Dear Participants,

Today, we will start meditating on the spiritual works of mercy. In the same way corporal works tend to the physical needs, spiritual works tend to the spiritual needs. The first spiritual work of mercy is to instruct the ignorant: that doesn't mean to give a lesson in manners to someone we consider rude, but rather relay the message of Christ to those who have not heard it, to lead people to God by sharing knowledge that they do not yet have. 

Today, we will focus on the following spiritual work of Mercy: to instruct the ignorant

From the Old Testament:

“Wisdom has built her house, she has set up her seven columns; She has prepared her meat, mixed her wine, yes, she has spread her table. She has sent out her maidservants; she calls from the heights out over the city: ‘Let whoever is naïve turn in here; to any who lack sense I say, come, eat of my food, and drink of the wine I have mixed! Forsake foolishness that you may live; advance in the way of understanding.’” Proverbs 9, 1-6

From the New Testament:

“When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.” Mark 6, 34

“What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon and touched with our hands concerns the Word of life – for the life was made visible; we have seen it and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was made visible to us – what we have seen and heard we proclaim now to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us.” 1 John 1, 1-3

From the Saints’ life:

John Henry Newman: Newman spent most of his life educating: he taught university students at Oxford and in Dublin, while deeply committed to academic excellence as well as provision of spiritual and pastoral care. “When the church founds a University, wrote Newman, she is not cherishing talents, genius or knowledge, for their own sake, but for the sake of her children, with a view to their spiritual welfare and their religious influence and usefulness, with the object of training them to fill their respective posts in life better, and of making them more intelligent, capable, active members of society.” Newman laid down the foundations of modern education: it is no more a matter of learning and absorbing knowledge, but it involves care for the person as well. While a teacher should undoubtedly consider academic standards, s/he should never forget the person: this is part of the immense legacy that left us John Newman, teacher of teachers.

John Paul II: John Paul II can be described in a multitude of ways: visionary, great leader, humble, able to connect with people of different cultures, alliances maker, hero… He was all that and way more. But today, let’s discover a less known facet of John Paul II educator, more specifically sex educator: in his “Theology of the Body”, where he addresses fundamental questions about us and our lives, including our sex lives, John Paul II changed the way the body in general and sex, in particular, were considered, shameful, or at best a necessary evil.  On the contrary, he emphasized the fact that our bodies were wonderfully made, and were designed by God for communion with him and with each other. The “Theology of the Body” is not a list of Do’s and Don’ts, but a profound reflection on the human person, with a focus on the theme of love as self-gift. It certainly counteracts the societal trend in which the body is viewed as an object of pleasure. John Paul II describes the body as a mean to love in the image of God, hence the need to respect the gift of our sexuality, and the need to live in a way that safeguards the dignity of the human being, every human being.

Josemaria Escriva: the founder of the Opus Dei believed in promoting education for people of all social conditions. Education’s purpose is to help people relate to God, the world, and the others. The Opus Dei, an apostolic institution within the Catholic Church, manages professional schools, agricultural training centers, universities, primary and secondary schools, as well as hospitals and clinics. They are open to people of all races, religions and social backgrounds. To the student, Father Escriva would say: “Study. Study in earnest. If you are to be salt and light, you need knowledge, ability. Or do you imagine that an idle and lazy life will entitle you to receive infused knowledge?” – And to the teacher: “Your keenness to know and practice the best method of helping your students to acquire earthly knowledge is undeniable. But don’t forget that you must have the keenness to know and practice the Christian spiritual life, which is the only method of helping them and you to be better.”