Temptations that incite us toward evil originate from our fallen nature, our fallen world, and the devil. As a necessary consequence of free will, they have the potential to cause spiritual death by inviting us to sin. Trials, on the other hand, can lead us to spiritual life by strengthening our faith and virtue. When we turn lovingly toward God, He provides us with sufficient grace to endure all of our struggles.
The new year provides us with an opportunity to reflect on our past and envision how we would like to shape our future. When we rely only upon ourselves for improvement, we overlook the one thing that guides us toward true contentment and success. That, of course, is turning toward God to elevate our good works into great works.
The corporal works of mercy are seven charitable deeds that address the physical needs of our neighbors and allow us to express our compassion for the marginalized through concrete actions. When we perform the corporal works of mercy, we are transformed into instruments of God’s grace by bringing comfort, healing, hope, and love to those in need.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy” (Matthew 5:7). Pope Francis explains that “divine mercy shines forth in our lives, inspiring each of us to love our neighbor and to devote ourselves to what the Church’s tradition calls the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.” This month, we will explore the seven spiritual works of mercy that address the needs of our neighbor’s mind, heart, and soul.
Gratitude is our way to demonstrate thankful appreciation for everything in our lives. Adopting an attitude of gratitude promotes happiness and wellbeing. Simply put, we cannot be hateful if we are grateful.
In the spiritual battle of good versus evil, virtue is our armor to guard against the temptation of vice. Virtues are rooted in the healthy habits that allow us to readily discern and freely seek that which is good. While virtuous habits promote our disposition of love, habits of vice demonstrate our failure to love.
The seven deadly sins are fundamental vices that threaten spiritual death by engendering our actual sins. This month, we will explore these red flags as unhealthy habits that separate us from God.
