The word ‘charity’ almost always brings to mind material aid offered to the needy. And this it is: almsgiving is a praiseworthy habit, which has always been promoted by Holy Mother Church. However, we should not forget that another type of charity, the spiritual works of mercy; to instruct, to give counsel, to console, to comfort, to pardon, and to bear wrongs patiently (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2447), are more important than the corporal works of mercy, namely to give food to the hungry, give shelter, clothe the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned, bury the dead.
Within the Church there flourished, as in a lush garden, varied religious orders dedicated to the material assistance of the poor, but have they ever considered themselves exempt from the obligation to instruct in the true doctrine the ignorant who were in the darkness of error? Read more…
