a) What are the corporal and spiritual works of mercy?
The corporal works of mercy are acts of love towards our neighbors to help them in their bodily needs. The chief corporal works of mercy are seven:
i. To feed the hungry.
ii. To give drink to the thirsty.
iii. To clothe the naked.
iv. To visit the imprisoned.
v. To shelter the homeless.
vi. To visit the sick.
vii. To bury the dead.
The spiritual works of mercy are acts of love towards our neighbors to help them in their spiritual needs. The chief spiritual works of mercy are seven:
i. To admonish the sinner.
ii. To instruct the ignorant.
iii. To counsel the doubtful.
iv. To comfort the sorrowful.
v. To bear wrongdoing patiently.
vi. To forgive all injuries.
vii. To pray for the living and for the dead.
b) Why should an Altar Server know and perform the corporal and spiritual works of mercy?
An Altar Server should always be ready to help his neighbor, especially those in most need, both bodily and spiritually. He should encourage his friends to help their neighbors in whatever little or big way they can, according to their possibilities.
There are many ways to help our family, friends, classmates, and others whom we meet everyday, without looking for special occasions. Sharing our things, helping classmates in their studies, forgiving others immediately, speaking with those who are lonely or in trouble, are but a few concrete expressions of the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.