St. Cyprian and Almsgiving

[Ramez5]

From the beginning of the Church, almsgiving[1] was considered a pillar in the temple of the Gospel. It verified Agape between the members of the body of Christ as much as it declared a dynamic Logos that can change fragile social ties to be spiritually vivid through sharing properties. The subject of almsgiving is often mentioned by Justin Martyr, Cyprian, Ambrose, and other early church fathers who sought to inspire love for the poor.[2] This cheerful voluntary interaction between believers leads to a state, Cyprian called “the unity in love” (De opere et eleemosynis, 25).

Amidst the Crisis of the plague, Cyprian wrote his treatise refreshing the Christian mind with biblical ethics to fulfill its duty to others. Basically, he believed that almsgiving can be an emancipating act that liberates us from the trap of sin which contaminated our inner heart. He wrote that “The wound of conscience” needs a special “spiritual remedies” (De opere et eleemosynis, 3) for acquiring spiritual health. Having a tender heart allows our eyes to be opened at the misery surrounding us, therefore, our life could be redeemed from danger if we broke our bread with the hungry and housed the homeless and clothed the naked,[3] only then our souls could be freed (De opere et eleemosynis, 5). Sins can be cleaned by the merits of mercy (De opere et eleemosynis, 5) as a fruit of Christ salvation (De opere et eleemosynis, 22), and all our impurities will be abolished and burnt out as if by fire (De opere et eleemosynis, 14). When we pray, our petitions will be efficacious when it emerges from a life glorified by merciful awareness of the need of others (De opere et eleemosynis, 5).

Almsgiving is an act of justice blended with mercy (De opere et eleemosynis, 23), it’s a brilliant notion reflecting the meaning of the word in Greek (eleēmosynē, meaning mercy) and Hebrew (s̥ĕdāqâ means both alms and justice).

Cyprian wrote it plainly that giving to the poor is an act of faith (De opere et eleemosynis, 12), and those who accumulate money lack the fire of faith within, and while they save money, it will not be able to save them (De opere et eleemosynis, 13).

Responding to fears surrounded some of his flock concerning penury; he demanded them to have firm faith and raised the challenging question: what faithless heart is doing in the home of faith? (De opere et eleemosynis, 12). Christians, consequently, should pursue to seek the precious pearl (De opere et eleemosynis, 7) to be worthy of the eternal banquet (De opere et eleemosynis, 24). Through sharing Christians become partners with Christ and afterwards co-heirs in His heavenly kingdom (De opere et eleemosynis, 13). Sharing with the least ones, according to Cyprian, is the actualization of our love towards God (De opere et eleemosynis, 16).

Scriptures inspired him extensively to find appropriate grounding for his virtuous cry. Cyprian quoted from the Old and the New Testament intensively to assert that Biblical concept, and argued that if someone believe in the Scripture which cannot lie he should obey the commandment, mindfully and continually (De opere et eleemosynis, 24), by active labor manifesting a modest heart filled with the fear of God (De opere et eleemosynis, 8).[4] He proclaimed a social gospel with a harmony between the prophetic calling and the practice of the Church. Inevitably, when a Christian gives the poor, he participates in the cosmic liturgy of thanksgiving because the poor will offer a prayer of gratitude to the Lord (De opere et eleemosynis, 9), thus the voices of thanksgiving will be increased to His glory.

Charity was and will always be the carving of Jesus life and teachings through the power of the Holy Spirit on the stones of time, place and history. In front of it, humanity will bow with gratitude and appreciation to the Church and its master.

[1] CF. Luke 12:33; Matt 19:21; Acts 24:17; Rom 15:25–26; 1 Cor 16:1–5; 2 Cor 8:1–15; Gal 2:10.

[2]Walter A. Elwell and Barry J. Beitzel, Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible, Map on Lining Papers. (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House, 1988), 56.
[3] Isa. 58: 7,8
[4] We read in St. Anthony’s letter to the monks that love of the poor and almsgiving are considered a great weapon fearing our spiritual enemies. Bibliotheca Sacra Volume 1 (Andover, Mass: Andover Seminary, 1844)