The Spiritual Works of Mercy

The Spiritual Works of Mercy teach us how to care for the needs of the soul. They remind us that people need more than food or clothing. They also need love, guidance, and prayer. These works are about sharing faith and compassion with others.

For young people, these works are important lessons. They show how to live as followers of Jesus. They teach kindness and patience in everyday life. They also build connections with the Church and the community.

When youth learn about the Spiritual Works of Mercy, they see faith in action. They discover that being Catholic means helping others in many ways. It means caring not only with hands, but also with words and prayer.

These teachings also shape character. They help young people grow into adults who can face life with faith. They give strength to stand firm and live with love.

• Counsel the Doubtful
• Instruct the Ignorant
• Admonish the Sinner
• Comfort the Sorrowing
• Forgive Offenses Willingly
• Bear Wrongs Patiently
• Pray for the Living and the Dead
• Printable Copy of the Spiritual Works of Mercy

Counseling the doubtful means giving hope to those who are uncertain. Many people question their choices or even their faith. This work calls us to be present and to guide them gently. It shows care for their struggles.

Young people often face doubt in school, friendships, and faith. Learning to listen and support others helps them grow stronger themselves. It also teaches patience and understanding. Helping someone through doubt can bring both closer to God.

This work also shows the importance of trust. To counsel another person, one must listen carefully. One must speak with kindness and honesty. Words of encouragement can bring peace to a troubled heart.

• Do you know somebody experiencing a faith crisis? Offer them your support.
• Be there to listen and offer advice when friends are unsure about personal decisions.
• Ask somebody who has stopped going to Sunday mass to come with you this weekend.
• Encourage peers to talk to a trusted adult, youth minister, or priest when they feel lost.
• Share your own experiences of overcoming doubts with friends who are struggling.
• Write encouraging notes to friends who are facing tough choices.

When practiced well, this work builds faith in both people. The one who gives counsel learns compassion. The one who receives it learns hope. Together they find strength in God’s love.

Instructing the ignorant means helping others learn what they do not know. It is about sharing faith, values, and truth with care. This does not mean acting superior. It means offering knowledge with kindness.

For youth, this work is important. They live in a world where many voices speak at once. Some voices mislead. Some voices confuse. Teaching with love helps clear the path. It helps others understand what is good and true.

This work also builds responsibility. Those who teach must first take time to learn themselves. They must be willing to grow in knowledge of faith and life. In this way, both teacher and learner grow together.

• Lead a study group for classmates who need help with their school subjects.
• Share faith-based stories or teachings with younger children during Sunday school.
• Create simple videos about important values and share them on social media.
• Offer to help a friend understand a difficult concept they struggle with.
• Volunteer with your Parish School of Religion (PSR or CCD) or with Children’s Liturgy of the Word at your parish
• Pick up a YouCat or DoCat and read some of it every day so you can explain your faith to others.

Sharing knowledge in this way strengthens the whole community. It connects people to each other and to the Church. It shows that learning is a gift meant to be shared.

Admonishing the sinner means helping others see when they have gone astray. It is not about judging harshly. It is about speaking truth in a loving way. The goal is healing, not shame.

This work is often difficult. Few people like to hear that they are wrong. But when spoken gently, correction can bring great good. It can prevent harm and guide a person back to the right path.

For young people, this work teaches courage. It takes bravery to speak up when something is wrong. It also teaches humility. One must remember that everyone makes mistakes, including oneself.

• Remind friends about the importance of being honest if you see them cheating on a test.
• Speak up if you see someone bullying or being mean to others.
• Encourage friends to apologize when they hurt someone else.
• Discuss the consequences of bad actions in a group setting, like a youth group.
• Go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation as a group. Encourage someone who is hesitant to join you.

This work shows that love sometimes means honesty. True friendship is not silent when harm is near. It speaks with kindness, seeking what is best for the other.

Comforting the sorrowful means standing with those who suffer. It is about being present when hearts are heavy. Words may help, but sometimes silence speaks most clearly.

This work teaches compassion. It shows that caring for others often begins with simply being near. Presence alone can bring peace. It tells the sorrowful that they are not alone.

For youth, this work builds empathy. It teaches them to see beyond themselves. It helps them notice the pain of others. In doing so, they also grow stronger when facing their own trials.

• Sit with a friend who is sad and simply listen to their worries.
• Send a card or message to someone who is going through a tough time.
• Bake cookies and take them to a recent widow or widower.
• Offer a spiritual bouquet to parents who have recently lost a child to miscarriage or stillbirth
• Offer to spend time doing a fun activity with someone who feels down.
• Bring up happy memories when talking to someone who is feeling sad.

Comforting the sorrowful reflects the heart of Jesus. He stayed near to those who suffered. He gave hope in moments of despair. This work invites all of us to do the same.

Forgiving offenses means letting go of anger. It means refusing to hold on to grudges. Forgiveness does not erase the wrong, but it brings peace to both hearts.

This work is often hard. Anger and hurt can run deep. But forgiveness sets both people free. It allows healing where bitterness would only bring pain.

For youth, learning forgiveness builds character. It shows strength in mercy. It teaches that kindness is greater than revenge. It also teaches humility, for everyone needs forgiveness at times.

• Choose to let go of anger after an argument and move on.
• Talk openly with someone who has hurt you to clear up misunderstandings.
• Practice saying “I forgive you” either out loud or in your heart when someone apologizes.
• Write a letter of forgiveness, even if you don’t send it, to help you process your feelings.
• Write down some grudges you are holding on to. Burn them in a fire.

Forgiving offenses reflects the mercy of God. He forgives again and again. By forgiving others, we follow His example and live as His children.

Bearing wrongs patiently means accepting hardship without anger. It does not mean ignoring injustice. It means responding with calmness instead of rage.

This work teaches inner strength. It shows that patience can be stronger than retaliation. When treated unfairly, one can still choose peace. This choice protects the heart from bitterness.

For young people, this work builds resilience. Life is often unfair. Friends may disappoint. Others may cause pain. Learning patience gives the tools to endure without losing hope.

• Stay calm when someone says something hurtful instead of reacting angrily.
• Use deep breathing or counting to ten when you feel upset by someone’s actions.
• Talk about your feelings with someone you trust instead of holding them inside.
• Keep a journal to express your feelings when you feel treated unfairly.
• Pray for somebody who you find especially frustrating.
• When you think of somebody who you feel has wronged you, come up with three things you like about that person.

Patience also reflects the way of Jesus. He suffered much but did not strike back. He bore wrongs with love, showing the power of peace.

Praying for the living and the dead means remembering all people before God. Prayer is a gift that unites us across distance and even across death. It brings hope to the living and peace to the departed.

This work teaches the value of prayer. It shows that prayer is never wasted. Each prayer is an act of love, even if unseen. It joins us to God and to others.

For youth, this work deepens faith. It reminds them that life is bigger than the present moment. It connects them to the whole Church, past and present. It makes them part of something greater.

• Include intentions for both the living and the dead in your nightly prayers.
• Visit a cemetery and pray for those who have passed away.
• Offer a Mass intention for a friend or family member who needs prayers.
• Create a prayer circle with friends to pray for each other and for deceased loved ones.
• Pray for the students and young adults you know, that they might discern their vocation.

Praying for others builds community. It keeps love alive even when people are apart. It keeps faith alive even in sorrow. This work reminds us all that prayer is a bond of love.

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Nurturing Mercy in Action

This image, created to highlight the spiritual works of mercy, shows how care and compassion can grow when shared. It is a meaningful reminder of how faith calls us to guide, comfort, and encourage others.

Perfect for use in bulletins, newsletters, or parish resources, this artwork is available for download to help inspire your community.

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Only current paid subscribers have the rights to use the artwork.

What are the spiritual works of mercy?

The spiritual works of mercy are actions that help care for people’s souls. They guide, teach, comfort, and pray for others.

How many spiritual works of mercy are there?

There are seven. They are teaching the ignorant, giving advice, comforting the sorrowful, forgiving offenses, bearing wrongs patiently, praying for the living and the dead, and warning the sinner.

Why are they called works of mercy?

They are called works of mercy because they show love and kindness. They follow the example of Jesus, who cared for people’s hearts and souls.

Can children practice the spiritual works of mercy?

Yes. Children can pray, forgive, and comfort others. Mercy is something people of all ages can share.

How are they different from the corporal works of mercy?

The corporal works of mercy care for people’s physical needs, like food and shelter. The spiritual works of mercy care for their inner needs, like faith, hope, and peace.

The spiritual works of mercy remind us that faith is not only about prayer but also about action. These works show us how to care for others in ways that reach beyond the body and into the soul. They are simple but powerful ways to live as followers of Jesus.

When we forgive, teach, comfort, and pray, we bring God’s love into everyday life. These acts do not require special training or big resources. They only ask for an open heart and a willingness to serve. Each person can take part, no matter their age or situation.

Mercy builds stronger families, friendships, and communities. It helps us live closer to Christ and see Him in the people around us. By practicing mercy each day, we answer God’s call to love.

The spiritual works of mercy invite each of us to care for others with love and patience. They give us a simple way to live our faith and bring hope to those around us. Small acts of mercy can change lives and remind people that they are never alone.

We invite you to share your own stories and ideas. How have you lived out the spiritual works of mercy in your daily life? What examples have inspired you? Join the conversation in the comments and help encourage others to practice mercy too.