CORPORAL ACTS OF MERCY
The Corporal Works of Mercy are found in the teachings of Jesus and give us a model for how we should treat all others, as if they were Christ in disguise.
My daughter, if I demand through you that people revere My mercy, you should be the first to distinguish yourself by this confidence in My mercy. I demand from you deeds of mercy, which are to arise out of love for Me. You are to show mercy to your neighbors always and everywhere. You must not shrink from this or try to excuse or absolve yourself from it. DIARY OF ST. FAUSTINA, 742
Act of Mercy
Why is it important?
What does FRIENDS do?
FEED THE HUNGRY
GIVE DRINK TO THE THIRSTY
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me… whatever you did for one of my brothers or sisters, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did for Me”.
Feeding the hungry and giving drink to the thirsty are acts of mercy that Jesus stressed many times in His gospel. Feeding the hungry is an essential principle of being a Christian. Giving drink to the thirsty is a similar activity but addresses a different need of the body.
Hunger causes suffering and ill health. Poor and inadequate nutrition leave children vulnerable to diseases and illnesses. Clean water restores health and opens the door to education, a promising future, and the kind of life God intends for His children.
We Feed at The Healing Sanctuary
The project started at The Healing Sanctuary in Pasay and will be conducted in all sanctuaries that FRIENDS will establish.
To provide clothing is to take care of two basic human needs, protection and dignity.
To clothe the naked means to tell people about their goodness and help them rediscover their dignity; to help them believe that even though they made some mistakes and committed sin, they are still loved and respected. To clothe them means to help them restore their dignity as children of God.
This act of mercy will help them believe in themselves and give them courage and strength to change their lives.
We set up FRIENDS CLOTHES BANK, where new and pre-loved clothing and other personal items are collected and distributed to the poor and marginalized, victims of fire and calamities and others in need.
SHELTER THE HOMELESS
“He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; He seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. ‘For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s; on them He has set the world’”.
1 Samuel 2:8
Sheltering the homeless is an act of mercy that focuses on the meaning of caring for others and affirming in them the value of self-worth.
Shelter is one of the basic requirements of life. Man should have something he can call home where he feels safe; to have the sense of belongingness and profound value for self-worth.
When we open our doors to help them, we are also opening our doors to Christ. After all, we live in one home, this world that God created for everyone to inhabit and live as one family. It is a big joy for us to see a homeless person, through the care we give, get back on his feet and start a new life.
We provide financial and material assistance to victims of calamities to help repair the damages to their homes.
Ultimately, we aim to build and operate a shelter that will serve as a refuge for the homeless catering to their physical and spiritual needs.
VISIT THE SICK
“My child, life on earth is a struggle indeed; a great struggle for My kingdom. But fear not, because you are not alone. I am always supporting you, so lean on Me as you struggle, fear nothing”.
Diary of St. Faustina, 1488
The fear of being alone is often felt by people who are frail and those on their sick bed. Worrying about what will happen and who will be there for them cause anxiety.
Uplifting their spirits by visiting them is assuring them that they are not alone.
Ensuring companionship, spending time with them and engaging them in meaningful conversations offer great comfort for the sick, knowing that, through us, the living and comforting presence of the Lord is felt.
To show our care and compassion for the sick, LUNAS implements the following projects:
- Visiting and praying over the sick at home or facilities; and holding activities to cheer them up
- Visiting the elderly in care homes and children in orphanages; and providing financial support and/or supplies needed
- Arranging for the anointing of the sick, as necessary.
VISIT THE IMPRISONED
“Keep in mind those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them”.
Hebrews 13:3
Visiting the imprisoned is an act of mercy that calls us to understand their situation and instill in them that God’s mercy is unending to encourage them to take their paths towards a new life.
To be in prison means that one has committed an offense against the law that required punishment. However, the opportunity to change, to be forgiven and accepted should not be taken away from them. It will only happen when we take a look at them with understanding and mercy. We were created in God’s image and likeness and we are all inherently capable of doing good.
Committing a mistake does not and will not diminish this truth.
We hold weekly fellowships at Manila City Jail Female Dormitory since 2006. We carry with us our mission of bringing the message of God’s love and mercy to encourage our brothers and sisters to go back to their faith and trust in God. We also provide support for the jail’s activities during special occasions and material assistance for the women’s personal needs.
We aspire to help these PDLs reconnect themselves to society and live a better life.
BURY THE DEAD
“I had performed many charitable deeds for my kindred… I would give my bread to the hungry and clothing to the naked. If I saw one of my people who died and been thrown behind the wall of Nineveh, I used to bury him”.
Tobit 1:16-17
Burying the dead is an act of mercy that emphasizes the importance of compassion for others and the need to treat everyone with dignity and the respect they deserve as people created by a loving God.
Proper burial of the dead is an important practice in the early days, even Jesus was given this rite. Therefore, it is proper for us to show sympathy to those who are affected by this situation by helping them in any way we can.
Showing love for others, even after death, is how Jesus’ disciples showed their love for God.
To show our love for others, even after death, DAMAY implements the following projects:
- Attend wake or vigil for members and/or family of members and provide financial or material assistance
- Soul Registry, a virtual registry for souls to be included in our daily prayer intentions and Holy Mass for the departed
- Burial Assistance, embalming or crematory, in partnership with funeral facilities.