The Corporal 

Works of Mercy

Feed the Hungry -  ". . . if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.” – Isaiah 58:10 

Give Drink to the Thirsty -  “. . . and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.” – Matthew 10:42 

Clothe the Naked - “And the crowds asked him, ‘What then should we do?’ In reply he said to them, ‘Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.‘” – Luke 3:10-11 

Shelter the Homeless -  “But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.”– Luke 11:41

Visit the Imprisoned - “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”– Matthew 25:40 

Visit the Sick - "Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;" – James 5:14

Bury the Dead - The practice of burying the dead comes from the Old Testament Book of Tobit. Shalmaneser, the King of Nineveh had many Jewish people killed and would not allow them to be buried. He commanded that anyone who buried the dead would be condemned to death. Tobit defied the King and was eventually exiled for it. He took the risk because he believed that following God’s law was more important than his own life. 

“ I performed many acts of charity to my brethren. I would give bread to the hungry and my clothing to the naked; and if I saw one of my people dead and thrown out behind the wall of Nineveh, I would bury him." – Tobit 1:16-17