Biblical Foundations for the
Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy by Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.
Overview:
The Tradition of the Church recommends seven "Corporal Works of Mercy" along with seven "Spiritual Works of Mercy."
Most of the "Corporal Works" are based on the "Parable of the Sheep and the Goats" in Matthew 25 (and other biblical texts), while the "Spiritual Works" have a wider variety of biblical bases.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church summarizes the Church's teaching about "Works of Mercy" in paragraph 2447, including several biblical quotations and references. Curiously, this paragraph explicitly mentions only six of the seven spiritual works of mercy, and also only six of the seven corporal works of mercy. Since this is in a section of the Catechism entitled, "Love for the Poor," it also includes comments about almsgiving:
The works of mercy are charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily necessities (cf. Isaiah 58:6-7; Hebrews 13:3). Instructing, advising, consoling, comforting are spiritual works of mercy, as are forgiving and bearing wrongs patiently. The corporal works of mercy consist especially in feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned, and burying the dead (cf. Matthew 25:31-46). Among all these, giving alms to the poor is one of the chief witnesses to fraternal charity: it is also a work of justice pleasing to God (cf. Tobit 4:5-11; Sirach 17:22; Matthew 6:2-4):
He who has two coats, let him share with him who has none and he who has food must do likewise (Luke 3:11). But give for alms those things which are within; and behold, everything is clean for you (Luke 11:41). If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? (James 2:15-16; cf. 1 John 3:17)
Listing the Works of Mercy:
There is some variation in the exact titles given to the fourteen works of mercy and the order in which they are listed in various publications. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, the letter Misericordiae Vultus by Pope Francis, and various listings available on the internet are not all identical. Here is just one possible listing:
Corporal Works of Mercy:
Feed the hungry
Give drink to the thirsty
Clothe the naked
Welcome the stranger
Heal the sick
Visit the imprisoned
Bury the dead
. . .
Spiritual Works of Mercy:
Counsel the doubtful
Instruct the ignorant
Admonish sinners
Comfort the afflicted
Forgive offences
Bear patiently those who do us ill
Pray for living and dead
Biblical Texts with Several "Corporal Works of Mercy" Together:
Matthew 25:31-46 (Parable of Sheep & Goats):
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, 32 and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
33 He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me,
36naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.' 37 Then the righteous will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?
38 When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?
39 When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?'
40 And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.' 41 Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
43 a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.' 44 Then they will answer and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?'
45 He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.'
46 And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Isaiah 58:6-10 (type of fasting most acceptable to God):
“Is this not, rather, the fast that I choose: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Setting free the oppressed, breaking off every yoke? 7 Is it not sharing your bread with the hungry, bringing the afflicted and the homeless into your house; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own flesh? 8 Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed; Your vindication shall go before you, and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer, you shall cry for help, and he will say: "Here I am!" If you remove the yoke from among you, the accusing finger, and malicious speech; 10 If you lavish your food on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; Then your light shall rise in the darkness, and your gloom shall become like midday;”
Ezekiel 18:5-9(people who do good will be rewarded):
“If a man is just-- if he does what is right,6 if he does not eat on the mountains, or raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel; if he does not defile a neighbor's wife, or have relations with a woman during her period;7 if he oppresses no one, gives back the pledge received for a debt, commits no robbery; gives food to the hungry and clothes the naked;8 if he does not lend at interest or exact usury; if he refrains from evildoing and makes a fair judgment between two opponents;9 if he walks by my statutes and is careful to observe my ordinances, that man is just--he shall surely live--oracle of the Lord GOD.” (see also Ezek 18:14-17)
Tobit 1:16-19(Tobit practices charity and buries the dead, at risk to his own life):
“IIn the days of Shalmaneser I had performed many charitable deeds for my kindred, members of my people. 17 I would give my bread to the hungry and clothing to the naked. If I saw one of my people who had died and been thrown behind the wall of Nineveh, I used to bury him.
18 Sennacherib returned from Judea, having fled during the days of the judgment enacted against him by the King of Heaven because of the blasphemies he had uttered; whomever he killed I buried. For in his rage he killed many Israelites, but I used to take their bodies away by stealth and bury them. So when Sennacherib looked for them, he could not find them.
19 But a certain Ninevite went and informed the king about me, that I was burying them, and I went into hiding. When I realized that the king knew about me and that I was being hunted to be put to death, I became afraid and took flight.”
2 Chronicles 28:15 (some prisoners of war are set free and returned home):
“IThen the men just named proceeded to help the captives. All of them who were naked they clothed from the spoils; they clothed them, put sandals on their feet, gave them food and drink, anointed them, and all who were weak they set on donkeys. They brought them to Jericho, the City of Palms, to their kinfolk. Then they returned to Samaria.”
Other Biblical Texts Focusing on Specific "Corporal Works of Mercy":
Feed the hungry:
Proverbs 22:9 – “The generous will be blessed,
for they share their food with the poor.”
2 Kings 4:42-44 – “A man came from Baal-shalishah bringing the man of God twenty barley loaves made from the first fruits, and fresh grain in the ear. Elisha said, “Give it to the people to eat.” / But his servant objected, “How can I set this before a hundred?” Elisha again said, “Give it to the people to eat, for thus says the LORD: You will eat and have some left over.” / He set it before them, and when they had eaten, they had some left over, according to the word of the LORD.”
Luke 3:11 – [John the Baptist preaches to the crowds]: “Whoever has two tunics should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.”
Jesus Feeds the 5000– Mark 6:30-44; Matt 14:13-21; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-14
Jesus Feeds the 4000– Mark 8:1-10; Matt 15:32-39
Give drink to the thirsty:
Isaiah 55:1 – "All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come, buy grain and eat; Come, buy grain without money, wine and milk without cost!"
John 7:37-38 – On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and exclaimed, "Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink. / Whoever believes in me, as scripture says: 'Rivers of living water will flow from within him.'"
Revelation 21:6b – "To the thirsty I will give a gift from the spring of life-giving water."
Revelation 22:17b – "Let the one who thirsts come forward, and the one who wants it receive the gift of life-giving water."
Clothe the naked:
Luke 15:22 (Parable of the Lost/Prodigal Son) – "But his father ordered his servants, 'Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet."
Welcome the stranger:
Ezekiel 47:21-23 –"You shall divide this land according to the tribes of Israel. / You shall allot it as heritage for yourselves and for the resident aliens in your midst who have fathered children among you. You shall treat them like native Israelites; along with you they shall receive a heritage among the tribes of Israel. / In whatever tribe the resident alien lives, there you shall assign his heritage-- oracle of the Lord GOD."
Heal the sick:
Sirach 7:33-35– "Give your gift to all the living, and do not withhold your kindness from the dead. / Do not avoid those who weep, but mourn with those who mourn. / Do not hesitate to visit the sick, because for such things you will be loved."
Visit the imprisoned:
Hebrews 13:1-3 - "Let mutual love continue. / Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels. /
Be mindful of prisoners as if sharing their imprisonment, and of the ill-treated as of yourselves, for you also are in the body."
Bury the dead:
Tobit 12:12-14a – "Now when you, Tobit, and Sarah prayed, it was I who presented the record of your prayer before the Glory of the Lord; and likewise whenever you used to bury the dead. / When you did not hesitate to get up and leave your dinner in order to go and bury that dead man, / I was sent to put you to the test. (Tob. 12:12-14 NAB)"
Biblical Texts Mentioning Several "Spiritual Works of Mercy":
1 Thessalonians 5:11-18 - “Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed you do.
12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who are laboring among you and who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you,
13 and to show esteem for them with special love on account of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
14 We urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, cheer the fainthearted, support the weak, be patient with all.
15 See that no one returns evil for evil; rather, always seek what is good both for each other and for all.
16Rejoice always. 17Pray without ceasing. 18 In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.”
Galatians 6:1-2 - “If a person is caught in some transgression, you who are spiritual should correct that one in a gentle spirit, looking to yourself, so that you also may not be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
Colossians 3:12-16 - “Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another… Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as in all wisdom you teach and admonish one another…”
Ephesians 6:18 - “With all prayer and supplication, pray at every opportunity in the Spirit. To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones…”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 - “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, / so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy 4:2 - “Proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching.”
Other Biblical Texts Mentioning Specific "Spiritual Works of Mercy":
Note: All biblical texts on this page are taken from the New American Bible, available on the website of the USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops).
