May 17 Wed
“Mercy [misericordia] is more than simply being compassionate. Mercy is the overflow of charity, which brings with it also an overflow of justice. Mercy means keeping one's heart totally alive, with a love that is strong, self-sacrificing and generous.”

Together with our care and concern for material things, we also need to be constant in performing what are referred to as the spiritual works of mercy.

In the first place, we should correct those who stray, doing so in the right way, full of charity, without being annoying or offensive.
We should instruct the ignorant by teaching them doctrine and enlightening their minds with our Lord's light.
We should counsel those in doubt, by giving them honest, impartial advice.
We should console the afflicted, sharing their sorrow.
We should forgive those who offend us: by excusing them, understanding them, and being generous.
And we should help those in need, going to great lengths to serve others.
Finally, we should pray for the living and the dead, with a charitable heart, because your charity has to be far-reaching, universal.

St Josemaría would say: “Practice this spirit yourselves, and instill it in others. Let it be seen in every aspect of your lives: in the way you pay attention to your colleagues when they share their problems with you; in the silent help you give, perhaps without even being noticed, when someone is unable to cope with all the things he has to do; or in the sincere advice you give to a colleague to help him work better.”