THURSDAY, MAY 14

DAY 57 - SPIRITUAL WORKS OF MERCY

Yesterday we discussed Christ's imperative to serve the poor. Our lesson corresponded to this teaching and was about taking care of the physical needs of others. Today's lesson is about the need to take care of people spiritual's needs called the Spiritual Works of Mercy.

From Our Spiritual Director ✝

Thursday Reflection

Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle

Readings

Acts 1:15-17, 20-26Psalm 113:1-2,3-4,5-6,7-8John 15:9-17

Saint Matthias is unusual in the fact that he was not chosen as an Apostle by Christ, but by the other Apostles after the crucifixion of Christ but prior to the coming of The Holy Spirit. St. Matthias replaced Judas as a witness to the resurrection. Imagine being the one selected to replace the one who betrayed Christ!

Although we know little about Saint Matthias, we do know that he, along with Barsabbas accompanied the Apostles the entire time from the Baptism by John to the day He was taken up from them. Today, the Acts of the Apostles tells us that the eleven Apostles prayed about their selection and chose, through election, Matthias to become the replacement for Judas, who had gone his own way.

The selection of Matthias always makes me recall how the Church selects Deacons and Priests for ministry. They are men who have walked with the Church, selected among its sons for service to the greater body of the faithful. Let us pray for all those men among us called to serve the Church in the future. Remember, Matthias had to consent to be an Apostle. We all have to consent to serve as God calls us!


Peace,

Fr. John Kurgan

Final Trivia Quiz 💯

As this is our final week of the The Crown Retreat, this is our last trivia quiz which means there's more questions and more points on the line. Go ahead and test your knowledge. Check out the student leaderboard to see who is in the lead!

Final Weekly Challenge 🙌

Our final contest is "Sidewalk Chalk Challenge" Just for fun, we're challenging you to an outdoor art contest. Send in photos or videos of your sidewalk chalk creations! Use this form to send in your submission. We're moving the deadline Thursday, May 14th. All participants receive House Points and the winner gets extra points for their house!


*A Google account is required to submit. If you have trouble submitting through the form, just send an email to dan@holycrossdewitt.org. Thanks!

Elementary (Grades 1-4)

Pray

Find all the prayers here.

  • Mealtime Prayers & Night Time Prayers

  • 5 mins - Praying for Others


Learn

Watch the video below

The Main Points to Teach Your Child: Spiritual Works of Mercy

  • Counsel the Doubtful

  • Instruct the Ignorant

  • Admonish the Sinner

  • Comfort the Sorrowful

  • Forgive Injuries

  • Bear Wrongs Patiently

  • Pray for the living and the dead

The works of mercy are charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily necessities. Instructing, advising, consoling, comforting are spiritual works of mercy, as are forgiving and bearing wrongs patiently. The corporal works of mercy consist especially in feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned, and burying the dead. Among all these, giving alms to the poor is one of the chief witnesses to fraternal charity: it is also a work of justice pleasing to God - CCC 2447

  • Try to help your child recall the Corporal Works of Mercy from yesterday's lesson. How many do they remember?

  • Discuss with your child how you and your family live the Spiritual Works of Mercy in your daily lives.

  • Recall and share past examples of works you may have done.

  • Explain how service to those in need is an intrical part of living & following Jesus; the fulfillment of your soul.

“Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! - Matthew 7:7-11


A Note from Julie:

Dear Parents,

As the lessons of our CROWN RETREAT come to a close, I pray that your faith, courage, and confidence have been renewed, drawing you closer to Christ each day, compeling you to share your faith with your children without hesitation.

I leave you with this question, what do you desire most for your children?

God bless,

-Julie Sheridan


Additional Resources & Activities to do at Home

Video:

Resources


Middle School (Grades 5-8)

See Day 1 for a longer explanation of what to do in Pray & Learn

Pray

Find all the prayers here.

    • Basic Prayers

    • Ten Minutes of Silence

      • Intercessions

      • Thanksgiving

      • Reading the Bible

Learn

The Main Points that need to be learned or taught from this lesson

  • Explain The Spiritual Works of Mercy and how students can fulfill this command of Jesus:

  • Counsel the Doubtful

  • Instruct the Ignorant

  • Admonish the Sinner

  • Comfort the Sorrowful

  • Forgive Injuries

  • Bear Wrongs Patiently

  • Pray for the living and the dead.


Find a list of all these prayers here.

High School (Grades 9-12)

See Day 1 for a longer explanation of what to do in Pray & Learn

Pray



Find a list of all these prayers here.

Learn

Adults

Adults

See Day 1 for a longer explanation of what to do in Pray & Learn

Pray

  • Basic Prayers

    • A list of all these prayers are here.

For those new to prayer

  • First 10 mins - Talk to God

For those more experienced in prayer

Learn

Learn

Watch the faith formation resource video below to learn more about your faith.

“The greatest disease in the West today is not TB or leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for."


- Saint Mother Theresa