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March 21, 2025During Lent, we are asked to focus more intently on "almsgiving," which includes donating money or goods to the poor and performing other acts of charity. As one of the three pillars of Lenten practice, almsgiving is “a witness to fraternal charity” and “a work of justice pleasing to God.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2462). Any material favor done to assist the needy, and prompted by charity, is almsgiving.
The sacred Scripture emphasizes the necessity of contributing towards the welfare of the needy. The early Christians fully realized the importance of this obligation. The Fathers of the Church frequently and unequivocally taught the necessity of almsgiving. St. Cyprian of Carthage devoted a complete treatise On Works and Alms. He writes that “everyone who is instructed into the hope of the heavenly kingdom is commanded to give alms.” Building on Tobit 12:8-9, St. Cyprian adds that “our prayers and fastings are of less avail, unless they are aided by almsgiving… our petitions become efficacious by almsgiving… life is redeemed from dangers by almsgiving…souls are delivered from death by almsgiving.” (Treatise 8) Almsgiving also ends to guard society against turbulent passions whose fury is often checked by almsgiving.
The Scriptures teach that “almsgiving should be discreet, so as to reach deserving individuals or families (2 Thessalonians 3:10; Sirach 12:4); prompt, so as to warrant opportuneness (Proverbs 3:28); secret and humble (Matthew 6:2); cheerful (2 Corinthians 9:7); abundant (Tobit 4:9).” We can practice almsgiving by our gift of talent, time, and treasure to the Church, our communities and families.
There are several special opportunities for almsgiving through donations to Church ministries for which collections are conducted during the Lenten season including:
- Collection for the Church in Central and Eastern Europe
- National Black and Indian Mission Collection
- Catholic Relief Services Collection
- Collection for the Holy Land
- CRS Rice Bowl
Fr. Robain