Every work of mercy
And first, with regard to works of mercy. Take heed, he says, that you do not do your alms before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. You do not do your alms. Although this only is named, yet every work of charity is included, everything which we give, or speak, or do, whereby our neighbor may be profited, whereby another person may receive any advantage, either in body or in soul. Feeding the hungry, clothing the naked (Matthew 25:35), entertaining or assisting the stranger, visiting those who are sick or in prison, comforting the afflicted, instructing the ignorant, reproving the wicked, exhorting and encouraging the one who does well, and if there is any other work of mercy, it is equally included in this direction.
1771 text
I. 1. And first, with regard to works of mercy. Take heed, saith he, that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them. Otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. That ye do not your alms. Altho’ this only is named, yet is every work of charity included, every thing which we give, or speak, or do, whereby our neighbour may be profited, whereby another man may receive any advantage, either in his body or soul. The feeding the hungry, the cloathing the naked, and entertaining or assisting the stranger, the visiting those that are sick or in prison, the comforting the afflicted; the instructing the ignorant, the reproving the wicked, the exhorting and encouraging the well-doer; and if there be any other work of mercy, it is equally included in this direction.