In addition to the seven corporal works of mercy, the Church lists seven spiritual works of mercy. These are:
- To admonish sinners
- To instruct the ignorant
- To counsel the doubtful
- To comfort the sorrowful
- To bear wrongs patiently
- To forgive all injuries
- To pray for the living and the dead.
These are works that deal with the inner spirit, both our own and that of our fellow human beings. And unlike the corporal works of mercy, we can't just throw money at these. How often, for example, do we bear wrongs patiently? Aren't we all conditioned these days to stand up for our rights and denounce unfairness, especially when it's directed at ourselves?
How truly do we forgive others when they have wronged us? Do we bear grudges and harbor resentments while outwardly expressing forgiveness?
Do we pray for those we have wronged and for those who have died? Sadly, I think the tradition of attending Mass on All Souls' Day and praying for the souls in purgatory has been lost in our modern world, which is so preoccupied with the here and now.
When people come to us for advice, how well do we counsel them? Do we offer them spiritual truths or do we just tell them what they want to hear? If a friend discovers she is pregnant and tells us she is considering an abortion, do we tell her about alternatives or do we choose the easy way out?
If a friend drinks too much or uses drugs, do we admonish them about the error of their ways or do we keep quiet in order to avoid a fight? What about a friend who engages in pre-marital or extra-marital sex? Do we remind them that God's great gift of sexuality entails a great responsibility and can only be properly enjoyed within the context of marriage? Or do we remain silent for fear of being perceived as hopelessly old-fashioned, even prudish? Of course, there are kind, pastoral ways of admonishing sinners. Shouted accusations and sanctimonious self-righteousness were not Jesus' way, and it is He we are supposed to be imitating.
Another spiritual work of mercy that gets scant attention these days is instructing the ignorant. One could take that literally and decide to volunteer as a teacher of religion in a local parish. It is a great and noble calling, and I know all of our after-school and Saturday morning religious education programs are desperately in need of teachers. But what about those who cannot volunteer, or don't have the aptitude to be classroom teachers? How many people do you know, friends or family members, who are simply ignorant about the faith? Why not give them a copy of the Catholic Catechism? It contains easy to read explanations of what the Church teaches about most of the important issues of our time.
You can also encourage people to pray regularly, since communication with God gives new impetus to one's life. So many people wander through life feeling it has no meaning or purpose. Prayer helps us to see life not as a daily drudgery but as a gift to be treasured and enjoyed. Prayer lightens our burdens. It is the light in the tunnel of life.
Just as Christians are called to practice the corporal works of mercy, we also are encouraged to practice the spiritual ones. Indeed, we do a disservice to Christ and His Church when we don't offer good spiritual advice to those who need it.
It is not a question of imposing our religion, or our will, on others. After all, what we offer is what the wisdom of the Church has offered down through the centuries. People are free to take it or leave it. But would we decline to give directions to a lost driver?
The spiritual works of mercy are spiritual solace for souls in need. We should never miss an opportunity to relieve the spiritual sickness of our world, to be instruments of God's grace for other people.
