[Question:]{.underline} Am I bound to put money in the collection every Sunday?
[Answer:]{.underline} It is one of the six precepts of the Church that we must all contribute to the support of the Church, according to our means, under pain of mortal sin. A person who, although able to do so, would continuously refuse to contribute to any collection for the sake of the Church would sin grievously against the precept of the Church and against the virtue of charity, which obliges us to give alms, at least some times, as we are able.
However, the Church’s precept does not determine in what way a person contributes to the support of the Church. He can do so by yearly or monthly donations, rather then every week. He can do so by contributing to an order of religious or missionaries or to the support of any religious activity or charitable work that is properly the work of the Church and is approved by it. Consequently, a person who would give all his donations to help a school, or make donations to help poor students attend a Catholic school, or to support a convent of religious or overseas missionaries, fulfills the letter of the law and does not commit a sin. It may even, in some cases, be God’s will for him to do so.
However, the Offertory collection is profoundly symbolic. It signifies our own personal sacrifice of charity, offered for the Church and the poor, for whom the Church cares. Consequently, those who understand the liturgy will make an effort to make a regular donation in the Sunday Offertory collection, even if it is only a symbolic amount, knowing that it represents the gift of themselves to their Creator and Redeemer. Did Our Lord not praise the widow’s mite: “Truly I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all. For all these out of their abundance have put in as gifts to God; but she out of her want has put in all that she had to live on” (Lk 21:3 & 4)? This does not mean that it is, in general, prudent to give even out of the necessities of life, but rather that, like the generous widow, we must be willing to give what it is God’s will for us to give, which is at least something. It is also the reason why the Church does not encourage tithing, or giving 10 %. It is not the question of quantity that matters, but generosity, of the heart.
There are persons who feel that they can use their Sunday collection donations as a way to vote. If they like the pastor, they are generous; if he offends them or makes decisions they do not like, then they close up their wallets. As natural as this may seem, it is not generous nor is it the seeking of God’s will that ought to motivate our generosity. While it is certainly permissible to direct donations away from specific parish functions, if one feels called to do so, or a special responsibility for a certain apostolate, of that the funds can be better used for those in special need, nevertheless one should not do so on the basis of personalities or of a whim. Moreover, even when this is done, in general something should still be given to the parish.
All these variables being considered, it is important to avoid any rash judgment against fellow parishioners, as for example when an usher sees that a person never or rarely contributes to his parish. He does not have the right to think or say that his fellow parishioner is breaking this precept of the Church, but must rather presume that he is contributing to the support of the Church in other ways. At the most the pastor could question his parishioners, to ensure that they are keeping the commandment of the Church and to ascertain if there is any reason they do not feel comfortable contributing to the parish.
Answered by Father Peter Scott, SSPX.