The Church asks us to perform “corporal works of mercy.” As defined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church works of mercy are:
“The works of mercy are charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily necessities”
These works would include actions such as feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked, burying the dead, and visiting the imprisoned and sick.
As a mom, many of us wonder the best way to practice works of mercy with our children, especially our little ones. Let’s face it, many of the above examples are not really toddler friendly!
However, I have an idea I would like to share with you. Why not bring your little ones to visit a nursing home? This is something that I have been doing lately and I can assure you the benefits are many – for me, the folks we go to visit, and even for my child.
One study in Norway showed that over half of nursing home residents in that country experience serious loneliness. In fact, the statistics are sadly similar in the US and other countries. However, the good news is that this is something that is within our power to change – one visit at a time!
Watch the video above to learn more.
