Before the Cross | Apart from God's mercy there is no other source of hope

Submitted on May 18, 2011

Archbishop Robert J. Carlson

Archbishop Robert J. Carlson gave the keynote talk May 9 at events opening the annual Senior Adult Week observed at Cardinal Ritter Senior Services. This year’s theme was “Living Today for a Better Tomorrow.” Cardinal Ritter, the largest agency of Catholic Charities of St. Louis, specializes in creative care for the elderly in St. Louis City and five surrounding counties. Its purpose is to improve the quality of life for older people through comprehensive social, health and senior services.

Rebecca Venegoni Tower

For the next three weeks, I will be writing about the seven corporal works of mercy: to feed the hungry and give drink to the thirsty, to clothe the naked and shelter the homeless, to visit the sick and imprisoned, and to bury the dead. These very practical expressions of Christian discipleship reveal the fundamental fact of God's love for us as it is manifested in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Before He ascended to His Father, the Lord instructed all who wish to follow Him to do as He did: To be merciful as God is merciful — not only in our attitudes but in our actions as well.