Hey there,
In the 1993 film Groundhog Day, cynical weatherman Phil Connors (Bill Murray) begrudgingly travels to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to cover the Groundhog Day festivities.
Stuck in town overnight due to a snow storm, Connors awakens the next morning to find he is reliving February 2nd over and over and over and over ..
At first Connors uses his time selfishly, stealing money and convincing women to sleep with him. When he realizes he may never get past Groundhog Day, he becomes depressed and suicidal.
Eventually, Connors decides to use his time to help others, like a poor homeless man. And a boy he saves from a bad fall. He performs the Heimlich maneuver on a choking victim, and fixes an old woman’s flat tire.
The arrogant and selfish man became a kind, considerate, and caring person who wanted to help others. And not only did the woman he loved take notice, he woke up the next day to find it was February 3rd … the beginning of his happily ever after.
I love Groundhog Day. It’s one of those movies I never get tired of watching. Fortunately, we don’t have to worry about getting caught in this kind of loop reliving the same day over and over.
But the story’s moral is a familiar one. Like what the Scriptures tell us about loving our neighbors. Like the Works of Mercy.
This week’s issue of Genuflect looks at the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy and the role they play in our salvation. We start with a refresher on the Works of Mercy and a great infographic, our obligation for practicing the works, how to live them, how to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet, why pray the chaplet, and finally, we spotlight a couple of forgotten and misunderstood Works of Mercy.
Life in quarantine may feel like Groundhog Day. Now more than ever our neighbors need our love, our help, and our prayers. And like Phil Connors, we’ll be working towards our happily ever … afterlife.
You all are in my prayers. Stay safe!
Keep Believing-
Katy Barrilleaux
Founding Editor, Genuflect
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Works of Mercy Refresher
Just as the Lord is merciful with us, He calls us to be merciful with others. The Scriptures provide us with the Works of Mercy as God’s blueprint for how to do this. Here’s a refresher on the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy.
The Richness of The Corporal And Spiritual Works of Mercy | Blessed is She
Works of Mercy Infographic
Here’s a downloadable Infographic of the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. Use it as a reminder for yourself and share it on social media to your friends and followers.
Infographic: The Corporal And Spiritual Works of Mercy | Catholic Link
Works of Mercy Obligation
Brother Andre Marie addresses the question of whether the Works of Mercy are obligatory to get to Heaven. Spoiler alert: the answer is yes. Here’s how we know.
Are The Works of Mercy Ever Obligatory? | Catholicism
Living The Works of Mercy
Busy days tend to take over and we forget about helping others. But the Works of Mercy are key to our salvation. Here are three ways to renew your devotion to living in God’s mercy.
Reconsidering Divine Mercy: Three Ways to Renew This Devotion | Catholic Mom
Practicing Spiritual Works of Mercy
When we face our final judgment, one of the biggest factors will be our love of our neighbor. So it’s important to understand how to apply the works of Mercy in our lives. Here are 7 ways.
7 Ways to Practice The Spiritual Works of Mercy | Catholic Exchange
The Divine Mercy Chaplet
Saint Faustina received the message of mercy from God to spread throughout the world. The result was the Divine Mercy Chaplet, which provides mercy at the hour of death. Here’s how to pray the chaplet with your rosary and how to pray it as a novena.
The Divine Mercy Chaplet | CatholiCity
No One Dies Alone
With the world quarantining and churches closed during the pandemic, some people are dying alone. Maria Cecilia Escobedo has created the No One Dies Alone movement to encourage people to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet for those who are dying. Her goal is to get 20 billion chaplets said in 2020. Here’s how to get involved.
This Woman Seeks to Have 20 Billion Divine Mercy Chaplets Prayed For The Dying in 2020 | Aleteia
Forgotten Corporal Work of Mercy
There are 7 Corporal Works of Mercy. This one is probably one of the most forgotten and misunderstood. But it’s also one of the easiest to do … if you really understand all that it entails.
Don’t Forget About This Corporal Work of Mercy | US Catholic
Mercy For The Incarcerated
Visiting the incarcerated is one of the Corporal Works of Mercy. Teresa Coda shares her unexpected experiences with getting to know an inmate. And a couple of other ways to practice this one without actually visiting a prison.
Charity, Justice, And Mass Incarceration: How Visiting The Imprisoned Changed Me | Busted Halo
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