Works of Mercy for Lent and for the Bishop

From the Pastor:    Works of Mercy for Lent and for the Bishop

       Now that Lent is underway and all Catholics of good will are striving for holiness even more than “normal” a small snippet from Pope St. Leo the Great comes to us through the Liturgy of the Hours. It is taken from a sermon he gave on the value of the Lenten practices of fasting and almsgiving. He spoke about almsgiving in a manner not quite like is normally heard nowadays, for he did not even mention giving money as the means of giving alms. I will explain shortly, after this brief quote with my bolded emphasis. 
       Dear friends, what the Christian should be doing at all times should be done now with greater care and devotion, so that the Lenten fast enjoined by the apostles may be fulfilled, not simply by abstinence from food but above all by the renunciation of sin. There is no more profitable practice as a companion to holy and spiritual fasting than that of almsgiving. This embraces under the single name of mercy many excellent works of devotion, so that the good intentions of all the faithful may be of equal value, even where their means are not. The love that we owe both God and man is always free from any obstacle that would prevent us from having a good intention. The angels sang: Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. The person who shows love and compassion to those in any kind of affliction is blessed, not only with the virtue of good will but also with the gift of peace. The works of mercy are innumerable. Their very variety brings this advantage to those who are true Christians, that in the matter of almsgiving not only the rich and affluent but also those of average means and the poor are able to play their part. Those who are unequal in their capacity to give can be equal in the love within their hearts.
       Did you notice how St. Leo says that giving alms, rather than the standard giving of money to the poor, is rather doing “excellent works of devotion” which he also calls “works of mercy”? He points out how doing these works (almsgiving) with good intentions and love levels the field, so to speak, between rich and poor. Those who are rich can give monetary alms but those who are poor obviously cannot give an equal amount. Yet both rich and poor can perform loving acts of mercy and devotion equally, for both can love with the love of Jesus Christ, which itself is infinite. In other words, giving $10,000,000 to a charity may be seen as an extraordinarily generous act of almsgiving but few are able to give that amount. Plus, the money may not have been given out of love but out of pride, a desire for attention or adulation, or a tax write-off, for instance, and may not merit any heavenly reward for the gift giver. But a simple act of mercy can be made by anyone at any income level, and, if done with the love of God and love of neighbor on account of the love of God, it bears fruit a hundredfold and is as beautiful in God’s eyes as the widow’s mite of the Scriptures. With that in mind, I want to remind you of (or introduce you to) Bishop Gregory Parkes’ Works of Mercy Challenge. Although it is for the whole year and not just for Lent, this is a perfect time to participate in this challenge and hone your virtue through “excellent works of devotion” and innumerable “works of mercy.” Here is an introduction to the Bishop’s Challenge.
       We are excited to announce the long-awaited roll out of the 1,000,000 Works of Mercy Challenge (part of the Pastoral Plan, Called to Conversion, and a 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope initiative). Bishop Parkes is challenging everyone in the five counties of the Diocese to renew their understanding of the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy and then together complete one million works of mercy by Advent 2025.  More information, including a parish/school toolkit and other resources, is located at our diocesan website www.dosp.org/Jubilee2025/MercyChallenge/toolkit/. Each parish and school is encouraged to have their parishioners record their works of mercy at the official diocesan website:  www.mercy2025.org. Parishes, schools and youth groups who complete and record their acts of mercy by December 15, 2025 will be eligible for a grant for their pastoral care, outreach, and mission-trip ministries. 
       
       Follow the links above or the QR code (below this post) for more information on how to count and report the number of works of mercy you complete toward his stated “One Million Works” goal. If you sign in as an Epiphany member, it also shows the support the parish gives to the Bishop in this spiritual initiative.
       There are 7 traditional Corporal Works of Mercy (oriented toward the body) and 7 traditional Spiritual Works of Mercy (oriented toward the soul), although the lists vary slightly in numbering and wording from one source to another. The Corporal Works of Mercy are: feed the hungry; give drink to the thirsty; clothe the naked; harbor the harborless (or shelter the homeless); visit the sick; ransom the captive (or visit the imprisoned); bury the dead. The Spiritual Works of Mercy are: instruct the ignorant; counsel the doubtful; admonish sinners; bear wrongs patiently; forgive offenses willingly; comfort the afflicted; pray for the living and the dead.


With prayers for your holiness,
Rev. Fr. Edwin Palka