On Almsgiving

(St. Thomas, q. 32.)

Eleemosyna in Greek is the same as misericordia in Latin; in common usage, however, mercy is taken for the virtue or habit, and alms for the act: It can be defined¹⁷¹ as « the work by which something is given to one in need out of compassion, on account of God. » In which definition alms is not taken, as it often is, for the thing given, but for the act of giving. It is said, « on account of God, » because here we are dealing with Christian almsgiving, as distinguished from philosophical almsgiving, which is done by a pagan or anyone else without order to God. ¹⁷¹ Hic q. 32, a. 1, o.

It is an act elicited by mercy¹⁷²; for mercy is « the virtue inclining the will to compassion for and relief of another's misery, » and it is commanded by charity; for mercy is an effect of charity and is born, so to speak, from its innermost parts, since from love of neighbor there is born the will to relieve his misery, which we regard as our own. But if alms be done from another motive, say to make satisfaction for sins, it will be an act commanded by religion. ¹⁷² Ibid.

Alms are of two kinds¹⁷³ , corporal and spiritual, according to the twofold misery or defect of man, namely of body and soul. ¹⁷³ Ibid., a. 2, o.

There are seven corporal works of mercy¹⁷⁴ , namely to feed the hungry, to give drink to the thirsty, to clothe the naked, to harbor the harborless, to visit the sick, to ransom the captive, and to bury the dead, which are contained in this verse. ¹⁷⁴ Ibid. in arg. 1.

I visit, I give drink, I feed, I ransom, I cover, I gather up, I entomb.

There are also seven spiritual works of mercy¹⁷⁵ , namely to instruct the ignorant, to counsel the doubtful, to comfort the sorrowful, to correct the sinner, to forgive offenses, to bear burdensome and heavy burdens, and to pray for all, which are also contained in this verse. ¹⁷⁵ Ibid.

Counsel, correct, console, forgive, bear, pray.

Yet so that under τὸ consule both counsel and doctrine are understood.