What does alms giving mean to Catholics?

Answer 1

To help the poor and less fortunate than us.

Roman Catholic AnswerAlmsgiving was commanded by Jesus, it is one of the works of the old covenant that He approved of and changed - we are not do to it to be approved by others. The three main "works" that we are commanded by Our Blessed Lord to do are prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. The Catechism tells us that almsgiving is 1) an act of religion, 2) an expression of penance, 3) a form of piety, 4) a witness to fraternal charity, and it is one of the things that we can do to assist the dead in purgatory as seen in Sacred Scripture.

Above all, Scripture and the Fathers insist on the three forms of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving (Cf. Tob 12:8; Mt 6:1-18, 32,) which

"express conversion in relation to oneself, to God, and to others. Alongside the radical purification brought about by Baptism or martyrdom they cite as means of obtaining forgiveness of sins: efforts at reconciliation with one's neighbor, tears of repentance, concern for the salvaiton of one's neighbor, the intercession of the saints, and the practice of charity "which covers a multitude of sins." (1 Pet 4:8; cf. Jas 5:20)

Answer 2

Roman Catholic AnswerAlms giving (giving of material or financial assistance to a needy person or cause, prompted by charity is now recognized as one of the principal forms of penance, especially since the mitigation of the laws on fast and abstinence. Particularly during Lent then, but the rest of the year, as well, the three duties of a Christian are:

1) Prayer

2) Fasting

3) Almsgiving

These are the three practices that make us "right" with God, the compensates for our sins and makes us perfect.

Also, The Bible speaks of almsgiving throughout the Bible and Our Blessed Lord in St. Luke 11:41:

Nevertheless, give that which remains as alms; and behold, all things are clean to you.

Also St. Matthew (6:2-4)

"Therefore when thou givest alms, do not sound a Trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the Synagogues and streets, in order that they may be honored by men. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward. But when thou givest alms, do not let thy left hand know what thy right hand is doing, so that thy alms may be given in secret, and thy Father, who sees in secret will reward thee.

And finally from the book of Tobit, Chapter 4, verses 7-12

Give alms out of thy substance, and turn no away thy face from any poor person, for so it shall come to pass that the face of the Lord shall not be turned from thee. According to thy ability be merciful. If thou have much, give abundantly; if thou have little, take care even so to bestow unwilling a little. For thus thou storest up to thyself a good reward for the day of necessity. For alms deliver from all sin and from death, and will not suffer the soul to go into darkness. Alms shall be a great confidence before the most high God, to all them that give it.