Almsdeeds

An alms is “something given to the needy, out of compassion, and for the sake of God.” Almsdeeds are works of compassion or mercy; mercy itself is suffused with charity; hence,almsgiving can be called an act of charity.

The different almsdeeds are well enumerated as corporal alms and spiritual alms. These are commonly called the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. The corporal works of mercy are seven: (a) to feed the hungry; (b)to give drink to the thirsty; (c) to clothe the naked; (d) to harbor the harborless; (e) to visit the sick; (f) to ransom the captive; (g) to bury the dead. The spiritual works of mercy are also seven: (a) to instruct the ignorant; (b) to counsel the doubtful; (c) to comfort the sorrowing; (d) to reprove sinners; (e)to forgive injuries; (f) to bear wrongs patiently; (g) to pray forthe living and the dead.

By their nature, spiritual almsdeeds are more excellent than corporal almsdeeds. Yet in particular cases, the corporal deeds may be of greater value. It is, for instance, more valuable to feed a hungry man than to instruct him.

Corporal almsdeeds may have a spiritual effect; they may, for example, lead a man to pray for his benefactor.

Almsgiving is a matter of precept; it is involved inthe precept of loving one’s neighbor. We are therefore obliged to give alms out of what we possess as surplus, that is, out of goods remaining to us after we have taken care of our own needs andthe needs of those who are under our charge. The precept ofalmsgiving binds us to help those who are in need. We cannot help all who are in need, of course, but we can, and must, help those needy persons whose need would not be relieved unless we relieved it. Thus the precept of almsgiving binds when two conditions are fulfilled: (a) our having available means; and (b) a case of need dependent on us for relief. In other cases, in which these two conditions are not both fulfilled, almsgiving is not of precept,but of counsel.

A man may sometimes sacrifice what is commonly considered necessary to his position, so that he can relieve the needy. So long as he does not act inordinately, or do an injustice to others (such as wife, children, dependent parents), such a sacrifice is noble, and may even be heroic. Ordinarily, however,there is no obligation on a person to make such a sacrifice.

Alms are to be given out of the donor’s own property. To use the surplus of a rich neighbor to relieve the needy, is to be guilty of theft. The goods of others are not ours to dispose of without their direction or permission.

Therefore, a person who is under the direction or rule of another as to the disposal of goods, must have that other’s permission before he bestows alms.

The claims of those more closely united to us are to be considered in giving alms, when otherwise the conditions among claimants are fairly equal.

We are to give alms according to the means available. Scripture says (Tob. 4:9): “If thou have much, giveabundantly: if thou have little, take care … willingly tobestow a little.” And the abundance of our almsgiving should rather appear in the relief of many needy persons or causes than inan oversupply bestowed on one.