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As Catholic parents, nurturing compassion, forgiveness, and understanding in our children is part of our spiritual journey. The Spiritual Works of Mercy provide a beautiful guide for fostering these virtues, helping children learn to care for others in both practical and heartfelt ways. This set of works – counseling the doubtful, instructing the ignorant, admonishing the sinner, comforting the sorrowful, forgiving injuries, bearing wrongs patiently, and praying for the living and the dead – aligns closely with Jesus’ message of love and mercy.
To make these concepts more accessible, I’ve created a free printable activity guide filled with simple ideas for each Spiritual Work of Mercy that young children can practice with family support.
Simple Ways to Practice the Spiritual Works of Mercy
Here are some hands-on activities to help children understand each Spiritual Work of Mercy. Through these small acts, they’ll learn the importance of love, empathy, and kindness in everyday life.
Counsel the Doubtful
Teaching children to offer encouragement to others helps build their empathy. Activities include:
- Talking with a friend who feels unsure or scared, offering words of comfort.
- Making a “cheer-up card” for someone feeling down.
- Practicing with your child to offer comforting words when others face challenges.
Instruct the Ignorant
Children are natural teachers, and showing them ways to gently share what they know is a gift. They can:
- Help a younger sibling or friend learn something new, like tying their shoes.
- Make a “how-to” drawing to teach a family member about their favorite hobby or skill.
- Role-play situations where they explain something patiently to others.
Admonish the Sinner
Gently correcting others can be sensitive, but young children can learn ways to stand up for what’s right kindly. Encourage them to:
- Share with siblings or friends about the importance of honesty, kindness, or sharing.
- Recognize when they make mistakes and practice asking for forgiveness.
- Pray together for the strength to do what’s right and the courage to help others make good choices.
Comfort the Sorrowful
Children are often very sensitive to the feelings of others. To help them offer comfort, try these ideas:
- Create a “comfort bag” with small items (tissues, a drawing, a prayer) to give to someone feeling sad.
- Spend time with a friend who may be lonely, reading or playing a quiet game together.
- Draw or write an uplifting note to a friend or family member experiencing sadness.
Forgive Injuries
Forgiveness can be challenging, but children can learn to forgive others in small ways:
- Practice saying, “I forgive you” and “I’m sorry” during family playtime.
- Make a “forgiveness heart” where each family member adds a note about forgiving others.
- Read stories about forgiveness and discuss why forgiving others is important.
Bear Wrongs Patiently
Patience is a lifelong skill, and kids can learn to be patient even when things don’t go their way. Encourage them to:
- Take turns during family games without frustration.
- Practice waiting patiently for something they want (a treat, a toy) with calmness.
- Share moments when they felt disappointed but chose patience.
Pray for the Living and the Dead
Praying as a family is a powerful way to teach children compassion and remembrance. Try these activities:
- Create a family prayer jar where each family member adds the name of someone they want to pray for.
- Make a prayer card for someone who has passed away, lighting a candle in their memory.
- Set a special time for daily or weekly prayer, where you lift up both family and friends.
Free Printable Guide
I’ve created a printable activity guide for families to explore the Spiritual Works of Mercy together. Each activity is designed to help children understand these beautiful teachings, learn how to apply them, and reflect on the power of kindness, love, and forgiveness. This guide is ideal for young children and includes activities that are simple to do at home or in your community.
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Incorporating the Spiritual Works of Mercy into family life helps children see how their faith can be lived out in every action, no matter how small. Through these activities, you’ll help them grow in love for others and in their understanding of God’s endless mercy.