January Beatitude:

the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

In the fifth beatitude, Jesus tells us that we must be compassionate, and this is repeated throughout the gospel.  We have a tradition of doing the spiritual works of mercy and the corporal works of mercy. The corporal works of mercy are based on Matthew 25: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, ransom captives, shelter the homeless, visit the sick and imprisoned, and bury the dead.

The spiritual works of mercy are admonish the sinner, instruct the ignorant, counsel the doubtful, comfort the sorrowful, bear wrongs patiently, forgive all injuries, and pray for the living and the dead.

·                    Which spiritual work would be hardest for you to do? Why? Which would be the easiest and why?

From: Daily Prayer in the Classroom, The Liturgical Press, pp.197-201

·        This month, play MERCY BINGO with your family. Examples for your beatitude log for January are included on the BINGO sheet.

BEATITUDE FAMILY LOG - January

Family Name ___________________________________

Family Members __________________________________

_________________________________________________

Date                                         Family Activity or Example of the Beatitude