Dorothy Day once said that everything a baptized Christian does should be—either directly or indirectly—related to the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. The corporal works of mercy are feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless, visiting the prisoners, visiting the sick, and burying the dead; and the spiritual works of mercy are counseling the doubtful, instructing the ignorant, admonishing the sinner, bearing wrongs patiently, comforting the sorrowful, forgiving injuries, and praying for the living and the dead.

This “thick” description of the Christian life reminds us that following Jesus is not a matter of inner states, private convictions, or gassy abstractions; it’s a set of definitive, embodied practices. And it concretizes what we mean when we say “love.” To love is to will the good of the other. If we are aiming to be people of love, the corporal and spiritual works of mercy are the actions against which we should measure our own lives.

Word on Fire is establishing a new Works of Mercy Fund that will allow us to donate our books, films, and other evangelical materials to individuals and communities who could most benefit from them. Will you make a gift to support this fund so that we can continue to proclaim Christ in the culture by sharing our resources with those who need them most?

While many of these actions may seem easy or obvious, really take the time to reflect on how often you actually engage in them. I am sure there are people in need of clothing within just a few miles of where you live. At the same time, I’m sure your closet is full of clothes that you haven’t worn in years. Give them away! I like the concrete quality of the corporal works of mercy: they force you to get your hands dirty and express love in an incarnate way.

The spiritual works of mercy may be less tangible, but they are no less important; they allow us to become spiritually great and to help others to do the same. To love someone fully, we must will their good, both physically and spiritually.

With your support, Word on Fire’s Works of Mercy Fund will give us the opportunity to spread the light of Christ to so many. We can equip hospital and prison chaplains, teachers and lay ministers, members of the military, religious and clergy serving poor faith communities, and countless others with the materials they need to proclaim the Catholic faith. Your generosity can help us change hearts and draw people deeper into a relationship with Christ.

Please know of my prayers for you, and please pray for the success of this initiative and all who will benefit from it. May we all experience and accept the unending mercy of God and seek to extend that same mercy to others.

In Christ,