Giving, to give of oneself
The man is called to give from his riches and from himself, to make alms to the poor, following the example of Jesus, just as God gives sustenance and gives himself.
In "The Gospel as It Was Revealed to Me"
- Those who gave the most are those who forgot themselves the most. Forgetting oneself is a hard thing.[1]
- (Jeanne of Kouza) "I am a woman, but more manly than he (Judas) in your service. I serve you because I love you, not to receive honors from You. If tomorrow, because of You, I lost the riches, the love of my husband and even freedom and life, I would love you even more because then I would have only You to love and to love me."[2]
- Giving is better than receiving because it obliges God who is just to give a more abundant reward to the one who has had pity.[3]
In the fundamental Christian texts
In the Bible
- He stripped himself until he died, he allowed himself to be counted among the evildoers, he took upon himself the faults of the human masses, and he intervened on behalf of the guilty.[4]
- Therefore give him a loan, and give it to him generously. Because of this generosity, the Lord your God will bless you in all you undertake. There will always be poor in your land, which is why I command you to be generous to your unhappy and poor compatriots.[5]
- Hallelujah! Happy is the man who fears Yahweh, who takes all his joy in observing his precepts! His descendants will be powerful on the earth, the race of the just will be blessed. He has wellbeing and wealth in his house, and his justice lasts forever. The light rises in the darkness for upright men, for the one who is merciful, compassionate and just. Happy is the man who exercises mercy and lends: in justice he asserts his cause. For he will never be shaken; the just man will leave an eternal memory. He does not fear bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in Yahweh. His heart is unshakable, he does not fear, until he sees his enemies destroyed. He sows alms, he gives to the needy; his justice lasts forever, his horn is raised with glory. The wicked see him and are enraged, they gnash their teeth and envy consumes them: the desire of the wicked perishes.[6]
- I tell you, the one who sows little will also reap little, and the one who sows abundantly will also reap abundantly. Let each give as he has resolved in his heart, not with regret or under compulsion; because "God loves a cheerful giver." He is able to make you abound in every grace, so that having always in all things all that you need, you may abound in every good work, as it is written: "With generosity he has given to the poor; his justice lasts forever." He who provides seed to the sower and bread for food will also provide seed for you and multiply it and increase the fruits of your justice.[7].
In the Catechism of the Catholic Church
- The end does not justify the means.[8]
- The practice of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.[9]
- The works of mercy.[10]