Corporal Works of Mercy: Visit the Imprisioned, pt. 2

Corporal Works of Mercy – Visit the Imprisoned: part 2
Last week we saw an example of restorative justice vs. punitive justice and the beneficial effect it has on changing behavior and lifting up the human person, as well as the financial benefit to the state.This week I would like to look at others who may feel imprisoned.

In our society there are many people who are confined to their homes or to other institutions (like nursing facilities), these people face a sort of imprisonment as well.They need to be visited, to be loved, to have their value and dignity affirmed.In looking for ways to live out the corporal work of mercy of visiting the imprisoned we might:

Support legislation and candidates that seek to reform the individual
through proven reward/sanction systems.
Write your federal, state, and local leaders encouraging them to support
proven alternatives to incarceration.
If you know of someone, a friend, a friend of a friend, or a family member
that is in jail, write them.Remind them of their value, support them in
their time of need and encourage them; many people reflect on their lives
in times of trouble and are open to conversion if someone just reaches
out to them.
Visit the homebound and those in nursing homes and other facilities.
Pray for those who are imprisoned.
Forgive those that have wronged you.Forgiveness frees you and them.
Volunteer for one of the ministries that visit the homebound and bring them Communion.
- Fr. Rod Allers