The Corporal Works of Mercy

05-03-2026Pastor's LetterVery Rev. Richard C. Wilson, VF

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The Corporal Works of Mercy are concrete actions by which the faithful of the church come to the aid of a person’s bodily or material needs. The Church calls them “corporal” because they assist people with their material necessities, and they are ways of meeting Christ present in those in need.

The Corporal Works of Mercy are traditionally seven: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, minister to the sick, visit the imprisoned, and bury the dead. This list is not merely symbolic; it offers a practical way to recognize human dignity — especially when a person is deprived of essentials or treated as if they were “unseen.”

At the heart of these works is Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 25, where He identifies Himself with the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, sick, and imprisoned. The basic fact is, when we do these works — when we give food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, cloth the naked, welcome the foreigner, and visit the sick or imprisoned—we are doing it to Christ. So, mercy is not just “feeling sorry”; it becomes visible in actions that restore what poverty, illness, isolation, or death have taken away.

So, in brief, the seven corporal works of mercy involve:
· Feed the hungry: providing food for those lacking it.
· Give drink to the thirsty: helping to ensure basic access to water and relief from thirst.
· Clothe the naked: providing clothing and protect human dignity through warmth and modesty.
· Shelter the homeless: offering safety, lodging, or concrete help to those without the stability of a home.
· Minister to the sick: ensuring to visit, care for, and support people who are ill.
· Visit the imprisoned: remembering the imprisoned to bring them presence and pastoral care.
· Bury the dead: showing reverence and care for the deceased and the bereaved.

Our small daily choices really do matter. In considering Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 25, we will be judged as to whether we practiced mercy in these concrete ways. The Church’s invitation to practice the Corporal Works of Mercy challenges our indifference and daily routine. It is an invitation to “open our eyes” to the needs of others and respond with generosity and compassion.

You might say that the Corporal Works of Mercy are charity made practical. We touch Christ’s own suffering body through tangible acts of mercy.

We are surrounded by many physical needs here in Aiken. As we live out our lives here, may we be faithful to the Corporal Works of Mercy.

All the best...in Christ,

Father Wilson