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DihydrogenOxide
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Whatever. Semantics.Actually, per the 1983 Code of Canon Law it is called an “offering” not a stipend.
No, what I’m getting at is this: It’s you “offering something” to the Church. “Giving up” something for God. It’s a pious act.If you contribute regularly to the Parish, why isn’t the money taken out of those funds?
I know I need to leave it alone, but I would hate for someone to need a sick call and then feel pressured to have money. I know the priest will never ask, but what if the person doesn’t have any money? So now they’re stressed about the sick relative and also embarrassed about not having anything to give.
Isn’t the poor collection for the poor?
If you don’t have the money/food, etc, the priest won’t be angry. He won’t say anything at all. It’s not a requirement. It’s traditional, but by no means a requirement.
Don’t take it so seriously. If you can’t do it, you can’t. The priest won’t be standing there with his hand extended waiting for a gift. He won’t say a thing or think a thing.
Hey, my grandmother died a few years back. She was in a nursing home and I called the priest on the way there (2 hours away), so that he would give her the Sacrament of the Sick before she died. He came, gave her the sacrament and left before I got there. -No questions asked. It’s not like a “pay for such and such a commodity”. It’s a free will offering that is given voluntarily.
The poor collection is for the poor, but I know that my priests, generally, whatever money they are given as an offering/stipend, they give it for the poor. It’s an offering that they then choose to give for God.
It’s a tradition to give something voluntarily It is not paying for a service. There’s a difference. No one will be angry if you can’t or really think anything of it. It’s just customary.