The Works of Mercy

In this issue of Catholic Update, author Fr. James Keenan discusses the works of mercy, both corporal and spiritual, that define us as Catholics. He writes, ""Indeed, like the Good Samaritan stopping for wounded Adam, attending to someone in need is no simple affair. It means entering into the entire 'problem' or 'chaos' of that person's particular situation. In fact, that's how I would define mercy: the willingness to enter into the chaos of others. Fr. Keenan attributes the rapid growth of Christianity to this particular quality of mercy, defined as ""unearned help or relief,"" in the crowded, dark, plague-infested urban centers of earlier times. He writes, ""It is through the practice of these spiritual and corporal works of mercy that we concretely practice our Christian faith…. Perhaps more than anything else, it's what uniquely defines us as Catholics: It's our legacy."" Father James F. Keenan, S.J. is Founders Professor in Theology at Boston College. His recent books include The Works of Mercy: The Heart of Catholicism, second edition, 2007; Moral Wisdom: Lessons and Texts From the Catholic Tradition, second edition, 2009; A History of Catholic Moral Theology in the Twentieth Century: From Confessing Sins to Liberating Consciences, 2009; and Ethics of the Word: Voices in the Catholic Church Today.