Liturgical year : St. Elizabeth of Hungary

Today is the Feast of St. Elizabeth of Hungary

After the early death of her husband (in 1227 while on a crusade led by Emperor Frederick II), Elizabeth laid aside all royal dignities in order to serve God more freely. She put on simple clothing, became a tertiary of St. Francis, and showed great patience and humility.

All her strength and care were now devoted to the poor and the sick, while she obtained the few things she needed by spinning. Young in years but rich in good works, she slept in the Lord in 1231, only twenty-four years old.

All her life she follow the word of God and practised Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy .

The Divine command is set forth in the most stringent terms by Christ, and the failure to comply with it is visited with the supreme penalty of eternal damnation (Matthew 25:41): "Then he shall say to them also that shall be on his left hand: Depart from me, you cursed, in everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry, and you gave me not to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me not to drink. I was a stranger, and you took me not in; naked, and you covered me not; sick and in prison, and you did not visit me",

Here it is true there is mention directly and explicitly of only the corporal works of mercy.

May we all of us follow Saint Elisabeth of Hungary example and all our acts shall be true Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy :

Corporal works of mercy are as follows:
*To feed the hungry;
*To give drink to the thirsty;
*To clothe the naked;
*To harbour the harbourless;
*To visit the sick;
*To ransom the captive;
*To bury the dead.

The Spiritual works of mercy are:
*To instruct the ignorant
*To counsel the doubtful
*To admonish sinners
*To bear wrongs patiently
*To forgive offences willingly
*To comfort the afflicted
*To pray for the living and the dead

God bless you all !