Serving Others to Ground Us in the Real World - Corporal Works of Mercy

"They are 'virtualized' young people."  ~Pope Francis

In 2018, Pope Francis shared these thoughts about children growing up in the virtual world as part of this video.

At that time, he did not know the world we would be living in during 2020!  But as much as he was worried then, today our youth are much more attached to their devices.  But he offers some very important advice for combating this and grounding out children in the real world - the Works of Mercy.  

The USCCB published The Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy During CoVid19.  Let's look at each and how we might help our children and ourselves during this time through Corporal Works of Mercy and Spiritual Works of Mercy.  This week I will share some ideas my family had for each of the Corporal Works of Mercy.  Next week we will look at the Spiritual Works of Mercy.

Corporal Works of Mercy

Feed the hungry -  There are many people who can not safely go shopping because of their age, pre-existing conditions, or travel quarantine.

• Consider adopting someone who needs someone to shop for them.  With your children do the shopping for that person and keeping socially distanced bring groceries and other essentials to that person.

Give drink to the thirsty - Water is a basic need in life.  We don't have many wells like they share in the gospels.  However, now we have bottles of water.

• Keep a few water bottles in the car.  When we see a homeless person on the side of the road give a bottle to them.  Be sure you and your children wear a mask and only roll down the window enough to slip the bottle out.  Safety first.
• Purchase just enough water for your family without hoarding.  Be sure to encourage your children to drink the full bottle they open.
• Teach your children how to wash their hands appropriately.  Use a song like "Happy Birthday" to judge the length of hand washing so that our children wash their hands enough, but balance that with not wasting water.

Give alms to the poor - Our churches give us a method to give alms to the poor.

• As many of us have moved to attending Mass virtually, do not forget to give to your church.  Our church has an electronic giving option.  This year, I have set my electronic giving to give to my church.  
• Also, look at your Diocese Mission churches.  While we have so much here in the US, often our Mission churches are aware of community needs with families, communities, and parishes may not have everything we have here in the US.

Shelter the homeless - In our community we have seen an increase in the homeless finding nooks all over our city.  I'm sure this is not just here.  Because of the pandemic, many have lost their jobs and then their homes. 

• If you have the means, go through your pantry with your children. When you shop, purchase additional items and with your children take them to your local food bank or church.  The key is to do this WITH your children.

Visit the sick - During this pandemic this may not be possible.  We hear of families and spouses sitting outside hospital or nursing home windows.  If you can not visit, consider other means of bringing the sick some joy like:

• Making cards for residents of the nursing home (a lot of residents appreciate children drawings)
• Calling grandparents regularly
• Taking a moment to check on older neighbors, safely with social distancing and masks.  I like to do this as I see them working outside or as they arrive home where I can wave and say hi from my yard.
• Also during this time, teach your children to follow the procedures we hear to keep others from becoming sick. (Practice social distancing, Wear a mask, Wash hands, Sanitize hands and surfaces, Cover a sneeze or cough)
• If you have older children, you can make masks to donate to the community - doctor offices, EMS, and other organizations.

Visit the imprisoned - Right now this may not be possible because of CoVid.  However, we can teach our children to pray for those imprisoned.

• If your diocese has a prison ministry, you can consider making donations to the ministry.

Bury the dead - Many have died from CoVid, other illnesses, and natural causes during these months.  In some cases there is no public funeral.  Some funerals are virtual.  

• In whatever way is safe for your family to do so, honor the passing from this life.
• Create cards for family of the deceased
• Visit cemeteries and pray
• Become involved in wreath laying or flag laying at cemeteries.  You can find groups that do this on Facebook.