A famous New York mayor made this question his trademark… “How am I doing?” It is also the Vincentian Question as we draw near to the end of the Year of Mercy.

November 20, 2016 will mark the formal end of the Jubilee Year of Mercy.

Pope Francis began the year with this prayer…

It is my burning desire that, during this Jubilee, the Christian people may reflect on the Corporal Works of Mercy. It will be a way to reawaken our conscience, too often grown dull in the face of poverty. And let us enter more deeply into the heart of the Gospel where the poor have a special experience of God’s mercy. Jesus introduces us to these works of mercy in his preaching so that we can know whether or not we are living as his disciples. Let us rediscover these Corporal Works of Mercy: to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, welcome the stranger, heal the sick, visit the imprisoned and bury the dead.”

At this juncture it is not too late…or too early…to ask ourselves this question. “How am I doing?”

How have I shown others the mercy of God?

This is actually the Vincentian question. Rule 11 of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul speaks to all who walk in the way of Vincent and Louise.

Vincentians are sincerely concerned with the deeper needs and the spiritual well-being of those they help, always observing a profound respect for their conscience and the faith they believe in, listening and understanding with their hearts, beyond both words and appearances.”

We say that God is compassionate, but we ignore the poor.

We say that God loves us and has mercy on us, but we hold grudges against our friends.

Our actions need to authentically reflect God’s mercy. Have we walked the talk?

The United States Bishops have offered some very practical suggestions about how we can look at our lives. It is not to late… or too early… to review.

Corporal Works of Mercy

And then there are the Spiritual Works of Mercy.

Learn more about the Spiritual Works of Mercy and how you can live them in your daily life.

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