40 Tiny Acts of Mercy for Lent (One Per Day)

Lent isn’t only about what we give up. It’s also about what we give out. At its heart, Lent is a season of returning to God — and one of the clearest ways we return is through mercy. Mercy isn’t abstract. It’s practical, quiet, sometimes hidden, and often inconvenient (which is precisely why it changes us).

Many of us hear words like almsgiving and imagine we need spare time, spare money, spare energy. But the truth is: mercy can be tiny, and still be real. This Lent list is built around that idea.

One small act per day. Nothing dramatic. Nothing performative. Just gentle, faithful goodness — offered to God. You can do these in any order. You can repeat the easiest ones. You can miss days and begin again. That, too, is part of Lent.

What Counts as Mercy?

Mercy comes in different forms. Traditionally, the Church speaks of Corporal Works of Mercy (practical kindness) and Spiritual Works of Mercy (heart-level and soul-level kindness). So this list includes:

• acts of kindness

• acts of patience

• acts of prayer

• acts of restraint (especially online)

• acts of generosity, even in small amounts

And, importantly, a few acts of mercy toward yourself — because self-hatred is not holiness, and burnout does not glorify God.

How to Use This Lent Mercy Challenge

Here are three simple approaches — choose what actually works for you:

1. One per day (classic 40-day rhythm)

2. One per weekday (more realistic for busy households)

3. One per week (choose 7 from the list and commit)

A lovely practice is to pray just one line before you do your chosen act: “Lord, let this be love.”

40 Tiny Acts of Mercy for Lent

Week 1: Gentle Beginnings (Days 1–7)

Start small. Let mercy become a habit.

1. Send one encouraging message to someone you know is struggling.

2. Let someone merge in traffic / in a queue without irritation.

3. Pray a decade of the rosary for a person you find difficult.

4. Tip a little extra (even 50p/£1 counts).

5. Put your phone down during a conversation — fully present.

6. Compliment someone sincerely (not about appearance — about character).

7. Forgive one small annoyance without bringing it up.

Week 2: Mercy in the Home (Days 8–14)

This is where Lent becomes real — because home is where we’re least filtered.

8. Do a chore you weren’t asked to do.

9. Replace one sharp remark with silence.

10. Make someone a cup of tea/coffee — and bring it to them.

11. Put away someone else’s clutter without resentment.

12. Listen without interrupting or trying to fix.

13. Leave a kind note (or text) to someone you live with.

14. Apologise quickly — even if you feel justified.

Week 3: Mercy with Time (Days 15–21)

Time is one of the most precious forms of charity.

15. Give someone 10 minutes of undivided attention.

16. Check in on an older relative or neighbour.

17. Pray for the person who last irritated you.

18. Offer to help someone with a small task.

19. Cook a simple meal for someone (or drop something off).

20. Write a short thank-you message to someone who serves others.

21. Let someone else choose (restaurant, film, music) without pushing your preference.

Week 4: Mercy with Money (Days 22–28)

This isn’t about being wealthy — it’s about being open-handed.

22. Donate to a food bank (one item is fine).

23. Leave change where someone can find it (quiet kindness).

24. Sponsor something small (a local cause, a community fundraiser).

25. Buy a hot drink for someone (or contribute to a “suspended coffee” scheme).

26. Put aside a small “mercy fund” (even £5) to give away later.

27. Support a small maker / local craftsperson.

28. Give something away you could easily sell (generosity over profit).

Week 5: Mercy of Speech (Days 29–34)

Words can bless or bruise. Lent is a great time to discipline the tongue.

29. Don’t gossip — change the subject gently.

30. Speak well of someone when they’re not present.

31. Say “thank you” to someone you usually overlook.

32. Ask forgiveness for a harsh word you’ve used before.

33. Give someone the benefit of the doubt.

34. Don’t correct someone unless it truly matters.

Week 6: Mercy Online (Days 35–38)

This is one of the biggest battlegrounds of modern Lent.

35. Don’t reply to bait — choose peace.

36. Share something hopeful (instead of outrage).

37. Unfollow an account that fuels anger or envy.

38. Pray before you post.

Week 7: Holy Week Mercy (Days 39–40)

These are simple, reverent acts — quiet companionship with Christ.

39. Read the Passion slowly (one chapter) and sit in silence for five minutes.

40. Offer one hidden act of kindness that no one will ever know about.

That final one is a particularly pure kind of mercy.

A Simple Mercy Prayer for Lent

Here’s a short prayer you can repeat each day:

Lord Jesus,

make my heart soft.

Make my hands generous.

Make my words gentle.

Teach me mercy —

not as a performance,

but as love.

Amen.

Closing Thought: Mercy Is the Point

If you do nothing else this Lent — do mercy. Not perfectly. Not impressively. Not for show. But in small faithful ways, day after day. That is how the heart changes. That is how holiness grows. That is how Lent becomes real.