The above video from Catholic News Service breaks down the nature of almsgiving and the role it plays during the Christian season of Lent.
A “material service rendered to the poor for Christ’s sake,” almsgiving is a pillar of Lent — the 40-day season ending on Easter Sunday. These acts of self-sacrifice symbolically mirror the hardships Jesus endured in the desert in preparation for his ministry.
And while almsgiving often entails giving away material things, other acts of of goodwill to benefit those less fortunate also fall under these faith-inspired acts of charity.
In the end, almsgiving allows the faithful to build up others, while further developing their own spirituality.