What are the works of mercy and why do they matter?
The works of mercy are 14 concrete, human actions that connect Heaven and earth. 7 are corporal and 7 are spiritual. They’re ways of caring for others, stepping outside yourself, and becoming, little by little, more like Jesus.
Think of each of these acts as a kind of “quiet superpower.” No one applauds when you do them, but things start to change. They’re like little pieces of advice from Gospel that make the world better from the inside out.
👉 You can download the works of mercy infographic here.
The 7 Corporal Works: helping with your body and your hands
- Give food to the hungry
- Give drink to the thirsty
- Clothe the naked
- Shelter the homeless
- Visit the sick
- Visit the imprisoned
- Bury the dead
👉 Real-life translation: Share your lunch with someone who forgot theirs. Donate clothes you no longer wear to someone in need. Listen attentively to someone who feels alone. Visit the grandparent you tend to forget.
The 7 Spiritual Works: touching others’ souls
- Teach the ignorant
- Give good advice
- Correct those who go astray
- Forgive those who hurt you
- Comfort the sorrowful
- Bear wrongs patiently
- Pray for the living and the dead
👉 Real-life translation: Help a classmate who’s struggling with a class. Be honest without hurting. Listen without judging. Forgive, even when it’s hard. Be patient with your siblings. Pray even when nobody sees you.
Why do it if no one notices?
Because you notice, and your actions matter. As Jesus said: “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).
Every time you do a work of mercy, you become more like Jesus, who was young, honest, and revolutionary. He didn’t go through life making lots of noise, but changing heart.
Some tips for living the works of mercy
✅ Give yourself a weekly challenge: Choose one work of mercy each week and find a concrete way to carry it ou.
✅ Think of names and faces: Don’t think about “the hungry,” think about Alex, your classmate who sometimes skips lunch.
✅ Be realistic: It’s not about doing big things, but doing them with love.
✅ Get your friends involved: Doing good in a group can make the weight lighter (and even fun!).
✅ Pray with your actions: What you do can be a prayer if it comes from the heart.
And remember…
Being young is not an excuse to wait to do “big things” later on. Now is the time to be a spark of mercy in a world that needs light.
Because being good is brave. And being merciful… is revolutionary.