Learning to
Practice what we Preach

Works of Mercy
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Traditionally:
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Corporal
Spiritual
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Not based on the Ten Commandments
Based on love
Flowing from the Gospels
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center

The Spiritual Works of Mercy
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center

Spiritual Works of Mercy
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Spiritual means “of the soul”
These are less tangible matters
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Worry, doubt, sinfulness, and ignorance
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Forgiveness, patience, and prayer
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We care for our own souls
And the souls of those near us
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center

The List
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Teach the uneducated
Assure the doubtful
Caution sinners
Bear wrongs patiently
Forgive offences willingly
Comfort the sorrowful
Pray for the living and the dead.
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center

Teach the uneducated
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Starting with ourselves
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Form our consciences
Become aware of the world
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Know our own faith
Learn how to cook
Parents
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The “first teachers” of their own kids
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center

Example
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The best teacher
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People learn by watching you
So what you do matters!
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It’s the chief way you “instruct” others
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What are some things you can do which
“teach” others?
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center

Education
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Key to moving out of poverty
And it turns out
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People want to learn
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They know that being educated will help them find jobs
This is what leads to human dignity
Practicing this work of mercy is essential for the world
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center

Assure the doubtful
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We’re all doubtful
Start by admitting that
We walk by faith, not by sight
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Our own assurance is the strongest comfort
Of what do you feel sure?
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center

Caution sinners
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Need I say?
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Start with yourself
Always be conscious of your own spiritual frailty
Caution without judgment
Instead, speak of your own journey
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Humbly let others see how you have grown to see self-giving love as the way of the Cross
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center

Caution sinners
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Self-giving love is the key
Call people to it
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This is the “Paschal Mystery”
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When we follow the way of love we move away from sin
This requires self-emptying
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Which is not easy for most people
But it’s the only pathway to happiness
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center

Bear wrongs patiently
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What wrongs are we talking about here?
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That lady in the check out lane
That driver who cut us off
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Our kids when they annoy us
And bigger things
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People who slander us
Hate us
Gossip about us
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center

Forgive offences willingly
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Have you ever made a mistake?
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Hurt someone?
Lied or misrepresented something?
Been selfish instead of generous?
Who has forgiven you?
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center

Comfort the sorrowful
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When people are sad
We tend to avoid being near them
Because we don’t know what to say
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Worry not
The Spirit will give you the words
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center

Compassion
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The word means
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“To suffer with…”
Small acts done with love
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A card or note
A flower on the table
A word of support
You don’t have to fix things
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Just stand together
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center

Pray for the living & the dead
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This is about being in the “Communion of
Saints”
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Who is in your “personal communion of saints?”
How do you pray for them?
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center

The Corporal Works of Mercy
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center

Corporal Works of Mercy
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Corporal means “bodily”
Material works of mercy
Actual actions you take for the physical well being of others
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How can you help others?
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Think: daily life needs
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center

Jesus is
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He is “in the flesh”
What does this mean?
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When we receive Eucharist
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We commit ourselves to care for Christ
Hungry, thirsty, held captive, or homeless
Jesus is more than “just a theology”
Does this sound familiar?
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center

Jesus continues a long history
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Old Testament people were called to action, not just words!
Fasting had to lead to justice.
We were called to share our bread with the hungry.
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This is what God wants.
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center

The Incarnation
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A key dimension of Christian theology
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The Incarnation
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God is in the flesh
We don’t like this
It makes us uncomfortable
We prefer to keep God at a safe distance
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Up in heaven
Or over in the next state…
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center

The body of Christ
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But this is the core of our belief
The Incarnation did not end at the
Resurrection
It was not a 33 year divine experiment
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God is still among us in the flesh
Christ still lives within and among us
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center

Who is the body of Christ?
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This is the core of all spirituality
If it is true (and it is) that we are the Body of Christ
Then, at Eucharist:
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We accept
& internalize
The Body of Christ:
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center

It’s our Test
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Where the rubber hits the road
Where faith becomes earthy and real
Matthew 25: 35-40
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I was hungry and you gave me to eat
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I needed clothes and you helped me
Whatever you did for my brothers or sisters, you did for me
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center

The List
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Feed the hungry
Give water to the thirsty
Assist those who need clothing
Shelter the homeless
Visit & comfort the sick
Visit those in prison
Bury the dead
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center

We forget
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We forget how rich we really are.
We think of ourselves as being middle class
Having modest homes
A couple of cars
A closet full of clothes and shoes
We are still among the world’s rich
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center

How to help the poor
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Understand the issues.
Treat the poor and homeless with respect and understanding.
Stay politically aware.
Become an advocate.
Donate your old belongings.
Hold a collection drive.
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center

How to help the poor
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Raise funds or make a personal financial contribution.
Become a regular volunteer.
Get your group involved.
Support living wage laws.
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center

Feed the hungry
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Why are people hungry when there is enough food in the world for all?
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Think first: in your nation?
Then: in poor nations?
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What is our call in regard to this?
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center

Food
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Nearly everyone we know has enough to eat every day
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We spend about $79 million on weight loss programs per day in the United States
80% of people worldwide live on less than $10 per day
24,000 children die each day of starvation or illness that could be prevented
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Most die in rural villages, unseen
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Many have siblings who have also died
27% of children are underweight or stunted
Data: UN Children’s Fund
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center

Give Water to the Thirsty
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Nearly every home in the US has a flush toilet and clean drinking water
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You turn on the tap and clean water comes out
2.6 billion people live like this
About half of the poor have water borne illnesses
Data: UN Children’s Fund
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center

Assist those who need clothing
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Almost no one is naked today
But many don’t have the clothing needed
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To interview for a job
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To succeed professionally
And many don’t have warm clothes for winter
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As well as blankets
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center

Shelter the homeless
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Causes:
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Poverty
Eroding Work Opportunities and Housing
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Decline in Public Assistance
Lack of Affordable Health Care
Domestic Violence
Mental Illness
Addiction Disorders
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center

How about you?
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How close are you to being homeless?
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Many are one big illness away
Others: 2 to 3 months of no income
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Who else has lost their home?
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Older members of the community
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Kids who run away
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center

Visit and comfort the sick
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A major part of Jesus’ ministry
A formal and public ministry of the Church
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Hospitals and nursing homes
Hospice care
Parish pastoral care ministry
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center

Health care
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When we’re sick here, we go to the hospital.
10.6 million children worldwide die before age
5
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Equal to all kids in France, Germany, Greece and
Italy, combined
2.2 million children die each year because they are not immunized
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When combined with lack of food, this is a real killer.
Data: UN Children’s Fund
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center

Visit those in prison
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Who is held captive today?
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Those fighting for justice
Homebound folks
People who care for others
Legitimate prisoners
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Death row
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center

Bury the dead
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What can we do?
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Attend funerals
Bring food for the family
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Remember the dead a year later
Don’t be afraid to speak about death
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It’s a vital part of life
PastoralPlanning.com │ The Vatican II Center