Serviam

A blog dedicated to the corporal and spiritual works of mercy and encouraging Christians to not forsake them. Previously tmblr-mercy-workers. I share quotes from a lot of different people but that does not mean that I support everything they do/say/believe. I also don't argue or answer nasty asks, so you can send all complaints to my main blog, @cheerfullycatholic

[the-mercy-workers]

The Spiritual Works of Mercy

1. Counsel the doubtful. "For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God"- Acts 20:27

2. Instruct the ignorant. "Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever."- Daniel 12:3

3. Admonish the sinner. "Convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching."- 2 Timothy 4:2

4. Comfort the afflicted. "Care for orphans and widows in their affliction"- James 1:27

5. Forgive offences. "When you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive you your transgressions."- Mark 11:25

6. Bear wrongs patiently. "Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you because of me."- Matthew 5:11

7. Pray for the living and the dead. "Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be absolved from their sin."- 2 Maccabees 12:46

The Corporal Works of Mercy

1. Feed the hungry. "For I was hungry and you gave me food"- Matthew 25:35

2. Give drink to the thirsty. "I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink"- Matthew 25:35

3. Clothe the naked. "I was naked and you gave me clothing"- Matthew 25:36

4. House the homeless. "I was a stranger and you welcomed me"- Matthew 25:35

5. Visit the imprisoned. "I was in prison and you visited me"- Matthew 25:36

6. Visit the sick. "I was sick and you took care of me"- Matthew 25:36

7. Bury the dead. "and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the breath returns to God who gave it"- Ecclesiastes 12:7

[the-mercy-workers]

[icannotbejondenden47]

"Do you wish to receive mercy? Show mercy to your neighbor." 

John Chrysostom

[sunglassesbot]

A Reminder

[memeuplift]

[ffcrazy15]

Alright everyone. SNAP and WIC benefits are down as of today. So far, judge court orders to reinstate them are still up in the air.

This is your sign to donate to your local food shelf, Catholic Charities, soup kitchen etc. if you've got the money. Go buy a can of Similac (Advance, blue can) or Enfamil (yellow can) and bring it to your local Pregnancy Resource Center.

We are the Church. Do not let the shelves go bare on our watch.

“Not to enable the poor to share in our goods is to steal from them and deprive them of life. The goods we possess are not ours, but theirs.” –St. John Chrysostom

Working to Reduce Poverty in America - Catholic Charities USA

Catholic Charities USA supports a national network of agencies committed to encountering those along the margins, regardless of their faith.

[sycamore-seedling]

Hurricane Melissa Relief Charities

I pulled these from the Jamaica subreddit, but donate if you're able because this is looking pretty scary according to the official forecasts...

"Several charitable organizations are already preparing their emergency response teams to provide relief after the storm. Below is a list and the type of assistance they will provide. Please consider making a donation to any of the following organizations."

Direct Relief - Emergency medical assistance (Read about what they've already done, here.)

Food For the Poor - Relief kits, generators, hygiene kits, and essential supplies

Global Empowerment Mission - Cargo planes and shipping containers typically provide water, food, generators, all emergency supplies, as well as gift cards

Samaritan's Purse International Disaster Relief - Emergency field hospital, shelter, water, food, medical care

International Medical Corps - Deploying an emergency medical response team

[conceptloto-deactivated20251101]

Evangelizing, or spreading the Gospel, is not just going out into the street and telling strangers Jesus loves them. It’s SHOWING strangers Jesus loves them through yourself. When you love others, you are God’s heart. When you do good works such as feeding the homeless, you are God’s hands. The soul is a gentle mirror of God. You evangelize by revealing Jesus’ heart to the world. Stop street preaching, and go and feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give drink to the thirsty, and visit the imprisoned.

[orthodoxadventure]

[apenitentialprayer]

[T]he faithful will be able to obtain the Jubilee Indulgence if they visit, for an appropriate amount of time, their brothers and sisters who are in need or in difficulty (the sick, prisoners, lonely elderly people, disabled people…), in a sense making a pilgrimage to Christ present in them (cf. Mt 25, 34-36) according to the usual spiritual, sacramental and prayer conditions. The faithful can repeat these visits throughout the Holy Year, even daily, acquiring a plenary indulgence each time.

Pope Francis (Decree on the Granting of Indulgences during the Ordinary Jubilee Year 2025)

[apenitentialprayer]

Visiting an elderly person is a way of encountering Jesus, who frees us from indifference and loneliness.

Pope Leo XIV (Message for the Fifth Annual World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly)

[conceptloto-deactivated20251101]

To mock and belittle the poor, homeless and imprisoned is to mock and belittle Christ. When we care for the disabled and the poor, we are caring for Christ.

[leaveyourego]

Offering food to someone in need is good, even if you dislike the person offering it or the person receiving it.

[and-her-saints]

Remember those in prison.

[the-mercy-workers]

While scrolling Instagram I came across a video from an organization called the BeHeard movement. They provide showers, laundry services, mail services, haircuts, clothes, and other things to homeless people in the Tulsa and Oklahoma City areas for free

From their website;

The BeHeard movement helps those experiencing homelessness through their mobile drop-in center. It provides showers through a shower trailer, laundry services through a laundry trailer, clothing through a clothing trailer, haircuts through a barbershop bus, and case management. Our vision is to help end homelessness one person at a time one shower at a time. Our mission is to use soul work and social work to benefit the community, businesses, and those experiencing homelessness.

Their work is so amazing, I recommend looking through their website and donating if you can. Maybe someday with enough support, their movement will be able to spread across the nation. I'd love to see centers like theirs in my state

[traumacatholic]

Something that we can do to practice our prayers for other people, is to use the random memories that may sometimes pop into our mind throughout the day. Remembering a joyful moment? Pray for all the people that were there with you. Remembering a heated argument? Pray for all the people that you were in that argument with. Remembering a time you were sad and were comforted? Pray for the people that comforted you.

[traumacatholic]

Never think that you're incapable of making someone's day. When I was homeless and visiting a food bank, a woman brought over the milk and sugar for my cup of tea because she realised I was too shy to go over and ask for it. I went home and cried at that small gesture. When someone is in crisis, even really basic things become big obstacles in their way. Even the smallest gesture is enough to pull someone back from the edge. Even a simple "Hey, thinking of you and wishing the best for you :)" can be deeply comforting. Be the person that provides someone in darkness some light. And know that the kindness you share, will always find its way back to you when you most need it.

[the-mercy-workers]

Pope Francis passed away this morning. I considered him a mercy worker, his words were an inspiration to me while making this blog. He cared so deeply about the dignity of everyone, urging the Church towards peace, hope, love, and charity. Please pray for his soul and please don't forget these words;

Pope Francis, please pray that we always strive to serve others and reflect God's love