What were the Corporal works of mercy?

Butch Cassidy

Could someone please give me a short lesson on the Corporal works of mercy. I've done the wikipedia thing but it's a bit lacking. In what way if any did these actions influence or impact Irish society?

Onesimus

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10198d.htm

Onesimus

by the way, the title of your thread is a bid misleading, works of mercy are not a thing of the past so its rather ''what are the...." etc

Butch Cassidy

What is meant by "ransom the captive"

Onesimus

Butch Cassidy wrote: »

What is meant by "ransom the captive"

It means to set free those who are being held captive for any unjust reason.

Butch Cassidy

Onesimus wrote: »

It means to set free those who are being held captive for any unjust reason.

Thanks.

Is there any suggestion in them to "visit" the inprisoned or anything like that?

Onesimus

Butch Cassidy wrote: »

Thanks.

Is there any suggestion in them to "visit" the inprisoned or anything like that?

Yes ransom the captive falls into that category. I know I said for any unjust reason, but was told I'm wrong, whether they were justly or unjustly put there its still a work of mercy to visit them. Like Pope John Paul the II who visited the person who shot him.

Festus

Butch Cassidy wrote: »

In what way if any did these actions influence or impact Irish society?

• To feed the hungry;

existince of various charitable organisations, Simon is one that comes to mind

• To give drink to the thirsty;

see above, but don;t ask a barman for a freebie:)

• To clothe the naked;

see above and add St. Vincent de Paul. Note: not known for visiting massage parlours or strip clubs, sorry - Gentlemens clubs:D

• To harbour the harbourless;

intake of refugees, e.g Vietnamese boat people

• To visit the sick;

St. Vincent de Paul comes to mind again

• To ransom the captive;

NAMA? Bank bail outs perhaps.

• To bury the dead.

NAMA, eventually

apologies if anyone can't take a joke particularly regarding the last two.:rolleyes:

The reality is that Irish society is littered with charitable organisations and prominent individials with concerns for social justice - Fr McVerry is one who comes to mind not least regarding ransoming captives. Nor are all the organisations Catholic in origin or nature though many are and were born from Catholics knowledge of the works of mercy and a desire to follow in some small way in the footsteps of Christ, and this also applies to many of the non-Catholic charities.

The existence of these charities and supporters of the vulnerable and disenfranchised at home and abroad has knock effects throughout the wider community - when it comes to appeals and fund raisers the Irish are known for their generosity. The work of missionaries abroad, both lay and clerical. The work of the Irish military with the UN could also be included as being effected by the extent of the Irish concept of mercy workers.

The corporal works are essentially acts of selflessness and in that respect some major influences on Irish society steming from 1916 and the war of independence could also be attributed, though some may feel justified in disagreeing. The origins of the Northern Irish conflict wrt the Civil Rights movement equally especially the concept of Catholics being treated as second class citizens though I accept that the use of armed revolt should always be a measure of last resort.

One thing I have noticed over the years is that the Irish abroad are some of the most selfless people you can hope to meet and regardless of denomination, creed or colour this selflessness has its roots in our closet Samaritarianism.

Peace and mind the jump Butch;)

Butch Cassidy

Festus wrote: »

• To feed the hungry;

existince of various charitable organisations, Simon is one that comes to mind

• To give drink to the thirsty;

see above, but don;t ask a barman for a freebie:)

• To clothe the naked;

see above and add St. Vincent de Paul. Note: not known for visiting massage parlours or strip clubs, sorry - Gentlemens clubs:D

• To harbour the harbourless;

intake of refugees, e.g Vietnamese boat people

• To visit the sick;

St. Vincent de Paul comes to mind again

• To ransom the captive;

NAMA? Bank bail outs perhaps.

• To bury the dead.

NAMA, eventually

apologies if anyone can't take a joke particularly regarding the last two.:rolleyes:

The reality is that Irish society is littered with charitable organisations and prominent individials with concerns for social justice - Fr McVerry is one who comes to mind not least regarding ransoming captives. Nor are all the organisations Catholic in origin or nature though many are and were born from Catholics knowledge of the works of mercy and a desire to follow in some small way in the footsteps of Christ, and this also applies to many of the non-Catholic charities.

The existence of these charities and supporters of the vulnerable and disenfranchised at home and abroad has knock effects throughout the wider community - when it comes to appeals and fund raisers the Irish are known for their generosity. The work of missionaries abroad, both lay and clerical. The work of the Irish military with the UN could also be included as being effected by the extent of the Irish concept of mercy workers.

The corporal works are essentially acts of selflessness and in that respect some major influences on Irish society steming from 1916 and the war of independence could also be attributed, though some may feel justified in disagreeing. The origins of the Northern Irish conflict wrt the Civil Rights movement equally especially the concept of Catholics being treated as second class citizens though I accept that the use of armed revolt should always be a measure of last resort.

One thing I have noticed over the years is that the Irish abroad are some of the most selfless people you can hope to meet and regardless of denomination, creed or colour this selflessness has its roots in our closet Samaritarianism.

Peace and mind the jump Butch;)

Thanks for that.


I get the feeling that in general society in Ireland has moved away from selfless acts of kindness and compassion for fellow man/woman in a lurch towards individualism. Entrepreneurial capitalists are reverred and men like Peter McVerry are just kind of an after thought. Everything's now about what you can do for yourself and don't come looking to society or govt. for anything. Humility is bad, greed is good etc.

Much evidenced by the Minister for Justice's quip a few weeks ago about jails and multi-person cells - "Well, it is prison after all...". The insinuation being screw humanity and it doesn't matter how we treat the people we lock up.

Festus

Butch Cassidy wrote: »

Thanks for that.


I get the feeling that in general society in Ireland has moved away from selfless acts of kindness and compassion for fellow man/woman in a lurch towards individualism. Entrepreneurial capitalists are reverred and men like Peter McVerry are just kind of an after thought. Everything's now about what you can do for yourself and don't come looking to society or govt. for anything. Humility is bad, greed is good etc.

Much evidenced by the Minister for Justice's quip a few weeks ago about jails and multi-person cells - "Well, it is prison after all...". The insinuation being screw humanity and it doesn't matter how we treat the people we lock up.

Yes, this is the way Irish Society appears to be going and could be attributed to growing secularism within Catholicism and growing anti-Catholicism within the wider community that encompasses former Catholics and non-Catholics. We are becoming more like UK or US society neither of which are known for their love of the Catholic Church or its teachings.

Just as democracies tend to get the governements they deserve, secular societies tend to get the societies they deserve. If we become, as we have, greedy, then we will get a society that has a larger self serving element and we probably deserve that.

Butch Cassidy

More equal socities tend to have fewer social problems and indeed also a different attitude towards imprisonment and shorter sentencing.

Festus

what is an equal society?

Communism is based on all men being equal. However this does not prove your assertion.

is there an example in the modern world of an "equal" or "more equal" society that supports your assertion?

I would suggest that societies that have a deeper understanding of the truth of the Christian message should have fewer social problems. I would disagree that length of sentencing is an issue in any society if it is just and appropriate to the crime.
The Christian message does the concept of pardon and forgiveness however this is also tempered with knowledge of how likely the person is to re-offend.

Jesus may well have been a socialist but He did not make the case for political change - He made the case for internal change. He mad ethe case for society to become Christian of it's own free will.

I would therefore suggest that societies that understand the veracity of the Christian message are more likely to be socially just and to treat criminals more appropriately.

Butch Cassidy

You introduced the word Communism into this discusson, not me. That word along with the term "socialist" has been debased for so long that they have little meaning. I'm not making any case for any "-ism". I am referencing a body of study released last year in a book called "The Spirit Level: Why more equal societies almost always do better".

It examined a range of social issues and problems including prison sentencing and found that in more equal socities there is a less harsh attitude toward imprisonment - not so much "tear their torso with horse and chains" more towards rehabilitation. I use the word "society" because it analysed not just countries but also the individual states of America.

Equality in terms of income distribution.

Festus

You introduced equal societies. I suggested communism as an example of "equality" that does not in practice result in any benefit to the wider community or society. there was no intention to "bring it into the conversation as a topic of discussion, it was merely an example. I then asked you to qualify your concept of an equal society with one that appears to work.

You have not done that and now appear to support communism suggesting the term nas been debased and have now switched your thesis to one developed by an epidemiologist. However you still have not suggested a society based on equality that does what you want it do to.

I therefore reassert that societies that understand the veracity of the Christian message are more likely to be socially just and to treat criminals more appropriately. The fact remains that it is not Christian teaching that decides how criminals are treated or rehabillitated but civil society and governments, democratically elected or otherwise.