What Constitutes An Act Of Charity?

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I’ve looked at the Catechism and wasn’t able to really find anything to help me with this question. When a priest suggests doing an act of charity, I typically associate it with giving money or goods to someone who has less than me. Is that it? Are there other types of acts of charity? Would praying for someone be an act of charity?
 
Well… from dictionary.com… the definition of “charity”…
char·i·ty /ˈtʃærɪti/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[char-i-tee] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun, plural -ties.
  1. generous actions or donations to aid the poor, ill, or helpless: to devote one’s life to charity.
  2. **something given to a person or persons in need; alms: **She asked for work, not charity.
  3. a charitable act or work.
  4. a charitable fund, foundation, or institution: He left his estate to a charity.
  5. benevolent feeling, esp. toward those in need or in disfavor: She looked so poor that we fed her out of charity.
  6. leniency in judging others; forbearance: She was inclined to view our selfish behavior with charity.
  7. Christian love; agape.
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Maybe inspire a few more ideas…
 
I’d say any of the Corporal Works of Mercy would definitely satisfy your penance.

And I guess praying for or bearing patiently with someone - particularly someone who normally would really peeve you - would also count. As Jesus said ‘anyone who gives so much as a cup of water to another in my name will not lose his reward’. 👍
 
I would think that prayers for the intentions of others, prayers or having a mass said for the souls in purgatory, or giving monetary gifts to charities would all be acts of charity. Or donating you time and talents to a charitable organizaton would count too. I really think that an “act of charity” could be defined in numerous ways.
 
tkdnick said:
I’ve looked at the Catechism and wasn’t able to really find anything to help me with this question. When a priest suggests doing an act of charity, I typically associate it with giving money or goods to someone who has less than me. Is that it? Are there other types of acts of charity? Would praying for someone be an act of charity?
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Maybe find your local food bank and go work a few hours?
 
Isn’t correcting a sinner an act of charity? I believe it is.
 
LilyM said:
I’d say any of the Corporal Works of Mercy would definitely satisfy your penance.

And I guess praying for or bearing patiently with someone - particularly someone who normally would really peeve you - would also count. As Jesus said ‘anyone who gives so much as a cup of water to another in my name will not lose his reward’. 👍
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yep:

To feed the hungry;
To give drink to the thirsty;
To clothe the naked;
To harbour the harbourless;
To visit the sick;
To ransom the captive;
To bury the dead.
 
Unfinished said:
Isn’t correcting a sinner an act of charity? I believe it is.
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Your talking about on of the spiritual works of mercy I believe:
THE SPIRITUAL ACTS
To admonish the sinner: “…there will be more joy in Heaven at the repentance of one sinner than at ninety-nine of the righteous who had no need of repentance.” Lk. 15:7

To instruct the ignorant: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the good news to all creation.” Mk. 16:15

To counsel the doubtful: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you…Let not your hearts be troubled…” Jn. 14:27

To comfort the sorrowful: “Come to me, all you grown weary and burdened, and I will refresh you.” Mt. 11:28

To bear wrongs patiently: “…Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you.” Lk. 6:27-28

To forgive all injuries: “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Mt. 6:12

To pray for the living and the dead: “Father, I desire that they, too, may be with me where I am…” Jn. 17:24

Edit: I don’t think it falls under Charity.
 
AND…THE CORPORAL ACTS
To feed the hungry: “For I was hungry and you gave me to eat.” Mt. 25:35

To give drink to the thirsty: “…I was thirsty and you gave me to drink…” Mt. 25:35

To clothe the naked: “I was…naked and you clothed me…” Mt. 25:36

To visit the imprisoned: “I was in prison and you came to me.” Mt. 25:36

To shelter the homeless: “…I was a stranger and you took me in…” Mt. 25:35

To visit the sick: “…I was sick and you cared for me…” Mt. 25:36

To bury the dead: “Amen, I say to you, insofar as you did it for one of these least of my brothers, you did it for me.” Mt. 25:40
nd
 
mommyof4 said:
Well, you never know…he could volunteer to work at a cemetary for a day!😃
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:rotfl: Reminds me of a good story. Schoolkids here, as part of our schooling, will normally do a week or two of work experience out in the ‘real world’ when they’re about 16. Usually organised by the school of course, but the student nominates what sort of workplace they’d like.

One student at my school as a joke said they wanted to work with a funeral director, and got stuck in a funeral parlour for a couple of weeks :bigyikes:
 
Karin said:
Not hitting your thick headed ex-husband over the head with a cast iron pan is a work of charity;) 😃 …
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How about your thick headed PRESENT husband over the head with a cast iorn pan?😃
 
tkdnick said:
I’ve looked at the Catechism and wasn’t able to really find anything to help me with this question. When a priest suggests doing an act of charity, I typically associate it with giving money or goods to someone who has less than me. Is that it? Are there other types of acts of charity? Would praying for someone be an act of charity?
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The Act of Charity is a traditional Catholic prayer. It goes like this:

**O My God, I love Thee above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because Thou art all-good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for love of Thee. I forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured.

Amen. **

Other useful prayers to memorize include the Act of Hope, Act of Faith, and Act of Contrition, as well as the Blessing before Meals, the Thanksgiving after Meals, the Morning Offering, the Our Father, the Hail Mary, the Glory Be, the Apostles’ Creed, and the prayers of the Mass - in addition to the Sign of the Cross, of course. 😉

PS: The first time I was assigned an Act of Charity for a penance, I had to ask what it was - otherwise, I would never have found out about the traditional prayers that we are supposed to know.

Just one more example to show how the short version of RCIA is not anywhere close to being able to teach you everything you need to know to be a Catholic, nor even the fundamental basics, because while I’m sure our Catechists mentioned traditional prayers several times, I had no background or basis for being able to understand what they were talking about.
 
jmcrae said:
The Act of Charity is a traditional Catholic prayer. It goes like this:

**O My God, I love Thee above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because Thou art all-good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for love of Thee. I forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured. **

**Amen. **

Other useful prayers to memorize include the Act of Hope, Act of Faith, and Act of Contrition, as well as the Blessing before Meals, the Thanksgiving after Meals, the Morning Offering, the Our Father, the Hail Mary, the Glory Be, the Apostles’ Creed, and the prayers of the Mass - in addition to the Sign of the Cross, of course. 😉

PS: The first time I was assigned an Act of Charity for a penance, I had to ask what it was - otherwise, I would never have found out about the traditional prayers that we are supposed to know.

Just one more example to show how the short version of RCIA is not anywhere close to being able to teach you everything you need to know to be a Catholic, nor even the fundamental basics, because while I’m sure our Catechists mentioned traditional prayers several times, I had no background or basis for being able to understand what they were talking about.
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I don’t know that a prayer is what the priest had in mind. He told me to do 2 simple acts of charity before the end of the day. That kinda led me to believe he wasn’t talking about saying a prayer. But I do like the prayer!
 
Karin said:
Not hitting your thick headed ex-husband over the head with a cast iron pan is a work of charity;) 😃 …
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OK, Karin, what’s a Toe Tag (referring to you signature.) Now back to the thread.
 
jmcrae said:
PS: The first time I was assigned an Act of Charity for a penance, I had to ask what it was - otherwise, I would never have found out about the traditional prayers that we are supposed to know.

Just one more example to show how the short version of RCIA is not anywhere close to being able to teach you everything you need to know to be a Catholic, nor even the fundamental basics, because while I’m sure our Catechists mentioned traditional prayers several times, I had no background or basis for being able to understand what they were talking about.
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As an RCIA Candidate since October 2006, I do happen to know what those traditional prayers are. They are a part of my current prayer program. I could list my current prayer program if anybody is interested.

What ever the many failings of RCIA may be, I think learning the traditional prayers should be way down the list (opinion)
 
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