Chapter V — On corporal Almsgiving

I. Question I. What is almsgiving? Answer. It is a work by which something is given to one in need, out of compassion, for God's sake; or it is the relieving of another's misery for God's sake. This act is elicited by the virtue of mercy, and commanded by charity, as St. Thomas teaches, II-II, q. 32, art. 1. In almsgiving there is a twofold respect: one to God, the other to the Neighbor. Insofar as it regards God, it pertains to legal justice, because God imposes upon all the riches which he grants to men a tribute to be paid to the poor. According as it regards the relieving of the Neighbor's misery, it is a work of mercy, commanded and directed by charity, as has been said. For what to the Latins is misericordia, to the Greeks is eleemosyna.

II. Now there are seven offices of corporal mercy: 1. to visit the sick and those detained in prison; 2. to give drink to the thirsty; 3. to feed the hungry; 4. to redeem captives; 5. to clothe the naked; 6. to receive pilgrims with hospitality; 7. to bury the dead — all of which are enclosed in this verse:

I visit, give drink, feed, redeem, clothe, gather in, and bury.

III. There are likewise seven offices of spiritual mercy, namely: 1. to give counsel to the doubting; 2. to teach the ignorant; 3. to correct offenders; 4. to console the afflicted; 5. to remit offenses; 6. to bear patiently the injuries inflicted and the defects of one's neighbor; 7. to pray for all — all of which are comprehended in this other verse:

Counsel, reprove, teach, console, forgive, bear, and pray.

All these things St. Thomas teaches at greater length, II-II, q. 32, art. 2, and we shall expound them below.

IV. Question II. Is almsgiving commanded by natural and divine law? Answer. It is affirmed. The poor man and the rich are two contraries, but two things most necessary. If all abounded in the same riches, or all were in need, there would be no bond of necessity among them, no society: no one would need another's help, nor would one be subject to another; no one a servant, no one a master; the occasion of exercising charity and mercy would be wanting, and the patience of need and poverty would be absent. Wherefore it must be that some are rich and others poor, that all may live bound together by a strong and perpetual bond of love.