In the prolonged spiritual and penitential season now calling to Christians, the from-antiquity practice of alms-giving—by tradition and teaching, with prayer and fasting, one of the three “pillars” that define Lenten worship—wins the Bronze. As an actual thing, a duty, it seems at best an afterthought to many pew-sitters, trained to channel their giving through envelopes and collection baskets, and maybe even a confusing topic (just what are “alms”?). Grabbing more attention and actual penitential activity are other practices of these 40 days and nights: Occasional fasting (albeit for Orthodox, done through Lent’s entirety), abstinence (Fridays, which from youth meant fish sticks for dinner), increased prayer (and those with a more intense connection to the season, such as the Stations of the Cross), church attendance beyond what is obligatory (particularly during Holy Week), outward signs (ashes and palms), sacrifice (more commonly known as things “given up”—swearing, candy, booze, smoking, TV, and now, social media), maybe even Confession (Oh my, it’s been a year), and when needed MAYDAY angling for dispensations (the crisis of then what’s gonna happen to the corned beef when Saint Patrick’s Day falls on a Friday?!).
The religious reality of and obligation to render alms may be a matter more heightened and discussed from pulpits in other mansions in My Father’s House, but the experience of this practicing (poorly!) Catholic is that worshippers are less attuned to the need to give them.
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