“Acts of mercy” refers to compassionate actions or deeds aimed at alleviating the suffering or distress of others. These acts are often associated with kindness, empathy, and a desire to help those in need.
Acts of mercy can take various forms.
MERCY is filling the hearts and homes of humanity.
I have witness an overwhelming acts of mercy towards humanity. The beautiful of the message of mercy is that Mercy is NOW and never too late even at the gates of death, God still showers one with mercy.
Here are some examples of acts of mercy:
Feeding the Hungry: Providing food to those who are hungry, whether through donations to food banks, volunteering at soup kitchens, or simply sharing a meal with someone in need.
Clothing the Needy: Donating clothing to those without adequate attire, especially during cold or inclement weather.
Sheltering the Homeless: Offering shelter or accommodations to individuals experiencing homelessness, whether through charitable organizations or personal outreach.
Visiting the Sick: Spending time with and providing comfort to individuals who are ill or hospitalized.
Caring for the Elderly: Assisting elderly individuals with daily tasks, providing companionship, or running errands for them.
Supporting Orphans and Vulnerable Children: Providing care, education, and support to children who have lost their parents or are in vulnerable situations.
Forgiving Offenses: Showing forgiveness and understanding to those who have wronged you or others.
Praying for Others: Offering prayers for the well-being of others, even those you may not personally know.
Visiting Prisoners: Providing emotional support, mentoring, or educational opportunities to individuals who are incarcerated.
Promoting Peace and Reconciliation: Working towards resolving conflicts and promoting harmony in communities or between individuals.
Providing Financial Assistance: Offering financial help or loans to those facing financial hardships.
Offering a Listening Ear: Being there to listen and provide emotional support to someone going through a difficult time.
Volunteering: Donating your time and skills to charitable organizations and causes that serve the less fortunate.
Rescuing and Caring for Animals: Helping and providing shelter to abandoned or mistreated animals.
Educating and Empowering Others: Sharing knowledge and skills to empower individuals and communities to improve their circumstances.
We are all called to embrace acts of mercy to the best of our abilities. While some may not have the means to perform physical acts of mercy, every individual can engage in spiritual acts of compassion. Many of us, however, have the opportunity to combine both physical and spiritual acts of mercy.
Before I share how one can incorporate acts of mercy into their daily lives using their shoes, I’d like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Marian Fathers. They have been a cornerstone of mercy for my family, myself, and for the world.
he Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception hold a special place of strength and mercy in my life. They were instrumental in preserving the English translation of the Diary of St. Faustina, playing a pivotal role in her canonization as a saint.
Their name is deeply intertwined with my own journey. I was married on the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and my encounters with the Doors of Mercy and a profound connection with St. Faustina have inspired me to actively support the Marian Fathers in their mission of spreading the message of Mercy, including initiatives like Marc with Hope and Mercy Runs on Love.
The story of the Marian Fathers is a testament to the boundless love and mercy of God. For instance, Father Seraphim Michalenko, who passed away this past February, stands as a remarkable figure. He was a globally recognized expert on St. Faustina’s life and spirituality. In the 1970s, he courageously smuggled photographic images of the pages of St. Faustina’s Diary out of Communist-occupied Poland. His dedication extended to meticulously documenting the miracles leading to her beatification and canonization.
His life was an act of mercy, he would point to Luke 6:36; ” Be merciful as your heavenly Father is merciful” and explain not jus with words but with his life:
“So if you want to be holy as God is holy and perfect as God is perfect, we have to be merciful as God is merciful,” he would explain. “And how is that? That great convert and writer Gilbert Keith Chesterton defined mercy as ‘loving the unlovable and pardoning the unpardonable,'” something that is possible for us only by the grace of God.
Read more on Fr. Seraphin of the Marian Fathers.
Many of you may be familiar with my personal Door of Mercy story, which the Marian Fathers graciously featured in their April newsletter — you can read it here.
I was deeply touched and humbled by their decision to spotlight my journey and the work we do at Catholic Fit Moms for Life, which is now Catholic Wellness Mom.
In light of their kindness and the incredible work they’re undertaking, not only in disseminating the message of Mercy but also in embodying acts of mercy, I feel compelled to express my gratitude and extend my support. I believe it’s our privilege to reciprocate the generosity they’ve shown and stand alongside them in their mission.
Before we delve into how we can use our shoes for acts of Mercy, I must share something rather disturbing.
I want to give a fair warning that reading further about the story of the ‘Satan Shoes’ may be unsettling and disrupt your peace, much as it did for me. (If you’re curious, you can read more about it here, but please be prepared for the disturbing content.)
In brief, the rapper Lil Nas X has created a pair of shoes dubbed the ‘Satan Shoes,’ which reportedly contain human blood and are being sold for an extravagant price of $1,018. It’s disheartening to consider how much good could be accomplished with the cost of just one of these shoes.
I emphasize again the potential distress that can arise from exploring this story. I couldn’t help but wonder, how can we respond to such a situation? Can we make a difference merely through online expressions or by spreading awareness on social media, or is there something more we can do?
Then, I was reminded of the message of Mercy that we hold dear. We firmly believe that Mercy is for everyone, including someone like Rapper Lil Nas X.
The essence of ‘Mercy Runs on Love’ is simple: select a physical activity you’ve been wanting to accomplish, be it a 5k, half-marathon, full marathon, or any other goal. Then, choose a ministry or individual embodying the spirit of Acts of Mercy and dedicate your efforts to them. As you train and participate in the event, pray for their cause, raise awareness for their mission, and allow their inspiration to guide you through the journey.
In this way, you not only achieve your personal fitness goal but also complete an act of mercy, spreading kindness and support to those in need.
Now, let’s lace up our ‘shoes of mercy’ and ‘shoes of love’ to counteract the darkness associated with the ‘shoes of Satan.’ With each step we take, may we radiate God’s boundless, merciful love.
I’ve chosen ‘Mercy Runs on Love’ as a dedicated effort for the Holy Souls, whose suffering transcends any earthly trial. During the rigorous training for the full marathon, my focus shifts from my own discomfort to their profound pain. This journey serves as a reminder that they often go unnoticed and forgotten.
Through my prayers, joys, and even sufferings, I aim to shed light on their plight, offering them solace in their suffering. With God’s mercy as our guide, my hope is to lead them into the loving embrace of Our Lord, bringing them eternal peace.
I ask that if you can kindly leave me the names of your departed friends and families member so that I can pray for them by name.
Feel free to incorporate our straightforward logo into your event and provide us with the link. This way, we can include it in this blog post and share it across all our social media channels, helping to amplify your impact.
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I love Divine Mercy, what a great idea! Here’s me favorite quote from the book:
“ Some day, we will know the value of suffering, but then we will no longer be able to suffer.”