisoners may be ? Does it necessarily have to be persons in jail ? Just a thought. I admire your family for giving thought to serving together, very nice.

 

[bitterhope]

The prison ministry at one of my former parishes was set up to visit a local maternity home or shut ins from their parish. Many elderly or disabled people are essentially prisoners in their own homes. Since you have young children, I would recommend visiting some lonely people in your community. Often these people enjoy watching children play and reminiscing about the days their homes were full of noises and messes.

One couple at our current church raised nine children. Their kids all live in different areas of the country. When my kids and I check in on them, they meet us at the door with cookies and pull a bucket of 50 year old toys out of the closet. They will sit for hours just watching the kids eat cookies, make a mess, and make noise.

There are many types of prisons. Homes, maternity homes, nursing homes, severely autistic children’s minds can be a prison even. Sometimes teenagers are in self imposed prisons. Some moms are as well. I’m very impressed that you are seeking out ways to live the works of mercy and the beatitudes as a family.

 

[Irishmom2]

There are many types of prisons.

I think this is an excellent point, bitterhope. Once someone thinks along these lines, it opens up the possibilities.

 

[1990Domer]

I think helping the sick could also mean visiting kids at a children’s hospital, bring a game with you, maybe leave some fun puzzle books.

Also we made baby blankets and clothes for babies born premature.

This is a wonderful idea, OP!

 

[MomaMary8]

Visit the prisoners. Your diocese may have that ministry in place already and should have a point of contact for you.
Can you think of another way to think about exactly who the prisoners may be ? Does it necessarily have to be persons in jail ? Just a thought. I admire your family for giving thought to serving together, very nice.

Here are some of our ideas:
-cut and donate long hair for wigs
-make blankets for the cold and homeless
-make tiny blankets for stillborn (helping to bury the dead)
-donate your wedding gown to be used for children’s burial gowns
-Do a toy drive/clothing drive for the children of those in prison
-volunteer as a catechist (instruct the ignoratn)
-write to your editorial board over matters of morals (pro-life, etc) to instruct the ignorant
-neighborhood food drives

Great idea for a post! Thank you!

 

[EasterJoy]

"Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God’s kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.”
― Mother Teresa

“What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family.”
― Mother Teresa

“These are the few ways we can practice humility:
To speak as little as possible of one’s self.
To mind one’s own business.
Not to want to manage other people’s affairs.
To avoid curiosity [about things that are not our business]
To accept contradictions and correction cheerfully.
To pass over the mistakes of others.
To accept insults and injuries.
To accept being slighted, forgotten and disliked.
To be kind and gentle even under provocation.
Never to stand on one’s dignity.
To choose always the hardest.”
― Mother Teresa, The Joy in Loving: A Guide to Daily Living

“A sacrifice to be real must cost, must hurt, and must empty ourselves. Give yourself fully to God. He will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much more in his love than in your weakness.”
― Mother Teresa

The first and last thing for a family to do during the Year of Mercy is to establish a habit of being better to each other. After that, go out of your way to be kind to others and to pass over their faults and weaknesses. Let go of being easily annoyed. Think of how the way your are holding your face, what you say and don’t say, and how you speak and act affects those around you. Set out to help others to feel loved.

If those are the everyday habits you are practicing, then your works of mercy will take on an entirely different character, whether you are acting in charity towards strangers or towards those who have to live with you.

 

[pensmama87]

“These are the few ways we can practice humility:
To speak as little as possible of one’s self.
To mind one’s own business.
Not to want to manage other people’s affairs.
To avoid curiosity [about things that are not our business]
To accept contradictions and correction cheerfully.
To pass over the mistakes of others.
To accept insults and injuries.
To accept being slighted, forgotten and disliked.
To be kind and gentle even under provocation.
Never to stand on one’s dignity.
To choose always the hardest.”
― Mother Teresa, The Joy in Loving: A Guide to Daily Living

Yikes, I have a lot of work to do.

 

[EasterJoy]

Yikes, I have a lot of work to do.

Well, don’t we all! I guess that’s why the Church still has Lent every year and a Friday every week, eh?

Progress we make now is less work to be done on us in Purgatory. It is all about becoming someone who could actually love and be loved for eternity, right?