QUADRAGESIMA SUNDAY II

• The first day of Lent is Ash Wednesday, but the first week of Lent is that which follows the 1st Sunday, and, liturgically, the Season commences only at the Evensong of the Saturday before that day; in consequence of this there are no special Office Hymns for Ash Wednesday and the three following days, those common to the days of the week being used until Saturday evening, when the Office Hymn at Evensong, and daily until the Eve of Passion Sunday, will be Audi, benigne Conditor.
• During Lent, the Altars and other parts of the Church should be adorned in a simple manner. Flowers on the Altars should be used but sparingly and only when the Service is that of a Festival and on the 4th, Laetare or Mid-Lent, Sunday, when the Sacred Ministers will wear the Dalmatic and Tunicle. On the other Sundays in Lent the Deacon and Sub-deacon use folded Chasubles or serve in albis, i.e., the Deacon in Amice, Alb, Girdle, Maniple and Stole, and the Sub-deacon in Amice, Alb, Girdle, and Maniple.
• The 1st Sunday in Lent, Passion Sunday, and Palm Sunday are Sundays of the first class, and it is impossible to observe any other Feast on these days. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th Sundays are Sundays of the second class, and only give way to a Double Feast of the first class, e.g., that of the Patron or Dedication of the Church. All the week-days in Lent are Greater Ferias and, if a Festival be celebrated on one of them, the Feria must be commemorated (orations and its gospel as the Last).
• On Ash Wednesday and the days of Holy Week no Feast can be kept. All Octaves end on Ash Wednesday, as on December 16th, and no Feast can be observed with an Octave until after Low Sunday.
• Strictly speaking, the Organ should not be played during Lent, except on the 4th Sunday and on Solemn Feast Days, and if used it should be employed as little, and as quietly, as possible. According to ancient custom the Organ was used, at the Solemn Celebration of the Holy Eucharist on Maundy Thursday, till the end of the Gloria in Excelsis and also, on Holy Saturday at the Gloria in Excelsis and for the remainder of the Service. For the same reason, if the Gloria in Excelsis be used during Lent (in all old Rituals it is ordered to be omitted at this Season).
• The liturgy in Lent itself reflects the season in various ways aside from the penitential colour of violet and the absence of the Gloria etc. Tradition assigns a particular Mass for every day of Lent i.e. an individually tailored Mass with its own readings and prayers. Each Mass is also assigned a “stational church” in Rome where the faithful and the Bishop of Rome gathered for the Mass – the history of these stational churches is posted every day on this website. Additionally every Mass concludes with an extra prayer of blessing for the faithful to remain constant in their observance. Most feasts of Saints become commemorated only to keep our focus on the season and even when they are celebrated, it is muted and the Lenten Feria commemorated with it’s prayers and Gospel.

• WHO World Health Organisation
• Brazil
• Chile
• European Union
• France
• Germany
• Italy
• Philippines
• Poland
• Spain
• United Kingdom
• United States of America

• inform one another as soon as possible of any church member becoming isolated,
• that the pastor or church secretary records the date of the start of a person's isolation (to calculate the date they should be free of infection),
• that the pastor make every effort to stay in regular contact with the isolated person.

• Think about your diet. Your appetite might change if your routine changes, or if you’re less active than you usually are. Eating regularly and keeping your blood sugar stable can help your mood and energy levels.
• Drink water regularly. Drinking enough water is important for your mental and physical health. Changing your routine might affect when you drink or what fluids you drink. It could help to set an alarm or use an app to remind you. You should drink enough during the day so your urine (pee) is a pale clear colour.
• You can use over-the-counter medications, such as paracetamol, to help with some of your symptoms. Use these according to the instructions on the packet or label and do not exceed the recommended dose.
• If you are self-isolating, you can ask someone to drop off essential food items for you. If they do this, ask them to leave food at your doorstep, to avoid face-to-face contact with each other.

• If you are spending a lot of time at home, you may find it helpful to keep things clean and tidy, although this is different for different people.
• If you live with other people, keeping things tidy might feel more important if you’re all at home together. But you might have different ideas about what counts as 'tidy' or how much it matters. It could help to decide together how you’ll use different spaces. And you could discuss what each person needs to feel comfortable. 
• Cleaning your house, doing laundry and washing yourself are important ways to help stop germs spreading, including when there are warnings about particular diseases. 
• When cleaning you should use your usual household products, like detergents and bleach, as these will be very effective at getting rid of the virus on surfaces. Clean frequently touched surfaces such as door handles, handrails, remote controls and table tops. This is particularly important if you have an older or vulnerable person in the house.
• Personal waste (such as used tissues) and disposable cleaning cloths can be stored securely within disposable rubbish bags. These bags should be placed into another bag, tied securely and kept separate from other waste. This should be put aside for at least 72 hours before being put in your usual external household waste bin.
• Other household waste can be disposed of as normal. To minimise the possibility of dispersing virus through the air, do not shake dirty laundry.
• Wash items as appropriate in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. All dirty laundry can be washed in the same load.
• If you do not have a washing machine, wait a further 72 hours after your 7-day (for individual isolation) or 14-day isolation period (for households) has ended when you can then take the laundry to a public launderette.

• If you are working from home more than usual, you may find it especially difficult if you are also looking after children would usually be in nursery, school or college while you work.
• Think about how to balance your work with caring for your children. If you have an employer, they may be able to help you balance your work and childcare responsibilities.
• Some employers may ask if there is another adult who can supervise your children while you’re working. It may help to speak to your employer if you are concerned about this.
• Think about being more lenient with your children’s social media and mobile phone use during their time at home. If your children would normally go to school or college, they will be used to being around other children for several hours a day. They might find it difficult to be removed from this, especially if they're also worried about their health.
• Ask their school or college if any digital learning is available while your children are at home, and what technology they may need. Remember to add time in for breaks and lunch.
• You can also think about card games, board games and puzzles, and any other ways to stay active or be creative.If no digital learning is available, you could encourage your children to select books or podcasts they'd like to explore during their time away from school or college.
• For older teens, there are free online courses they could try out.

• Make plans to video chat with people or groups you’d normally see in person.
• You can also arrange phone calls or send instant messages or texts.
• If you’re worried that you might run out of stuff to talk about, make a plan with someone to watch a show or read a book separately so that you can discuss it when you contact each other. 
• Think of other ways to keep in contact with people while meeting in person is not possible. For example, you could check your phone numbers are up to date, or that you have current email addresses for friends you've not seen for a while. 

• Think about things you can do to connect with people. For example, putting extra pictures up of the people you care about might be a nice reminder of the people in your life.
• Listen to a chatty radio station or podcast if your home feels too quiet.

• Plan how you’ll spend your time. It might help to write this down on paper and put it on the wall. 
• Try to follow your ordinary routine as much as possible. Get up at the same time as normal, follow your usual morning routines, and go to bed at your usual time. Set alarms to remind you of your new schedule if that helps.
• If you aren’t happy with your usual routine, this might be a chance to do things differently. For example, you could go to bed earlier, spend more time cooking or do other things you don’t usually have time for.
• Think about how you’ll spend time by yourself at home. For example, plan activities to do on different days or habits you want to start or keep up.

• Agree on a household routine. Try to give everyone you live with a say in this agreement.
• Try to respect each other's privacy and give each other space. For example, some people might want to discuss everything they’re doing while others won’t.

• cleaning your home 
• dancing to music
• going up and down stairs
• seated exercises
• online exercise workouts that you can follow
• sitting less – if you notice you’ve been sitting down for an hour, just getting up or changing position can help.

• Try having a clear out. You could sort through your possessions and put them away tidily, or have a spring clean.
• You could also have a digital clear out. Delete any old files and apps you don’t use, upgrade your software, update all your passwords or clear out your inboxes.
• Write letters or emails, or make phone calls with people you’ve been meaning to catch up with.

• arts and crafts, such as drawing, painting, collage, sewing, craft kits or upcycling
• DIY
• colouring
• prayer and meditation
• playing musical instruments, singing or listening to music
• writing.

• A way to suffer for God
• A spiritual practice that demonstrates how pious or devout you are
• Righteousness (i.e. it doesn’t equal holiness or sanctification)
• A way of trying really hard spiritually that God will respond to
• The same thing as repenting of sin (we don’t “fast” from sin, we confess it, receive forgiveness, and turn from it)
• An addiction treatment program (if you feel powerless to break a dependence, reach out for help!)

• Fasting from foods associated with “feasting”: chocolate, desserts, coffee/caffeine, alcohol, etc.
• Fasting from media or entertainment: cell phone, TV, streaming video, radio, music, email, computers, video games, etc.
• Fasting from habits and comforts: shopping, looking in the mirror, makeup, elevators, parking in a spot close to the store, finding the shortest checkout line, reading online, following sports, etc.

• What cravings have a hold on me?
• What would be truly liberating to leave behind?
• Short of an addiction, have I become dependent on a particular food, drink, substance, or activity?
• What would be truly challenging for me to give up during Lent?
• What is Jesus asking of me?

• Have a light dinner the night before, and don’t eat anything more before bed.
• Then skip breakfast and lunch the next day, breaking your fast at dinnertime that evening.

Jesus said: “Unless you do penance you will all perish,” (Lk. 13:3). In the first preaching of His Public ministry Jesus exhorts us to conversion: “Be converted for the Kingdom of God is at hand,”(Mk. 1:15). The Mystical Body of Christ generously offers us a season of grace which has, as its purpose, conversion every year. This is the forty days of Lent.

Moses fasted forty days on the Mountain and Jesus spent forty days in the desert fasting. The Church encourages us in the Season of Lent to dig deep into the inner recesses of our hearts and beg for conversion of heart.

This conversion can become a reality by undertaking three traditional practices: prayer, almsgiving, and fasting. (Mt. 6: 1-18) In prayer we lift our minds to God; in almsgiving we go out to meet the needs of our suffering brothers and sisters; in fasting we dig deep into our hearts and beg the Lord for the grace to relinquish our attachment to sin!

This being the case, what might be some concrete ways that we can practice fasting? An important note is the following: fasting is not a mere diet, with the simple desire to lose a few extra pounds. Rather, the purpose of fasting is to please God, convert our hearts as well as to beg for the conversion of others. In other words, fasting must have a horizontal or supernatural intention!

1. Eat less and receive the most Holy Eucharist more.
   By this practice we give more importance to our spiritual life and the salvation of our soul. Jesus said: “Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.” (John. 6:27—Discourse on the Bread of Life)
2. Control your tongue.
   Saint James says, “We should be slow to speak and quick to listen.” Read James chapter three—one of the best exhortations in the world to work on controlling our tongue!
3. Heroic Moments.
   The Founder of Opus Dei has coined the phrase, “The Heroic Moment”. By this Saint Jose Maria asserts that as soon as we hear the alarm-clock we should spring from bed, pray and start our day. The devil of laziness encourages us to push the Snooze-button! I do not believe the Snooze-button exists in the vocabulary and practice of the saints. What do you think?
4. Control those wandering eyes.
   The eyes are the mirror to the soul. The holy King David plunged into sin and more sin leading to murder for the simple reason that he allowed his eyes to wander. His eyes wandered and gazed upon a married woman—Bathsheba. Adulterous thoughts led to physical adultery, to denial of his sin and eventually to killing an innocent man—the husband of Bathsheba (II Samuel 11-12). Let us strive to live out the Beatitude: “Blessed are the pure of heart, they will see God.”(Mt. 5: 8)
5. Punctuality.
   Jesus says, “He who is faithful in the small will be faithful in the larger things.” (Mt. 25:23) Being punctual and on time is a sign of order, respect for others, and a means to accomplish tasks well and on time.
6. Listen to Others.
   It is all too easy to interrupt others when they speak and try to impose our own ideas even before the person has finished his idea. Charity, which means, love for God and for others, teaches us to respect others and allow them to speak without interrupting and imposing our own ideas.
   Listening to others is also an act of humility—putting others before ourselves! “Jesus meek and humble of heart make my heart like unto yours.” (Mt. 11:28-30—Jesus describes His Heart as meek and humble…)
7. Be Thankful Rather Than Complain.
   Never allow a day to pass in which you do not thank God. We should constantly be thanking God. Furthermore, we should make it a habit to frequently give thanks to others. “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His mercy endures forever,” (Psalm 118:1).
8. Smile, even if you don’t necessarily want to.
   This indeed could be a great penance—to smile at somebody even when you are tired, carrying with you a headache or a cold. This is heroic virtue. A smile is something small, but it is contagious. Indeed a sincere smile can lift those who see it from desolation to a state of consolation. One of the most evident signs of being a follower of Jesus is the smile of joy radiating from the face. “Rejoice in the Lord; I say it again: rejoice in the Lord.” (Phil. 4:4)
9. Pray, even when you do not feel like it.
   Many of us unfortunately base our spiritual life on mere feelings which are ephemeral, transitory and passing like the dew that evaporates by the morning sun. Our best example is of course Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane (Lk. 22:39-46). When Jesus was experiencing a mortal agony and desolation that drew huge drops of Blood from His pores, He did not really feel like praying. Nonetheless, Jesus prayed all the more fervently.
   Therefore, let us practice fasting and penance in our lives and have a set time and place to pray and to pray at times even when we do not feel like it. This is penance and true love for God! This is a sign of true maturity in the faith!
10. Encouragement.
    “Barnabas” actually means “Son of encouragement”(Acts 4:36). Let us get out of our egotistic shell and focus more on God and seeing Jesus in others—in imitation of the Good Samaritan. (Lk. 10). Let us learn to be a Simon of Cyrene and help our brothers and sisters who are carrying the weight of a very heavy cross. Let us lighten it by encouraging words, motivational gestures and by a heart filled with love and compassion. Remember the Golden Rule: “Do to others what you would like them to do to you.”(Mt. 7:12) In the difficult storms of the earthly battle, a word of encouragement can indeed be a powerful wind in the sails!

Prayerfully read through these ten suggestions on how to fast—how to deny yourself—and choose at least one or two that you can start to practice right away. May Our Lady, Mother of Good Counsel, encourage us to deny ourselves and say “yes” to the love of God by serving our brothers and sisters with a generous heart! (Lk. 1: 38—Mary’s “Yes” to God).

“And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the desert, for the space of forty days; and was tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing in those days; and when they were ended, He was hungry.” (Luke 4:1-2)
What is fasting? Fasting means that on certain days, you may eat; one full meal with meat (unless it is also a day of abstinence); two small meals without meat. No food between meals.
A fast day consists of 24 hours, from midnight to midnight. The two small meals may be only enough to maintain strength and are not to exceed the size of the one main meal. Liquids, including milk and fruit juice, may be taken between meals, but tend to violate the spirit of the fast.
Who is obliged to fast? Every Catholic over 21 and not yet 59, who is not sick, pregnant or nursing a baby.
People doing heavy manual labour may be excused from this obligation by their pastor or confessor; also, those who work long hours.
What kind of sin is it not to fast? A mortal sin, unless you are excused.
When must you fast? According to the Old Roman customs: Every day in Lent, except Sundays; Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
When does Lent begin? On Ash Wednesday; it ends 40 days later, on the Saturday before Easter at midnight.
When are the Ember Days? The Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays following September 14, December 13, Pentecost Sunday and the 1st Sunday in Lent. Under the new norms the Ember days are no longer observed.
What is abstinence? Abstinence means that on certain days you may not eat meat.
What is meant by “meat”? The flesh of any warm-blooded animal or bird and the soups or gravies made from such flesh.
Sea foods are allowed (fish, lobster, turtles, crabs, oysters, frogs, scallops, clams, and so on).
Who is obliged to abstain from meat? Traditionally, every Catholic 7 years of age and over.
What kind of sin is it not to abstain? A mortal sin.
On what days are you forbidden to eat meat at all? According to the traditional norms: Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all Fridays of the year (unless a Holy Day of Obligation falls on Friday).
What is partial abstinence? Traditionally, this means that those who are obliged to abstain may eat meat only once (at the main meal) on the Wednesdays and Saturdays of Ember weeks and on the vigil of Pentecost.

“An introduction to a devout life” Part I, Chapter 6 by St Francis de Sales

The work of the soul’s purification neither may nor can end save with life itself;–do not then let us be disheartened by our imperfections,–our very perfection lies in diligently contending against them, and it is impossible so to contend without seeing them, or to overcome without meeting them face toe face. Our victory does not consist in being insensible to them, but in not consenting to them. Now to be afflicted by our imperfections is certainly not to consent thereto, and for the furtherance of humility it is needful that we sometimes find ourselves worsted in this spiritual battle, wherein, however, we shall never be conquered until we lose either life or courage. Moreover, imperfections and venial sins cannot destroy our spiritual life, which is only to be lost through mortal sin; consequently we have only need to watch well that they do not imperil our courage. David continually asks the Lord to strengthen his heart against cowardice and discouragement; and it is our privilege in this war that we are certain to vanquish so long as we are willing to fight.

The first purification to be made is from sin;–the means whereby to make it, the sacrament of penance. Seek the best confessor within your reach, use one of the many little books written in order to help the examination of conscience.Read some such book carefully, examining point by point wherein you have sinned, from the first use of your reason to the present time. And if you mistrust your memory, write down the result of your examination. Having thus sought out the evil spots in your conscience, strive to detest them, and to reject them with the greatest abhorrence and contrition of which your heart is capable;–bearing in mind these four things:–that by sin you have lost God’s Grace, rejected your share in Paradise, accepted the pains of Hell, and renounced God’s Eternal Love. You see, my child, that I am now speaking of a general confession of your whole life, which, while I grant it is not always necessary, I yet believe will be found most helpful in the beginning of your pursuit after holiness, and therefore I earnestly advise you to make it. Not unfrequently the ordinary confessions of persons leading an everyday life are full of great faults, and that because they make little or no preparation, and have not the needful contrition. Owing to this deficiency such people go to confession with a tacit intention of returning to their old sins, inasmuch as they will not avoid the occasions of sin, or take the necessary measures for amendment of life, and in all such cases a general confession is required to steady and fix the soul. But, furthermore, a general confession forces us to a clearer selfknowledge, kindles a wholesome shame for our past life, and rouses gratitude for God’s Mercy, Which has so long waited patiently for us;–it comforts the heart, refreshes the spirit, excites good resolutions, affords opportunity to our spiritual Father for giving the most suitable advice, and opens our hearts so as to make future confessions more effectual. Therefore I cannot enter into the subject of a general change of life and entire turning to God, by means of a devout life, without urging upon you to begin with a general confession.

In this time of lent it is good to imitate Jesus and the saints by also doing corporal works of mercy.
Jesus and the saints always had great love and compassion for the sinner, possessed, sick and poor. We know that Jesus had a purse with money to give to the poor that Judas stole from. We also see that, in the second coming of Jesus as King in all His glory, He will judge us on if we have given food, drink, clothing and medicine, to first His servants (like priests, nuns and laity that serve God) as well as other who are in need.
“And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left. Then shall the king say to them that shall be on his right hand: Come, ye blessed of my Father, possess you the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in: Naked and you covered me: sick and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came to me.” Matthew 25:33-36.
St. Francis is famous for his love of God, the Church and the poor (especially the lepers). We see that he loved God first and then loved others, and in particular the suffering. But he spent most of his life preaching repentance of sin and praying. Then, from this he and his brothers would take care of the poor as well.
St. John of God is another example of helping the sick and poor. He rented a house where he personally provided for and took care of the poor sick in Granada Spain. He cared about widows, orphans, the unemployed, poor students and fallen women. He his the patron saint for hospitals and the dying.

The 7 Corporal Works of Mercy are:
1) Feed the hungry. “Man is not fed by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” says Jesus. Food is very important and sharing it with others and the poor is necessary. But, that bread, needs to be given over and over again. Where as the bread that came down from heaven, The Holy Communion in Holy Latin Mass is what fills the hungry soul as well as healing the human soul and body. “Oh Lord I am not worthy that You should come to me, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.” Bringing people to the Holy Latin Mass and preparing them to worthily receive the Real Body and Blood of Jesus is the greatest thing we can do for others.
2) Give Drink to the Thirsty. Sharing water and other drinks with our guest and the poor is good. But at the Well of Samaria, Jesus offered life giving water to the woman and to all of us who believe in Him and His Church. Jesus is the crystal clear spring from which flows all that is life giving; the Bible and the Holy Sacraments. Without water, there is no life, human, animal or plant. So we want to share our faith with those who are thirsting for meaning in their lives as well as giving someone something to drink.
3) Clothe the Naked. It is a wonderful thing to take clothes to a homeless shelter. From my years of running St. Francis Catholic Kitchen in Santa Cruz California, what was most needed was men’s clothing. They need socks, underwear, pants and coats (in winter). But as is quite obvious today from the immodest women’s skirts, pants and tops, the real nakedness is the lack of shame and purposely dressing to sexually tempt men. We need to clothe the naked with truth and purity. As almost everyone after adolescence is sexually active or watching pornography, we need to give them back their white baptismal garment of sexual purity and purity from all sins that strip us of our clothes of our Catholic Dignity.
4) Shelter the Homeless. It is very difficult to share our homes with others, but we are called to do that when it is safe. The Benedictine Monks have the rule to give 3 days hospitality to anyone who comes in need. The Abbot comes and greets them and washes their hands or feet. But after 3 days they need to either help out or leave. We want to help others also prepare a home for themselves when they die. How horrible to have a home in this life and then to be homeless in hell for ever. So preparing a person to go to heaven is the greatest thing we can do, because that home is eternal. Jesus says, “I will go to My Father and your Father to prepare a place for you.” Everything we give away in this life, for love of God, will be stored up to build our eternal house in heaven.
5) Visit the Sick. Most of us have been sick at one time or another and know how wonderful it is when someone makes us chicken soup or just visits us in the hospital. Rich and poor get sick and need loving medical care. Hospitals and clinics for poor sick people is one of the greatest things anyone can do. But there is also the terrible virus of sin infecting the masses. We need to go and tell them they are sick and give them the medicine (confession and Holy Communion) that will get them back to normal health. Much depression comes from sin and bad life styles. Only a holy life leads to a healthy happy life.
6) Ransom the Captive (Visit the Imprisoned). Prison ministry is very important. Going and sharing our Catholic faith with those in prison and Juvenile Hall are essential acts of charity. But billions of people are captives of the devil, addictions, false religions and atheism. It takes a great deal of effort and time to set someone free from these enslavements. Before, many people would give up their freedom to set Catholic slaves free from Muslim owners. That would be the most difficult act of charity I could ever imagine doing. They would also pay for their ransom. We also allow ourselves to become imprisoned in our own selfishness. May God help us get free, so as to be able to help others become free.
7) Bury the Dead. Funerals are very expensive. So we want to plan a funeral that is as inexpensive as possible. We also need to plan our own funeral with a Latin Requiem Mass. Then we need to have a burial plot in a Catholic Cemetery that is consecrated land. The coffin should be as cheap as possible, preferably a hand made wooden coffin with handles on the side so as to be able to carry it in and out of Church. But we can also help other families to plan an inexpensive funeral ahead of time too. That will be a good way of helping bury the dead so that when the time comes they do not rush and pay any amount that the morticians want charge them. Never act on emotion at this sad time. Just being present to the family of the dead is a great consolation. But make sure the person who is dying gets to confession and the traditional Last Rites. Offering Holy Mass for the dead is also a great work of charity.
Both the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy make up what it means to practice our Catholic Faith. It can seem that the Church is divided into two groups, those that care about the spiritual things of God and the souls of others and the other is concerned with the social justice issues. Absolutely; the most important acts of mercy have to do with the the eternal soul. But the two can work very well together when we put “the horse (Soul) in front of the buggy (Body)” and help others spiritually and materially. It is so wonderful to be a traditional Catholic and do both.

“If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.”

St. Augustine of Hippo

We are all encouraged by the Lord, especially by reading and meditating on Mt. 25:31-46, to practice the Corporal Works of Mercy — to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, to clothe the naked, to welcome the foreigner, and to visit both the sick and the imprisoned.

In sum, our Final Judgement will be based largely on love of God but manifested on our love for neighbour. Indeed, using the words of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta: “We must find Jesus present in the distressing disguise of the poor.” St. Vincent de Paul, known for his great love for the poor, actually called the poor “his masters”.

Corporal works of mercy done with the most noble of intentions pleases the Heart of Jesus immensely. However, it is equally important to practice the Spiritual Works of Mercy.

Jesus said point blank: “What would it profit a man to gain the whole world and loses his soul in the process. What can a man do in exchange for his soul?” It is lamentable that one of the most common and grave neglects is the failure to preach the Word of God to the poor. First, fill their hungry stomachs. But then, fill their souls with the Bread of the Word of God and the Bread of Life, which is Holy Communion.

1. Admonish the Sinner Easier said than done! Doing this can be extremely difficult, but it is exceedingly necessary now more than ever. Why is it so difficult? For the simple reason that we are born proud and do not desire to give up old and ingrained habits, and if they are bad habits they are called “vices”. We often cling to the evil, the dirty, the ugly, the impure, the unhealthy, and the sinful.
A common example merits our attention. Those who cohabit are living in sin and somebody should tell them and give clear reasons why this is wrong? What might be some reasons to explain why it is wrong? Here are some! Premarital sex or fornication is a mortal sin. You deprive yourself of the Sacraments, both of Confession and the Holy Eucharist. You are giving public scandal, even if many are doing it now. Majority does not make right in the eyes of God. You erode your conscience.
God so highly prizes admonishing the sinner and bringing him back on the right path that He promises salvation and the expiation of many of our personal sins by simply bringing back one straying sinner.
Read the words of the Apostle Saint James:

“My brothers, if anyone among you should stray from the truth and someone bring him back, he should know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”

James 5: 19-20

2. Instruct the Ignorant We all have heard the proverb: “Charity begins at home.” This is true especially in the formation of children and adolescents. By choosing the married state, husband and wife profess to be open to life through procreation. That is just the very first step!
Next, it is incumbent upon parents to teach their children all that refers to God, the Commandments, the Sacraments, prayer, Marian devotion, and much more… The primary responsibility of parents bringing children into this world is to bring these children into heaven.
The school is not the first teacher, nor the catechism teacher, nor even the Pastor or priest. No! The first teachers must be Mum and Dad. This necessarily implies the process of ongoing or permanent formation on the part of the parents. Another proverb is worthy of injecting here: “You cannot give what you do not have.”
One field that parents must master, in the realm of education for themselves as well as their children, is that of sexual morality. Parents must strive to know the Biblical and Church’s teaching on purity, live it out in their own lives and then teach it with the utmost clarity to their children!
3. Counsel the Doubtful Much can be said on this Spiritual work of mercy, but we will briefly mention one: the importance of solid spiritual direction. Saint Teresa of Avila and Saint Margaret Mary Alocoque among many saints were strongly dependent on spiritual direction so as to discern God’s will in their lives. They all are canonised saints and one of the reasons was that they humbly admitted that they were ignorant in many ways, had many doubts and had to submit their judgements, inspirations and thoughts to a higher authority—their Confessors and Spiritual Directors.
Given there is a shortage of priests as well as spiritual directors, still it is incumbent upon us to find some way to have periodic spiritual direction so as to expel the many doubts that can easily cloud our mind and blur our judgement and corrupt our actions. Saint John of the Cross put it wryly: “He who has himself as spiritual director has an idiot as his spiritual directee!” In other words we all have blind spots that can only be enlightened by proper spiritual direction.
4. Comfort the Sorrowful This is extremely important! Saint Ignatius of Loyola, in his rules for discernment, outlines the strategy on how to act when we are in a state of desolation.
In desolation we may feel sad, or even exhausted as if nobody really cares for us while life seems useless and without meaning. We all go through this state at times; it is part of being human. However, when you are aware of somebody going through this state, do all you can to be a source of encouragement.
How? First, pray for the person. Second, a warm smile can go a long way! Third, say a word or two of encouragement. Fourth, offer a compliment on some good quality the person has. This is very pleasing to God. We become like Simon of Cyrene who helped Jesus to carry His cross.
5. Bear Wrongs Patiently Once again, easier said than done. In this we need grace and a lot of grace! Maybe at work we have been wronged by a boss or by a co-worker. Changing jobs is unthinkable due to the economic situation. Both the boss and co-worker are not going anywhere. The most pleasing attitude in the eyes of God is simply to return to work with great humility and trust in Divine Providence.
Trust God! He will be there with you to help you to patiently carry the cross. Of immense help could be to meditate upon Jesus carrying His cross heading towards His crucifixion. Even though Jesus fell three times, He still got up with the weight of the sins of the world on His weary and blood-beaten shoulders.
We should always have Jesus before our eyes as our model and example, Indeed Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
6. Forgive All Injuries May God help us! We have arrived at the heart of mercy in our dealing with others. Mercy is a two-way street! If we want to receive mercy from God, then we must be merciful and forgive those who have done us wrong. Biblical verses on this topic are many, very many…
“Be merciful as your Heavenly Father is merciful…
“Vengeance is mine: I will repay, says the Lord.”
“Do not let the sun go down on your anger.”
“Forgive us out trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us…”(The Our Father)
“I tell you not seven times, but seventy times seven times… you must forgive…”
“Leave your gift and first be reconciled with your brother…”
“Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing.”
“Amen I say to you: today you will be with me in Paradise.”
One hint in the area of forgiveness: Accept the fact that all of your life people will hurt you. The most common place that we are wounded is in the context of our family, with family members. The key is this: forgive immediately! As soon as anybody hurts or wounds you, then pray for that person and forgive immediately. If done, you have won a major victory over self and shown God how much you love Him by practising mercy.
7. Pray for the Living and the Dead Jesus told Saint Faustina that He desires that we practice at least one act of mercy every day. He specified that mercy can be carried out in one of three manners:
1) by kind words
2) by kind deeds
3) by prayer
One of the greatest acts of charity we can do in our lives is to simply pray for others, both the living and the dead.
With respect to the living, there should be a hierarchy of importance. If married and with a family this should be the order: first spouse, children, parents, brothers and sisters, relatives, friends, co-workers and associates, and we should also pray for those we do not like and even for our enemies!
Then, with respect to the dead, we should pray constantly for the dead. Saint Francis de Sales emphasises the fact that this is one of the greatest acts of charity that we can do. Why? For this simple reason: they are totally dependent on the mercy of God and on our prayers, alms-giving or charity, as well as our sacrifices.
The Gregorian Mass of a month’s consecutive Masses came about because Pope Saint Gregory the Great had to pray thirty consecutive Masses so as to free his deceased friend from the fires of Purgatory. A common error today is in funeral Masses where the deceased person, despite his many moral failures, is being unofficially canonised in the funeral homily as well as in the eulogy. True, we should be compassionate towards those who lose their loved ones. Still, we should not canonise and jump the gun before time. The Bible teaches clearly and unequivocally that only the pure and without blemish can enter the Kingdom of God.
Ask yourself, in humble prayer, which of these Spiritual works of mercy you believe the Holy Spirit is inspiring you to undertake right now. Look at your concrete living condition and surely the Holy Spirit will pinpoint persons and areas where you will be able to implement with great generosity of soul one or more of these spiritual works of mercy. Never forget the inspiring and challenging words of Jesus: “Whatsoever you do the least of my brothers that you do unto me.” (Mt. 25:31-46)