Almsgiving in Lent: Amplify Your 2014

During Lent, Catholics are asked to pray, fast and give alms. However, of the three, almsgiving is the most neglected.

Prayer & Fasting


We usually do pretty good on the prayer part. This is easy because our parishes help us with this one very well, providing increased opportunities for spiritual development at our parishes through weekly Stations of the Cross, a parish Lenten Mission or a daily prayer reflection books provided by the parish. Or we may increase our private devotions such as praying the Rosary or Adoration on a weekly or daily basis.



We usually do pretty good on the fasting part. All Catholics between the ages of 14-59 are required to fast twice a year, on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, from their daily meals. On a fasting day you are permitted to eat one full meal and two smaller meals that do not equal a full meal, unless you have extenuating circumstances (physical labor, pregnancy, sickness etc). And even with an extenuating circumstance you are encouraged to fast from something else (like TV for the day, no sodas, etc). All Catholics starting at the age of 14 are called to abstain from meat, which can be a type of fasting for some. Additionally, many of us “give up” something else for lent, which is yet another form of fasting. These fastings often take the form of no sweets, no soda, no cussing, etc. Fasting, or “giving something up,” is something most of us learned from very early on in our faith.



Almsgiving
We usually don’t do very well on the almsgiving part. First off, almsgiving is not a word used in every day conversation, so the definition and the sentiment behind it can be confusing. And secondly, it can be hard to know what we’re suppose to actually do to give alms. Our parishes often send us off with Ashes to Easter Lent boxes, but if you’re like me, they end up staying in your car for half of lent and forgotten. We often think of almsgiving as just giving money to something, yet it is so much more. The book of Tobit gives us some great insight into this: “Prayer with fasting is good. Almsgiving with righteousness is better… It is better to give alms than to store up gold, for almsgiving saves from death, and purges all sin. Those who give alms will enjoy a full life…” (Tobit 12:8-9)




So, if you’re giving alms, you are ALSO praying and fasting in the process. Almsgiving is a form of prayer because it is giving to God by caring for his people, our neighbors. Almsgiving is a form of fasting because it requires the sacrifice of both giving something of ourselves (hard earned money) AND giving up something (no extra money for a latte, a Sonic drink or that margarita at happy hour).

 In fact, by giving alms you become a triple-threat for God and are letting the devil know you’re no one to mess around with. Which is part of the reason why almsgiving is so hard to do, understand and remember. The devil likes to keep us away from things that will benefit us and others and bring us closer to God.

Jesus also told us that almsgiving is a part of living our lives as Christians: “…when you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do… to win the praise of others… But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you…” (Matthew 6:2-3)

 Yup, God pays attention to our almsgiving just as much as he pays attention to our prayer and fasting.

So naturally, now you’re asking yourself, how could you amplify your almsgiving during this season of Lent? Well, you COULD Amplify your 2014!

Huh? Amplify What?
Amplify Austin! Amplify Austin is a 24-hour festival of giving from 6pm, Thursday, March 20 (today!) to 6pm Friday, March 21, 2014, and it happens to nicely coincide with Lent! Only in it’s second year, last year this event brought in $2.8 million dollars for non-profit organizations in the Austin and Central Texas area. It is sponsored by “I Live Here, I Give Here,” a non-profit, Austin-based organization whose aim is to inspire more Austinites to give donations to non-profits and to encourage Austinites to give even more than they already are.



Now before you say, “I don’t live in Austin, Amplify Austin doesn’t matter to me,” please note that some organizations benefit more than just the Austin area, and include the Diocese of Austin and Central Texas. The organizations participating play an important role in caring for the needs of others and make Austin and Texas a better place to live. And what if you don’t live in Central Texas or the Diocese of Austin? There are many local chapters related to the non-profits that are part of Amplify Austin that would love your almsgiving, particularly Catholic Charities, pro-life organizations and Catholic Schools and Churches.

Amplify Austin
So why give through Amplify Austin? Well donations made through Amplify Austin are amplified by incentive matching dollars from various sponsors. Plus the donations we give could help a non-profit win one of four grand prizes through categories of most dollars raised during the 6-hour period on Thursday (6pm-12am), most donations from unique donors, most total dollars raised throughout the event and most individual fundraisers. Additionally non-profits are eligible for hourly “Bass Booster” prizes during the 24-hours of giving, which are awarded to the non-profits with the most unique donors during each particular hour and that raises the most dollars in each particular hour.

 To give to Amplify Austin, simply visit the Amplify Austin website.

Do you think you’ll forget to give alms to Amplify Austin between reading this article and when Amplify Austin starts? No worries, just pre-schedule your donation. And, if you’re reading this after Amplify Austin has happened, it’s okay. All of these non-profit organizations could still use your support through your donation and will appreciate your giving to them at any time.

Want to keep up with what’s happening during Amplify Austin? Follow them on Twitter at #AmplifyATX and like them on Facebook. Be sure to share, comment and like this blog post, as well as like the participating non-profit’s Facebook pages to help get the word out about Amplify Austin and encourage almsgiving during Lent of 2014. You won’t be “blowing your trumpet like the hypocrites do” if you talk about Amplify Austin and almsgiving, as long as you’re not talking up how much you gave and how many non-profits you gave to. But instead, by sharing about almsgiving and Amplify Austin, you will be doing something the devil hates and God loves: encouraging others to grow closer to God and others in almsgiving, prayer and fasting.



Amplify Your 2014
Lastly, below are several great organizations to give alms to that are part of Amplify Austin and are either directly linked to the Catholic Church or are compatible with and support the tenets of our Catholic faith. Some of the organizations you may be more familiar with than others, but all of them could use your support. This is not a comprehensive list (there are over 400 non-profit organizations participating this year!), and these are just some of the non-profits that follow the teachings of the Catholic Church.


Catholic Charities of Central Texas
Amplify Austin link
People of faith serving anyone in need by strengthening families and promoting respect for human dignity and life.


 

The John Paul II Life Center
Amplify Austin link
The John Paul II Life Center leads the way in creating a Culture of Life in Central Texas. Inspired by Blessed John Paul II’s teachings on the sanctity of life, our non-profit organization serves women and families of all faiths and backgrounds. Our mission is: 1- operate an OB/GYN medical practice, The Vitae Clinic; 2- promote life by offering sonograms and services to mothers facing unexpected pregnancies; 3- provide education about chastity, fertility care, religious freedom, and more

 



Mobile Loaves and Fishes
Amplify Austin link

We provide food & and clothing, and promote dignity to our homeless brothers and sisters in need.



 
 
 
 
 
 

San Juan Diego Catholic High School
Amplify Austin link

San Juan Diego Catholic High School provides highly motivated students the opportunity to earn a Catholic, college preparatory education enriched by participation in a corporate internship program.

 
 
 
 



The Seton Fund of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul

Amplify Austin link
Seton is committed to building the healthcare delivery system of the future, with a primary teaching facility and expanded residency programs, so that physicians will be equipped in modeling transformational care.

 




Society of St. Vincent de Paul- Diocesan Council of Austin

Amplify Austin link
A Catholic social ministry, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul – Diocesan Council of Austin is a grassroots, volunteer-based, direct-aid organization that helps people in need get back on their feet. We provide short-term financial, material, and emotional support and work person-to-person through advocacy, education and referral efforts to break cycles of poverty, empower people and promote self-sufficiency.

 


Saint Louise House

Amplify Austin link
The mission of Saint Louise House is to empower women with children to overcome homelessness in central Texas. We do this by providing housing and comprehensive supportive services to homeless mothers with children.

 

Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (TCADP)

Amplify Austin link

The Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (TCADP) is a statewide, grassroots membership organization working to end the death penalty in Texas. TCADP engages in outreach, education, and advocacy aimed at raising awareness of issues related to the death penalty and mobilizing the citizens of Texas – and our elected officials – to support abolition. We invite all concerned citizens to join our growing movement.