# The works of mercy
*2016-03-03*

> Bill Young reflects on the corporal and spiritual works of mercy during the third week of Lent, drawing inspiration from Pope Francis and the life of St. Katharine Drexel.

## A call to conversion

Today is Thursday of the third week of Lent. We are praying from the book 'Renew Our Hearts: A Personal Invitation to Lenten Conversion' by Pope Francis. Today's focus is on the Works of Mercy. This is a fitting time to reflect on how we serve others, especially as we recall the words of Matthew 25:45: 'Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'

## The example of St. Katharine Drexel

Today we also celebrate the feast day of St. Katharine Drexel. Born in Philadelphia in 1858, she lived a fruitful life as a sister and founded her own congregation. She is primarily known for her works of charity for the poor, specifically for African Americans and Native Americans, recognizing a profound need in those communities. Her life is a beautiful example of the works of mercy in action.

## Reawakening our conscience

Pope Francis expresses a burning desire that during this holy season, Christians reflect on the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. This reflection serves as a way of reawakening our consciences, which too often grow dull in the face of poverty. By entering more deeply into the heart of the Gospel, we find that the poor have a special experience of God's mercy. Jesus introduced these works in His preaching so that we can discern whether or not we are truly living as His disciples.

## The corporal and spiritual works

We are called to recover the corporal works of mercy: to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger, heal the sick, visit the imprisoned, and bury the dead. Equally important are the spiritual works of mercy: to counsel the doubtful, instruct the ignorant, admonish sinners, comfort the afflicted, forgive offenses, bear patiently with those who do us ill, and pray for the living and the dead.

*Jesus helps us imitate His actions when we commit ourselves to the corporal and spiritual works of mercy to help others.*