You’ve done the Divine Mercy Novena. You’ve venerated the Divine Mercy image. You’ve gone to Divine Mercy Sunday Mass.
There is still one thing missing: Doing the Acts of Mercy.
“Yes, the first Sunday after Easter is the Feast of Mercy, but there must also be acts of mercy,” St. Faustina wrote in her diary, “because even the strongest faith is of no avail without works.”
The best way to fulfill the works of mercy is to serve others in person with love and care. More on that in a minute. But don’t make the perfect be the enemy of the good: There are Works of Mercy you can accomplish right now, without leaving your chair, starting with the Spiritual Works of Mercy.
“Counsel the doubtful” by sharing great apologists.
Share a podcast or book with someone who could benefit from it. My current favorite is an interview with Father Andrew Dalton and Matt Fradd about the Shroud of Turin, available as an audio podcast or on YouTube, and the book The Case for Jesus by Brant Pitre. (There is also my treatment of the Big Questions of 21st-century faith.) Listen or read first, so you can talk to your friend about them.
“Instruct the ignorant” by sharing positive stories online.
In a time when people post so much material to provoke, virtue signal, boast, or distract, share positive, encouraging stories — the kind that Aleteia specializes in.
“Admonish sinners” like Pope Leo XIV and St. Jacinto Marto do and did
Among those positive stories, you will find ways to gently set people straight on authentic Catholic morality. Pope Leo XIV has been a great spokesman for peace in a time of war and more. Find some of these under Aleteia’s “Issues and Implications.”
Then, there’s the child saint of Fatima, St. Jacinta Marto, who is a model for offering loving prayer and sacrifices for “poor sinners.”
“Comfort the afflicted” by using your phone the old-fashioned way.
Think of how easy and how comforting a simple, encouraging text can be for a loved one right now who wants to hear from you — then think of how a phone call would be even better.
“Forgive offenses” and “Bear wrongs patiently” through prayer and reconciliation.
The most literal “act of mercy” is the act of forgiving. Use these great Forgiveness Prayers that take you through categories of people you need to forgive in your heart — and as you pray, be on the lookout for those you can reach out to with a word of reconciliation.
“Pray for the living and the dead” by arranging a Mass or creating a spiritual bouquet.
Call your parish to see about arranging for a Mass to be said for someone — or pledge a Rosary or a novena and send a card to the person you are praying for.
Those also fulfill “Bury the dead,” a Corporal Works of Mercy. Fulfill others by almsgiving.
“Feed the hungry,” “Give drink to the thirsty,” “Clothe the naked,” and “Shelter the homeless,” by donating online to Catholic Charities or Catholic Relief Service, or other worthy charities.
You can “Visit the sick” with notes and gifts.
If you know someone who is hospitalized, or homebound, send a note or hospital-friendly gifts. If you don’t know any, send gifts anyway to nurses or hospital chaplaincies who will know who needs what. Or send crisis pregnancy centers what they need also.
“Visit the imprisoned” through prisoner pen pal programs.
Aleteia has shared some beautiful stories about prison pen pals. You can search online for Catholic prison pen pal ministries to get you started.
Last and far from least: You can make a Mercy Action Plan from your chair, right now.
All of these ideas “count” as acts of mercy and doing something is better than nothing. But it remains true that the best acts of mercy are in person.
So why not take time, in your chair right now, to make a plan to do more — and then schedule a first step? Here is a guide and a book to get you started.
~
During the Jubilee of Mercy, Aleteia considered unique acts of mercy each week. Take a look at our 56 ideas here.
