Works of Mercy

In The Works of Mercy: The Heart of Catholicism, Father James Keenan, S.J., reveals mercy as God's principle way of loving us and our way of loving one another. A masterful guide, Keenan invites us to journey with him through Scripture, tradition, and lived witness to better understand why and how mercy is the heart of Catholicism. Like other Christian traditions, Catholic moral theology is rooted in natural law, Scripture, the Ten Commandments, and ethical principles. But what distinguishes Catholicism is its emphasis on the virtue of mercy as the center of moral living. In the first two of three parts, Father Keenan explores modern applications of the corporal works of mercy—visiting the prisoner, sheltering the homeless, feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, visiting the sick, clothing the naked, burying the dead—and the spiritual works of mercy—reconciling, being vigilant for the spiritual needs of one's neighbor, and praying. Because we are called by God's mercy into the church, the third part of the book looks at the effective work of mercy in the prayer of the church, particularly in the Eucharist. Complete with meditations on September 11, 2001, and the priesthood in light of the scandals in the church, The Works of Mercy provides a bridge between the past and the present and is must reading for students, parish groups, and individual readers seeking to live their faith in the everyday world.

James F. Keenan, S.J., presently holds the Gasson Chair in the Theology Department at Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. His recent books with Sheed & Ward include Practice What You Preach, Virtues for Ordinary Christians, and Moral Wisdom.