“The works of the heart” – The fifth spiritual work of mercy

A brief meditation by Msgr. Paolo Giulietti, Archbishop of Lucca, on the fifth spiritual work of mercy, to live it concretely in everyday life.

«The Works of the Heart» is a booklet written by Msgr. Paolo Giulietti on the occasion of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy proclaimed in 2015, when he was still auxiliary bishop of Perugia and Città della Pieve.

Ten years have passed, but the reflections of the current Archbishop of Lucca regarding the works of mercy are still relevant today.

The intention is to re-read these brief meditations on the fourteen works and bring them into everyday life: what spazio + spadoni calls the «ReEvolution of the works of mercy».

Forgiving offenses

The evangelical commandment of forgiveness, which goes so far as to ask us to turn the other cheek and love our enemies, seems very distant from ordinary human sensibility. The increase in conflict at all social levels seems to point in the opposite direction: leaving no wrong unpunished or unavenged, at all costs.

Yet one must ask where revenge and violence ultimately lead; they often trigger feuds that are difficult to eradicate.

It is far more sensible to seek paths of reconciliation. Inevitable personal and social conflicts can be resolved positively only if there is a willingness to understand the other’s point of view and a desire not to damage relationships between conflicting parties. Isn’t it often said in the legal sphere, «better a bad settlement than a good judgment»?

We must recognize that only forgiveness allows us to escape the cycle of recurring evil and ignite virtuous spirals of good instead. Working to offer and receive reconciliation means introducing a powerful positive dynamic into personal and social life.

Image created digitally by spazio + spadoni

Source: Giulietti, P., The Works of the Heart