The Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 2447 reads:
The works of mercy are charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily necessities (cf. Isaiah 58:6-7; Hebrews 13:3). Instructing, advising, consoling, comforting are spiritual works of mercy, as are forgiving and bearing wrongs patiently. The corporal works of mercy consist especially in feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned, and burying the dead (cf. Matthew 25:31-46). Among all these, giving alms to the poor is one of the chief witnesses to fraternal charity: it is also a work of justice pleasing to God (cf. Tobit 4:5-11; Sirach 17:22; Matthew 6:2-4).
He who has two coats, let him share with him who has none and he who has food must do likewise (Luke 3:11). But give for alms those things which are within; and behold, everything is clean for you (Luke 11:41). If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? (James 2:15-16; cf. 1 John 3:17)
The 7 Spiritual Works of Mercy
The Spiritual Works of Mercy are oriented toward the soul. Though ideally applicable for all faithful, not everyone is considered capable or obligated to perform the first three Spiritual Works of Mercy be-fore they possess the proper tact, knowledge or canonical training to do so. The remaining four Spiritual Works of Mercy are considered to be an obligation of all faithful to practice unconditionally.
The Seven Spiritual Works of Mercy and their Holy Scripture references are:
- Admonish the Sinner
- Proverbs 27:17
- Luke 15:7; 17:3
- 2 Timothy 4:2
- Instruct the Ignorant
- Matthew 28:19-20
- Mark 16:14-18
- Luke 24:47-49
- John 20:21
- 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 4:1-5
- Counsel the Doubtful
- Matthew 13:18-23
- Mark 4:13-20; 9:14-29
- Luke 8:11-15
- John 14:27
- Bear Wrongs Patiently
- Matthew 5:38-48
- Luke 6:27-36
- 1 Peter 2:18-19
- Forgive Offenses Willingly
- Matthew 6:14-15; 18:15-35
- Mark 11:25
- Luke 11:1-4; 17:1-4
- Comfort the Afflicted
- Psalms 9:8-11; 22:23-27,
- Psalms 27:4-5; 30:2-4,
- Psalms 46:2; 55:22,
- Psalms 56; 71:20-22,
- Psalms 116; 119:49-50
- Jeremiah 29:11-14
- Lamentations 3:21-24, 31-33
- Nahum 1:7-8
- Matthew 11:28-30
- John 14:15-18, 27; 16:22-23
- 2 Corinthians 5:17
- 1 Peter 5:5-11
- Revelation 21:4
- Pray for the Living and the Dead
- 2 Maccabees 38-46
The 7 Corporal Works of Mercy
The Corporal Works of Mercy are oriented toward the body. Six of the seven are mentioned in Matthew 25:31-40 – although not precisely – as the reason for the salvation of the saved, while Matthew 25:41-46 exhorts the omission of them as the reason for damnation. As deprivation of burial was viewed with horror by the Jews, the seventh Corporal Work of Mercy (Tobit 1:17-19) was later added.
The Seven Corporal Works of Mercy and their Holy Scripture references are:
- Feed the Hungry
- Proverbs 22:9
- Isaiah 58:10
- 2 Kings 4:42-44
- Matthew 14:15-21; 25:35
- Luke 3:11; 9:12-17
- John 6:35
- Give Drink to the Thirsty
- Isaiah 55:1
- Matthew 25:35
- John 6:35
- John 7:37-39
- Revelation 21:6; 22:17
- Clothe the Naked
- Matthew 25:36
- Shelter the Homeless
- Matthew 25:35
- Visit the Sick
- Matthew 25:36
- Visit the Imprisoned
- Matthew 25:36
- Bury the Dead
- Tobit 1:17-19