Tag: Almsgiving
Lent, ‘the least of these’ and our parents
Lent is marked by prayer and fasting, but also “almsgiving,” or works of mercy. Regarding this final category, Christ’s words in Matthew 25:40 are a clear foundation: “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.”
A real Lent
Liturgically, Lent is a season. Spiritually, some call it a way of life. Whether an inner journey or an in-house parish pilgrimage, however we move through Lent — through prayer, fasting, almsgiving, works of mercy and penance — all are a means to bring us to the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ. This is a real Lent.
Almsgiving: An overshadowed Lenten pillar has something to say
When it comes to the three pillars of Lent, almsgiving is a little bit like the middle child, not always getting the attention that prayer and fasting do.
Lent a time for self-giving, rather than ‘giving up’
many Catholics continue to think of Lent as a time of giving up something that is appealing to them so they are able to think about the sacrifices Jesus made on our behalf. This, however, fulfills an expectation of the season from the faith perspective of a child, rather than an adult.
This year’s Lent could be just what struggling needs
When Lent begins March 6, U.S. Catholics will likely be more than ready for it.
The purpose of fasting
If the sum total of my Lenten experience is giving up some treat, where is the conversion? Where is the deepening of my relationship with Jesus Christ?
Lent is time to become aware of false prophets, cold hearts, pope says
Catholics should use the season of Lent to look for signs and symptoms of being under the spell of false prophets and of living with cold, selfish and hateful hearts, Pope Francis said.
Poverty has a name
The story went something like this: A group of MBAs from a prestigious university (that shall remain unnamed) determined that through applying their business acumen they could make Mother Teresa and her Missionaries of Charity more effective. They traveled to Kolkata, India, requested a meeting and were received by the saint herself. They pulled out their flow charts and spreadsheets filled with graphs and data, and she sat listening, quietly, politely.
Don’t worry how it’s spent, always give homeless a handout, pope says
People who don’t give money to the homeless because they think it will be spent on alcohol and not food should ask themselves what guilty pleasures they are secretly spending money on, Pope Francis said.
What should I do for Lent?
Q. Lent is right around the corner, and I never seem to know what to do for the season. I’ve tried giving things up, but it always seems a bit hollow. What should I do?
Lent: almsgiving, fasting and prayer
A three-part series on the three basic pillars of Lent: almsgiving, fasting and prayer. In honor of the Year of Consecrated Life, each feature will include members of religious communities who are deeply living out these spiritual practices all year long.
Lenten practices opportunities for fuller life in Christ
God is indeed asking us to die to self and to resist temptation, but the reason behind these actions is to clear out more space in our hearts for him and for his grace. Our prayer, fasting and almsgiving are not ends in themselves. They are not ways to prove our strengths or increase our skills, but rather opportunities to become more fully alive in Christ, more able to reveal his love to the people around us.
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