To instruct the ignorant;

To Councel the doubtful;

To admonish sinners;

To bear wrongs patiently;

To forgive offences willingly;

To comfort the afflicted;

To pray for the living and the dead

Spiritual works of Mercy

The corporal works of Mercy

To feed the hungry;

To give drink to the thirsty;

To clothe the naked;

To harbour the harbourless;

To visit the sick;

To ransom the captive;

To bury the dead;

Resources for your Lenten Journey

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"Repent and believe in the Gospel". On Ash Wednesday, these words were uttered to you as a black, ashen cross was marked on your forehead.  We are called to conversion; to turn away from sinfulness in our lives and turn toward Christ.

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Our primary focus, of course, should be on Christ, not so much on our sins. But it is necessary to acknowledge our sins and confront them in the presence of Christ for him to have a chance to help us.  Otherwise, they will continue to rob us of our true happiness.  We are not alone, nor is this work ours alone.  Jesus helps us and the prayers of our community of faith .

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Pope Francis' theme for the season of Lent is, for the universal church: discovering "The Face of Mercy".

Prayer

Without prayer, fasting and almsgiving are merely actions we do out of tradition without much meaning. Prayer is our conversation with God where we find the strength to fast. It is through prayer that we develop a closer, more intimate relationship with God. This relationship makes us so grateful for the blessings he has bestowed upon us, that we eagerly give to those less fortunate than us. The Church, in its wisdom, understands that prayer is essential to any action we Christians may undertake

Fasting

Fasting is one of the most ancient actions linked to Lent. Fasting guidelines have changed through the ages, but throughout Church history fasting has been considered sacred. The prophet Isaiah insists that fasting without changing our behavior is not pleasing to God. Therefore, the goal of fasting is linked with prayer. The pangs of hunger remind us of our hunger for God, and prayer and fasting together brings us to what Lent is about - a deeper conversion.

Almsgiving

Almsgiving is simply a response by us to God, a response that we have come to through prayer and fasting. It is an expression of our gratitude for all that God has given us, and a realization that in the Body of Christ, it is never just "me and God." Through prayer and fasting we come to a deeper understanding that the needs of all are the responsibility of all in the Body of Christ. Works of charity and the promotion of justice are integral elements of the Christian way of life we began when we were baptized.